Blood, Sweat, and Greco: Day 1 Recap from the Fargo 16U National Championships

The toughest 16U greco-roman wrestlers in the country have officially collided in Fargo. Day 1 of the Greco-Roman National Championships did not disappoint. It was a grueling marathon of high-amplitude throws, gritty gut-wrenches, and non-stop action as our wrestlers stepped onto the national stage to test their mettle against state champions and regional powerhouses from every corner of the United States.

By the time the dust settled on an intense opening day, the battlefield had shifted. While the double-elimination format proved unforgiving for a large portion of the squad, the dream of a national title—and a spot on the All-American podium—is still very much alive for a fierce contingent of competitors.

Day 1 Executive Summary: Where We Stand

• The Undefeated Title Contenders: Ten wrestlers survived the Day 1 gauntlet without a single blemish on their records. Among them, Lincoln Swick (120), #8 Isaac Weber (132), #1 Tyler Paulson (138), and #6 Aspen Tritz (138) put on absolute clinics to punch their tickets straight into the Quarterfinals. Meanwhile, six more dominant hammers—including top-seeded #1 Michael Daleiden (165) and #1 Kade Splinter (215)—marched their way cleanly into the Round of 16.

• Battling Through the Consolations: Six resilient wrestlers suffered a minor setback but refused to let their tournaments end early. Competitors like #2 Jacob Penzkover (157), who battled through five grueling matches on Day 1, and heavyweight Kriss Vazquez (285) are locked into the Consolation Round of 16, ready to take the long, hard road back to the podium.

• Heartbreak and Lessons Learned: The standard at Fargo is unapologetically high. Twenty-nine of our wrestlers saw their tournament runs come to an end on Day 1. Despite the early exits, they went toe-to-toe with the nation’s elite, picking up invaluable national-level experience that will undoubtedly fuel their fire for the upcoming freestyle tournaments and high school seasons.

The championship hunt continues tomorrow. Below is the comprehensive, wrestler-by-wrestler breakdown of exactly how Day 1 played out.

Championship Bracket (Undefeated / Remaining in Championship)

These wrestlers went undefeated on Day 1 and are still hunting for a national title.

Quarterfinalists

• Lincoln Swick (Oconomowoc, 120 lbs) — Record: 4-0

  • Day 1 Wins: Michigan Greco State 3rd @ 120, Colorado 4A High School State Qualifier @ 126, California Greco State 3rd @ 120, and Ohio Central Greco Regionals Runner-up @ 120.

  • Next Opponent: Iowa 3A Runner-up @ 113 in the Quarterfinals.

• #8 Isaac Weber (Germantown, 132 lbs) — Record: 4-0

  • Day 1 Wins: Arizona Greco State 3rd @ 132, Minnesota A High School State Qualifier @ 114, Oregon High School State 5th @ 120, and Arkansas 2026 U17 US Open Greco All-American Runner-up @ 60 kg.

  • Next Opponent: Utah Western Greco Regional 4th @ 132 in the Quarterfinals.

• #1 Tyler Paulson (Aquinas, 138 lbs) — Record: 4-0

  • Day 1 Wins: North Dakota Greco State Champ @ 138, Nebraska High School State Qualifier @ 126, Illinois Greco State 4th @ 138, and Washington 4A High School State Qualifier @ 132.

  • Next Opponent: Oklahoma Southern Plains Greco Regional 3rd @ 138 in the Quarterfinals.

• #6 Aspen Tritz (Wisconsin Rapids, 138 lbs) — Record: 4-0

  • Day 1 Wins: South Carolina Greco State Runner-up @ 150, Florida 1A High School State 4th @ 132, and Alaska Northwest Greco Regional Champ @ 138.

  • Next Opponent: Connecticut 2026 US Open U17 Greco All-American 3rd @ 65 kg in the Quarterfinals.

Round of 16 Bound

• Reid Nicklay (Aquinas, 144 lbs) — Record: 3-0

  • Day 1 Wins: Idaho Greco State Runner-up @ 144, New York Greco State Runner-up @ 144, and Illinois Greco State Runner-up @ 144.

  • Next Opponent: Alaska Northwest Greco Regional Champ @ 144 in the Round of 16.

• Everett Zeitler (Pulaski, 150 lbs) — Record: 3-0

  • Day 1 Wins: Michigan D4 High School State Qualifier @ 138, Kansas Greco State 6th @ 150, and Nebraska Greco State Champ @ 150.

  • Next Opponent: Ohio D3 High School State 7th @ 144 in the Round of 16.

• #1 Michael Daleiden (Combat WC, 165 lbs) — Record: 3-0

  • Day 1 Wins: Oregon Greco State 5th @ 165 and Arizona Greco State Champ @ 165.

  • Next Opponent: Ohio Central Greco Regional Runner-up @ 165 in the Round of 16.

• Treyton Altuve (Hamilton, 190 lbs) — Record: 3-0

  • Day 1 Wins: Florida Southeast Greco Regional Champ @ 190 and Virginia Greco State Champ @ 190.

