Fargo Nationals Junior Greco Day 1 recap

Day 1 of the Junior Greco-Roman Nationals in Fargo delivered intense, high-stakes wrestling as the massive field was whittled down. Wisconsin’s representatives faced fierce competition from top-tier athletes across the country, experiencing both dominant runs and tough, early exits.

By the end of the opening day:

• Four wrestlers remain completely undefeated and have advanced deep into the championship brackets (with #4 Eldon Roth and #3 Alex Penzkover securing spots in the quarterfinals).

• Six wrestlers successfully navigated a highly competitive consolation bracket after dropping early matches, keeping their All-American and placement dreams alive.

• Twenty eight wrestlers saw their tournament runs come to a close after battling through a grueling double-elimination bracket against state champions and savvy greco opponents.

Championship Bracket (Undefeated & Cruising)

These dominant wrestlers went unblemished on Day 1 and remain alive in the championship hunt.

• #4 Eldon Roth (Stevens Point • 100 lbs) | Record: 1-0

  • Day 1 Recap: Started strong by beating the Illinois Greco State 3rd place finisher (at 16U 100 lbs).

  • Up Next: A matchup against the Indiana Greco State 4th place finisher (at 106-113 lbs).

• #3 Alex Penzkover (Southeast Polk IA • 150 lbs) | Record: 4-0

  • Day 1 Recap: Had a perfect 4-0 day. Took down the Ohio Greco State runner-up (at 150 lbs), followed by wins over the Montana AA State champ (at 138 lbs) and the New York D1 State champ (at 150 lbs).

  • Up Next: Quarterfinals match against the Oklahoma 5A State and Greco State champion (at 150 lbs).

• Spencer Madsen (Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol • 175 lbs) | Record: 3-0

  • Day 1 Recap: Undefeated on the day with wins over the Michigan D2 State 3rd place finisher (at 175 lbs), an Illinois State qualifier (at 165 lbs), and the Kentucky Central Greco Regional runner-up (at 175 lbs).

  • Up Next: Round of 16 battle against the Florida 2026 US Open U20 Greco All-American 5th place finisher (at 77kg).

• #6 Preston Krueger (New London • 285 lbs) | Record: 3-0

  • Day 1 Recap: Put together a perfect 3-0 run on Day 1, picking up wins against the South Carolina Greco State champ (at 285 lbs) and the Ohio D2 State 6th place finisher (at 285 lbs).

  • Up Next: Round of 16 against the Indiana Greco State champion (at 285 lbs).

Consolation Bracket (Still Alive & Fighting Back)

These wrestlers suffered a setback on Day 1 but have battled back and remain active in the tournament.

• Caden Bock (Freedom • 106 lbs) | Record: 2-1

  • Day 1 Recap: Fell to the Florida Southeast Regional Greco 5th place finisher (at 106 lbs).

  • Up Next: Consolation bout against a 6A Texas High School State qualifier (at 113 lbs).

• #3 Martez Sheard (Aquinas • 132 lbs) | Record: 5-1

  • Day 1 Recap: Picked up 5 huge wins on Day 1, beating the Minnesota AA State 3rd place finisher (at 127 lbs), South Dakota Class A State 5th (at 132 lbs), Oklahoma 5A State qualifier (at 132 lbs), California State qualifier (at 126 lbs), and the Virginia Class 3 State champ (at 126 lbs). His lone loss came against a Florida 3A State champion (at 120 lbs).

  • Up Next: Consolation Round of 16 against the Washington 2A State champion (at 132 lbs).

• William Christopher (New London • 138 lbs) | Record: 5-1

  • Day 1 Recap: Bounced back after a tough loss to an Ohio D1 State 7th place finisher (at 138 lbs). Earned wins against the Montana Class A State runner-up (at 132 lbs), New York D1 State champ (at 138 lbs), and the Maryland Independent State 3rd place finisher (at 138 lbs). Still active in the tournament.

• #9 Tristan North (West Allis Nathan Hale • 150 lbs) | Record: 3-1

  • Day 1 Recap: Logged wins including a victory over the Idaho 5A State champ (at 150 lbs). His only defeat came against an Alaska 2026 US Open Greco All-American 6th place finisher (at 71kg).

  • Up Next: Consolation Round of 16 against the Colorado Greco State champion (at 150 lbs).

