Placement Day 16U Girls Fargo Nationals Recap

From a strong contingent of 46 athletes representing the Badger State, nine wrestlers fought their way onto the podium to claim All-American status in the 16U women’s division. Demonstrating grit and the ability to win when the lights are at their brightest, this standout group put on a outstanding showing at the tournament overall. Although the final round may not have ended exactly how everyone planned, it was an incredibly successful tournament overall for these Wisconsin athletes. From consolation comebacks to runs into the top five, here is how these nine ladies solidified Wisconsin as one of the premier women’s wrestling programs in the country.

16U Wisconsin National Team Recap

Top 5 Finishers (All-Americans)

#5 Daelin Cody | Princeton/Green Lake 16U | 130 lbs

• Tournament Record: 6-2 (1-2 on Day 3)

• Placement: 4th in the Nation

• Key Matches: Secured a massive win over the eventual 6th-place finisher (a South Dakota Northern Plains regional runner-up). Her only losses came against elite competition: the eventual National Champion/Runner-up from Oklahoma (a U17 All-American) and a hard-fought 3rd-place match against a decorated New York state and Fargo national runner-up.

#8 Katie Davidson | Waunakee 16U | 140 lbs

• Tournament Record: 6-2 (2-1 on Day 3)

• Placement: 4th in the Nation

• Key Matches: Put together a phenomenal Day 3 run, dominant over top-tier regional talent. She defeated the eventual 7th-place finisher from Oklahoma (a U15 All-American) and the eventual 6th-place finisher from Pennsylvania (Northeast regional runner-up), before falling in a tight 3rd-place match to a 2025 Fargo All-American from Oregon.

#5 Mercedes Kruse | West De Pere 16U | 207 lbs

• Tournament Record: 4-2 (1-2 on Day 3)

• Placement: 5th in the Nation

• Key Matches: Capped off her tournament with a stellar victory in the 5th-place match, defeating an Idaho high school state 4th-place finisher. Her only losses on the day were to the eventual National Champion/Runner-up from Michigan and the eventual 4th-place finisher from New York.

7th Place Finishers

#9 Mya Beckett | Notre Dame 16U | 100 lbs

• Tournament Record: 6-2 (1-1 on Day 3)

• Placement: 7th in the Nation

• Key Matches: Bounced back from a loss to the eventual 6th-place finisher from Oklahoma to win her final bout. In the 7th-place match, she took down a highly credentialed opponent from California (6th at state and a U15 National All-American).

#10 Morgan Johnson | DeForest 16U | 125 lbs

• Tournament Record: 6-2 (1-1 on Day 3)

• Placement: 7th in the Nation

• Key Matches: After a tough loss to Ohio’s 3rd-place state finisher, Johnson rallied in the 7th-place match to defeat a stacked opponent: a North Dakota high school state champion who was also a U15 freestyle national 6th-place finisher.

Annabella Nelson | Hayward/Northwood 16U | 135 lbs

• Tournament Record: 6-2 (1-1 on Day 3)

• Placement: 7th in the Nation

• Key Matches: Dropped a match to Arkansas’s freestyle state champion (the eventual 4th-place finisher), but decisively won her placement match, beating the Illinois Northern Plains regional champion to secure 7th.

#9 Layla Risler | Mondovi/Eleva-Strum 16U | 145 lbs

• Tournament Record: 6-2 (1-1 on Day 3)

• Placement: 7th in the Nation

• Key Matches: Lost a tough battle to Pennsylvania’s 3rd-place state finisher, but responded in champion fashion by defeating a New York high school state champion in the 7th-place match.

8th Place Finishers

#5 Ember Zupanc | Marshfield 16U | 115 lbs

• Tournament Record: 6-3 (0-2 on Day 3)

• Placement: 8th in the Nation

• Key Matches: Faced a brutal draw on Day 3, battling the eventual 3rd-place finisher (New Jersey’s Northeast regional champion) and falling in a highly competitive 7th-place match to a Michigan state 3rd-place finisher.

#4 Aaliyah Miller | Adams-Friendship 16U | 170 lbs

• Tournament Record: 4-3 (0-2 on Day 3)

• Placement: 8th in the Nation

• Key Matches: Showed incredible grit throughout the tournament to secure All-American status, dropping her final two matches to a tough California state qualifier and a Pennsylvania state runner-up in the placement round.