  • Next Opponent: Nebraska Greco State 3rd @ 190 in the Round of 16.

• #1 Kade Splinter (Stoughton, 215 lbs) — Record: 2-0

  • Day 1 Wins: California Greco State Champ @ 215 and Alabama Greco State Champ @ 215.

  • Next Opponent: South Dakota Class B High School State 6th @ 175 in the Round of 16.

• Lucian Lorenz (Aquinas, 285 lbs) — Record: 2-0

  • Day 1 Wins: Connecticut Northeast Greco Regional Runner-up @ 285 and Pennsylvania Greco State 4th @ 285.

  • Next Opponent: North Dakota Class A High School State 7th @ 215 in the Round of 16.

Consolation Bracket (Still Alive)

These wrestlers suffered one defeat on Day 1 but remain in the tournament to battle back through the consolations.

• Reed Akkerman (Wisconsin Rapids, 88 lbs) — Record: 1-1

  • Day 1 Win: Oregon Western Regional Greco 4th @ 94.

  • Loss: To an Illinois Central Greco Regional Runner-up @ 88.

  • Next Opponent: Wyoming Greco State Champ @ 88 in the Consolation Round of 16.

• Cole Train Vanderwerff (Burlington, 88 lbs) — Record: 1-1 (Minnesota Greco State Runner-up @ 94)

  • Loss: To a Washington Northwest Greco Regional Champ @ 88.

  • Next Opponent: Oklahoma Southern Plains Greco Regional Champ @ 88 in the Consolation Round of 16.

• #2 Jacob Penzkover (Aquinas, 157 lbs) — Record: 4-1

  • Day 1 Wins: Texas Greco State 6th @ 157, Iowa Greco State 4th @ 157, Tennessee Class A High School State Qualifier @ 144, and Idaho Greco State Runner-up @ 157.

  • Loss: To a Florida wrestler.

  • Next Opponent: Washington 4A High School State Qualifier @ 150 in the Consolation Sub-Round of 16.

• Elias Green (Waukesha South, 190 lbs) — Record: 3-1

  • Day 1 Wins: Oklahoma Southern Plains Greco Regional 6th @ 190 and Florida Southeast Greco Regional Champ @ 190.

  • Loss: To an Oregon Northwest Greco Regional Champ @ 190.

  • Next Opponent: Illinois 1A High School State Qualifier @ 175 in the Consolation Sub-Round of 16.

• Ian Powell (Reedsburg, 215 lbs) — Record: 2-1

  • Day 1 Win: Over a Virginia wrestler.

  • Loss: To a New York D2 High School State Runner-up @ 215.

  • Next Opponent: Pennsylvania Northeast Greco Regional 4th @ 215 in the Consolation Sub-Round of 16.

• Kriss Vazquez (Arcadia, 285 lbs) — Record: 1-1

  • Day 1 Win: Illinois Greco State 4th @ 285.

  • Loss: To a New York Greco State Champ @ 285.

  • Next Opponent: Washington Northwest Greco Regional Champ @ 285 in the Consolation Sub-Round of 16.

Eliminated

These wrestlers fought hard but were knocked out of the double-elimination tournament on Day 1.

• Bentley Mattie (West Salem/ Bangor, 94 lbs) — Record: 0-2

  • Losses: New York Greco State Runner-up @ 94 and Idaho Greco State Runner-up @ 94.

• Axl Kind (Neillsville/ Greenwood/ Loyal, 100 lbs) — Record: 0-2

  • Losses: Utah Greco State Champ @ 100 and Nebraska Greco State 6th @ 106.

• Gavin Lamers (Wrightstown, 106 lbs) — Record: 0-2

  • Losses: Indiana Greco State Champ @ 106 and Virginia Class 4 High School State Qualifier @ 106.

• Collin Weber (West Bend West/ East, 106 lbs) — Record: 2-2

  • Day 1 Wins: North Carolina 5A High School State 4th @ 106 and Ohio Greco 3rd @ 106.

  • Losses: Utah Northwest Greco Regional Runner-up @ 113 and New Jersey Northeast Greco Regional Champ @ 100.

• Isai Sanchez (Shiocton, 113 lbs) — Record: 3-2

  • Day 1 Win: Texas 6A High School State 3rd @ 106.

  • Losses: 2025 Fargo Nationals Greco 16U All-American Runner-up @ 94 and Illinois Northern Plains Greco Regional 6th @ 113.

• Joshua Schanen (Muskego, 113 lbs) — Record: 2-2

  • Day 1 Win: Oklahoma Greco State Runner-up @ 113.

  • Losses: Pennsylvania Greco State 4th @ 113 and Illinois Northern Plains Greco Regional 5th @ 113.

• Kale Crass (Regis/ Altoona, 126 lbs) — Record: 1-2

  • Day 1 Win: Idaho Greco State Runner-up @ 120.

  • Losses: Minnesota AAA High School State Champ @ 121 and Alaska Greco State Runner-up @ 132.

• Deacon Meyers (West Salem/ Bangor, 126 lbs) — Record: 2-2

  • Day 1 Wins: South Carolina Southeast Regional 4th @ 132 and New York Greco State Champ @ 126.