• Colton Tollefson (Fennimore • 165 lbs) | Record: 4-1

  • Day 1 Recap: Dropped an early match to the New York Northeast Greco Regional champion (at 175 lbs), but charged back with wins over the Indiana Greco State 3rd place finisher (at 165 lbs), Arizona D2 State 3rd (at 159 lbs), and Idaho 6A State 4th (at 157 lbs).

  • Up Next: Consolation Sub-Round of 16 against the Iowa 1A State 7th place finisher (at 150 lbs).

• Alexander Johnson (Peshtigo • 215 lbs) | Record: 3-1

  • Day 1 Recap: Suffered a loss to the Iowa 2A State runner-up (at 215 lbs), but responded with wins over the Vermont State 6th place finisher (at 215 lbs) and a Georgia 4A State qualifier (at 285 lbs). Still alive in the consolation bracket.

Day 1 Run Completed (Eliminated)

These competitors saw their tournament runs come to an end on Day 1 after fighting through tough matchups.

106 – 126 lbs

• Jake Gondik (Superior • 106 lbs) | Record: 0-2

  • Losses: Tennessee Greco State champion (at 106 lbs) and Ohio D3 State 4th (at 106 lbs).

• Max Schroeder (Sauk Prairie/Wisconsin Heights • 120 lbs) | Record: 2-2

  • Notable Wins: Defeated Illinois 1A State 5th (at 113 lbs).

  • Losses: Michigan Northern Plains Greco Regional champion (at 120 lbs) and Michigan Central Greco Regional runner-up (at 120 lbs).

• Evan Thao (Eau Claire Memorial • 120 lbs) | Record: 0-2

  • Losses: Indiana State 7th (at 113 lbs) and Illinois 2A State runner-up (at 113 lbs).

• Collin Frey (Evansville • 126 lbs) | Record: 2-2

  • Notable Wins: Defeated 5A South Carolina State qualifier (at 120 lbs).

  • Losses: Ohio D3 State champion (at 120 lbs) and 5A New Mexico State 3rd (at 120 lbs).

• Ryker Schingeck (Wabeno/Laona/Three Lakes • 126 lbs) | Record: 1-2

  • Notable Wins: Defeated Virginia 6A State champion (at 113 lbs).

  • Losses: Minnesota AAA State 6th (at 121 lbs) and Louisiana D2 State qualifier (at 120 lbs).

132 – 144 lbs

• Alois Schlumpf (Bay Port • 132 lbs) | Record: 2-2

  • Notable Wins: Defeated Kansas 6A State qualifier (at 126 lbs) and Alabama 7A State 3rd (at 126 lbs).

  • Losses: Alabama Southeast Greco Regional 4th (at 132 lbs) and Missouri Greco State runner-up (at 132 lbs).

• Cash Botting (Hortonville • 144 lbs) | Record: 3-2

  • Notable Wins: Defeated Utah 6A State runner-up (at 144 lbs) and Ohio Central Greco Regional 5th (at 144 lbs).

  • Losses: Iowa 3A State runner-up (at 138 lbs) and California Greco State 2nd (at 144 lbs).

• Michael Ciancio (Coleman • 144 lbs) | Record: 2-2

  • Losses: California State qualifier (at 138 lbs) and a competitor from Massachusetts.

• Colton Steldt (Combat WC • 144 lbs) | Record: 0-2

  • Losses: Nevada 2026 US Open Greco All-American runner-up (at 63kg) and Kansas 5A State 6th (at 132 lbs).

• Ivan Woodhull (Northwestern • 144 lbs) | Record: 2-2

  • Notable Wins: Defeated Iowa 1A State 8th (at 132 lbs) and Iowa 2A State qualifier (at 126 lbs).

  • Losses: Oklahoma 6A State runner-up (at 150 lbs) and California Greco State runner-up (at 144 lbs).

150 – 157 lbs

• Laine Everson (Freedom • 150 lbs) | Record: 0-2

  • Losses: California Western Greco Regional runner-up (at 157 lbs) and Iowa 2A State qualifier (at 144 lbs).

• Breck Ritchie (Kaukauna • 150 lbs) | Record: 3-2

  • Notable Wins: Defeated Colorado 5A State 5th (at 144 lbs), Arizona D1 State 3rd (at 138 lbs), and Maryland Greco State runner-up (at 157 lbs).