  • Losses: Pennsylvania Greco State Champ @ 126 and California Western Greco Regional 5th @ 126.

• Ben Pece (Mukwonago, 126 lbs) — Record: 0-2

  • Losses: Nevada Western Greco Regional 3rd @ 126 and Minnesota AA High School State 5th @ 114.

• Braiden Hale-Toomey (Reedsburg, 132 lbs) — Record: 0-2

  • Losses: Oregon Greco State 2nd @ 132 and Nebraska Greco State 3rd @ 132.

• Reece Vendegna (Wilmot Union, 132 lbs) — Record: 2-2

  • Day 1 Win: Georgia Southeast Greco Regional Champ @ 138.

  • Losses: Florida High School State 3rd @ 126 and West Virginia Greco State Runner-up @ 138.

• Gabriel Beyer (Freedom, 138 lbs) — Record: 3-2

  • Day 1 Win: Ohio Greco State Champ @ 138.

  • Losses: Washington 4A High School State Qualifier @ 132 and Florida Greco State Champ @ 138.

• Oliver Bongle (Poynette, 138 lbs) — Record: 0-2

  • Losses: Florida Southern Plains Greco Regional 4th @ 138 and Arizona Greco State Champ @ 138.

• Johnathan Marth (Germantown, 138 lbs) — Record: 3-2

  • Losses: A Connecticut wrestler and New Mexico Southern Plains Greco Regional 3rd @ 132.

• #13 Riddick Meyer (Spencer/ Columbus Catholic/ Granton, 138 lbs) — Record: 2-2

  • Day 1 Win: Illinois Greco State 3rd @ 138.

  • Losses: Indiana Central Greco Regional Champ @ 138 and South Carolina Southeast Greco Regional Champ @ 132.

• Gavyn Wilkins (North Crawford/ Seneca, 144 lbs) — Record: 1-2

  • Losses: Pennsylvania Freestyle State Champ @ 144 and Alabama 5A High School State Runner-up @ 132.

• Rafe Henrickson (Freedom, 150 lbs) — Record: 0-2

  • Losses: Nebraska Greco State Champ @ 157 and Indiana Central Regionals 5th @ 144.

• Blake Baumann (Mukwonago, 157 lbs) — Record: 2-2

  • Day 1 Win: New York Greco State 5th @ 150.

  • Losses: New Jersey Northeast Greco Regional 4th @ 165 and New York Greco State Champ @ 157.

• Joshua Czerniejewski (Mukwonago, 157 lbs) — Record: 1-2

  • Day 1 Win: Indiana Greco State 3rd @ 157.

  • Losses: Idaho Greco State Champ @ 157 and Pennsylvania Greco State Runner-up @ 157.

• Charles Mierzwinski (Waukesha West, 157 lbs) — Record: 2-2

  • Day 1 Win: Idaho Western Greco Regional 6th @ 157.

  • Losses: Florida 1A High School State 6th @ 157 and California Western Greco Regional 4th @ 157.

• Dylan Sardina (West Allis Nathan Hale, 157 lbs) — Record: 2-2

  • Day 1 Wins: Missouri Greco State 3rd @ 157 and Idaho Western Greco Regional 6th @ 157.

  • Losses: Ohio D2 High School State Runner-up @ 157 and Florida 3A High School State 4th @ 144.

• Luke Redner (Reedsburg, 165 lbs) — Record: 2-2

  • Day 1 Win: Montana Greco State Runner-up @ 165-175.

  • Losses: Pennsylvania Greco State Champ @ 165 and Illinois 1A High School State Qualifier @ 144.

• Anthony Rickman (Ithaca/ Weston, 165 lbs) — Record: 3-2

  • Day 1 Wins: Iowa Greco State 3rd @ 165 and Tennessee Southeast Greco Regional 4th @ 165.

  • Losses: New York Greco State Runner-up @ 165 and Kansas 3A High School State Runner-up @ 150.

• Nolan Ferell (Arrowhead, 175 lbs) — Record: 0-2

  • Losses: California Western Greco Regional 3rd @ 175 and Kansas 6A High School State Runner-up.

• Sam Moore (Freedom, 190 lbs) — Record: 0-2

  • Losses: Washington Greco State 3rd @ 190 and West Virginia Greco State Runner-up @ 190.

• Jacob Phelps (Cadott, 190 lbs) — Record: 2-2

  • Day 1 Win: New York D1 High School State 4th @ 190.

  • Losses: Illinois Northern Plains Greco Regional 5th @ 190 and Pennsylvania Greco State Runner-up @ 190.

• Daniel Meurett (Mauston/ Necedah, 215 lbs) — Record: 0-2

  • Losses: Michigan Central Greco Regional 3rd @ 215 and Virginia VISAA High School State 3rd @ 215.

• Travis Smith (Whitehall, 285 lbs) — Record: 0-2

  • Losses: Oklahoma Southern Plains Greco Regional 3rd @ 285 and New Mexico Southern Plains Greco Regional Runner-up @ 285.