  • Losses: Alaska Northwest Greco Regional 4th (at 150 lbs) and Wisconsin D3 State runner-up Izaiah Sanchez (at 138 lbs).

• Izaiah Sanchez (Shiocton • 150 lbs) | Record: 3-2

  • Notable Wins: Defeated Hawaii State runner-up (at 150 lbs) and Wisconsin Greco State 4th (at 150 lbs).

  • Losses: Kansas 5A State champion and Illinois 2A State 5th (at 144 lbs).

• Brody Ernest (Oconomowoc • 157 lbs) | Record: 1-2

  • Notable Wins: Defeated Colorado 3A State champion (at 165 lbs).

  • Losses: Illinois Greco State champion (at 157 lbs) and North Dakota Class B State champion (at 160 lbs).

• Alex Martinez (Westosha Central • 157 lbs) | Record: 0-2

  • Losses: Nevada 5A State champion (at 157 lbs) and Alabama Greco State champion (at 165 lbs).

• Jacksyn Thorpe (Kaukauna • 157 lbs) | Record: 1-2

  • Notable Wins: Defeated Massachusetts D2 State qualifier (at 157 lbs).

  • Losses: Florida 3A State qualifier (at 157 lbs) and Alabama Greco State champion (at 157 lbs).

165 – 175 lbs

• Marcus Macias (Kenosha Indian Trail • 165 lbs) | Record: 0-2

  • Losses: Iowa 3A State 7th (at 165 lbs) and Florida 3A State runner-up (at 165 lbs).

• Joseph Moore (Freedom • 165 lbs) | Record: 0-2

  • Losses: New York D1 State qualifier (at 144 lbs) and Illinois 2026 US Open Greco U17 All-American 7th (at 71kg).

• Joseph Stimac (Antigo • 165 lbs) | Record: 2-2

  • Notable Wins: Defeated South Carolina 4A State qualifier (at 165 lbs) and South Dakota Class A State 8th (at 157 lbs).

  • Losses: Texas 2025 Fargo Junior Greco Nationals 4th (at 165 lbs) and Florida 3A State runner-up (at 165 lbs).

• Murphy Beyer (Freedom • 175 lbs) | Record: 2-2

  • Notable Wins: Defeated Pennsylvania Greco State runner-up (at 175 lbs) and North Dakota Class A State 6th (at 172 lbs).

  • Losses: Iowa 3A State 3rd (at 165 lbs) and Michigan D2 State 3rd (at 175 lbs).

• Isaac Dunnom (Osceola • 175 lbs) | Record: 3-2

  • Notable Wins: Defeated Illinois 1A State 4th (at 190 lbs) and Oklahoma 6A State 4th (at 175 lbs).

  • Losses: Washington 4A State wrestler and Iowa 3A State champion (at 190 lbs).

• William Vang (Mukwonago • 175 lbs) | Record: 0-2

  • Losses: An Indiana competitor and Washington 3A State 7th (at 165 lbs).

• Max Voelker (Green Bay Preble • 175 lbs) | Record: 0-2

  • Losses: Virginia 4A State champion (at 165 lbs) and Nebraska Class A State qualifier (at 175 lbs).

190 – 285 lbs

• Logan Ellwanger (Luxemburg-Casco • 190 lbs) | Record: 2-2

  • Notable Wins: Defeated Georgia 2A State qualifier (at 190 lbs) and Hawaii State runner-up (at 175 lbs).

  • Losses: Virginia Class 4 State 3rd (at 190 lbs) and Alabama 6A State runner-up (at 190 lbs).

• Brock Schmidt (Hortonville • 190 lbs) | Record: 0-2

  • Losses: Washington 4A State champion (at 190 lbs) and Iowa 3A State 7th (at 190 lbs).

• Brody Hoffman (Wabeno/Laona/Three Lakes • 215 lbs) | Record: 1-2

  • Losses: Montana Class A State 3rd (at 285 lbs) and Illinois Central Greco Regional 5th (at 215 lbs).

• Quinton Ortegon (Fond du Lac • 215 lbs) | Record: 2-2

  • Losses: Georgia 4A State qualifier (at 285 lbs) and Iowa 2A State runner-up (at 215 lbs).

• Samson Smith (Antigo • 285 lbs) | Record: 0-2

  • Losses: Iowa 2025 Fargo 16U Nationals Greco All-American 7th (at 285 lbs) and New York Greco State champion (at 285 lbs).