88 pounds: Jore Volk (Minnesota) vs. Mason Gehloff (Minnesota)
The all-Gopher State showdown is a rematch of the Cadet folkstyle final from early April in Cedar Falls, Iowa, that bout was won by Gehloff. Volk has advanced to the final with two technical falls to open the tournament before decision wins over returning Cadet freestyle All-American Brandon O'Brien (Iowa) and Cadet folkstyle All-American Tristan Stafford (Arizona); Gehloff started the tournament with two technical falls before an 11-5 semifinal decision victory over Christopher Martino (Idaho)
94 pounds: Maxximus Martinez (California) vs. Carter Fousek (Iowa)
Neither of these incoming ninth graders has been tested during the tournament. Martinez, ranked No. 19 overall in the Class of 2022, has yet to give up a point in the tournament; two technical falls, a pin, and then a pair of 5-0 decisions. Fousek has five technical falls from five bouts.
100 pounds: Jordan Williams (Oklahoma) vs. Alex Almeyda (New Jersey)
This pair of incoming ninth graders are ranked 14th and 15th overall in the Class of 2022, and have earned medals in Cadet folkstyle and the UWW Cadet National freestyle competitions in the same weight class. Williams was champion at this weight class in Cadet folkstyle, Almeyda finishing third; while Almeyda was fourth at UWW Cadet freestyle in the 99 pound (converted) weight class to Williams taking fourth. Williams has been tested twice in this tournament, winning 6-5 over state champion Zach Espalin (Arizona) and pinning Stevo Poulin (New York) late in the midst of a close match; while Almeyda has five technical falls from five bouts, and has allowed just two points.
106 pounds: Nicolar Rivera (Wisconsin) vs. Yusief Lillie (Washington)
Incoming ninth grader Rivera was runner-up at Cadet folkstyle in this weight class, and has went through a pretty tough path in this tournament with total excellence. He has allowed zero points, and has six technical falls from six bouts; that includes victories over returning Cadet freestyle All-American Sheldon Seymour (Pennsylvania) and returning Cadet freestyle champion Drake Ayala (Iowa) in the last two bouts. Lillie, ranked No. 16 overall in the Class of 2021, was fourth in Cadet freestyle last year at 100 pounds; he has been tested four times in six bouts during the tournament, most notably in a 6-2 semifinal victory over UWW Cadet freestyle runner-up Kyle Rowan (Ohio) and a 6-5 quarterfinal victory over Max Black (Colorado)
113 pounds: Daniel Cardenas (Colorado) vs. Jakason Burks (Nebraska)
Ranked No. 6 overall in the Class of 2022, Cardenas has three technical falls in five bouts, along with a pair of quality wins; 13-10 over nationally ranked state medalist Nico Nardone (New Jersey) and 6-5 in the semifinal over two-time state champion Anthony Noto (New York), a Super 32 placer. State champion Burks was a Super 32 placer, and competed in the Cadet Worlds in Greco-Roman just over one week ago. In this tournament, he has three technical falls along with a pair of quality wins; 10-3 over Super 32 placer Nick Babin (New Jersey) and 4-0 over two-time UWW Cadet freestyle All-American Cooper Flynn (Tennessee).
120 pounds: Jesse Ybarra (Arizona) vs. Caleb Rathjen (Iowa)
Ybarra has dominated all of his opposition in this tournament, outside of a 5-5 criteria victory over Super 32 champion Ryan Crookham (Pennsylvania) - a two-time UWW Cadet freestyle All-American - in the quarterfinal round; the other matches were four technical falls and a 9-0 decision. Returning Cadet freestyle All-American Rathjen is ranked No. 37 in the Class of 2021, and dominated his way through the first four matches of the tournament; then came a 6-4 decision over state champion Ramon Ramos (Arizona) before yet another technical fall over UWW Cadet freestyle All-American Teague Travis (Missouri) in the semifinal round, who is ranked No. 31 overall in the Class of 2021
126 pounds: Mick Burnett (Ohio) vs. Dominick Serrano (Colorado)
This is a rematch of a semifinal from last year in Cadet freestyle, a match won by Serrano at 120 pounds. Burnett has three technical falls along with three narrow decision victories; 3-2 over No. 38 overall Class of 2021 wrestler Zack Witmer (Pennsylvania), 7-6 in the quarterfinal over No. 23 overall Class of 2021 wrestler Vincent Zerban (Illinois), and a 10-7 semifinal victory over No. 23 overall Class of 2022 wrestler Cody Chittum (Tennessee). Ranked No. 13 overall in the Class of 2020, Serrano is a returning Cadet freestyle runner-up, and has yet to give up a point in this tournament. He has six shutout technical falls from six matches in this tournament; including those over No. 17 overall Class of 2021 wrestler Reid Ballantyne (Minnesota), and Wyatt Henson (Pennsylvania), ranked No. 12 in the Class of 2021.
132 pounds: Ryan Franco (California) vs. Josh Edmond (Michigan)
The pair of wrestlers in this match are both returning Cadet freestyle All-Americans and were All-Americans in the 132 pound weight class at the UWW Cadet freestyle tournament last month. Franco, ranked No. 7 overall in the Class of 2021 was runner-up last year at 126; while Edmond, ranked No. 49 in the Class of 2020 placed eighth in this weight class. Franco started the tournament with three technical falls before being held to decisions in the last two bouts while Edmond has three technical falls from five matches in the tournament.
138 pounds: Travis Mastrogiovanni (New Jersey) vs. Luke Geog (Ohio)
Returning Cadet freestyle All-American Mastrogiovanni is ranked No. 5 overall in the Class of 2021. His tournament run started with four technical falls before a quarterfinal pin late in a tight match, and then an 11-9 decision over No. 42 overall Class of 2021 wrestler Jager Condomitti (Pennsylvania). Incoming freshman Geog is outside the top 25 for the Class of 2022 despite a Super 32 junior high title and a Flo Nationals junior high title this year; his tournament run featured technical falls in his first two matches, and decisions in his last three, most recently 8-4 over 2017 Delaware state champion Jackson Dean (New Jersey).
145 pounds: Carson Manville (Pennsylvania) vs. John Martin Best (West Virginia)
Manville is the nation's top wrestler in the Class of 2021, and a returning Cadet National double champion; he also was the Cadet World team representative at 143 pounds in freestyle just under two weeks ago. In this tournament, it has been three technical falls followed by a 5-0 decision over No. 13 overall freshman Robert Paul Perez (California) and a 10-4 decision over two-time state champion Nick Stonecheck (Georgia). 2017 state champion Best was a NHSCA Sophomore Nationals runner-up this spring, and has a pair of technical falls plus a pair of pins from six matches in the tournament.
152 pounds: Manuel Rojas (Michigan) vs. Tate Picklo (Oklahoma)
Incoming freshman Rojas is not ranked among the top 25 overall in the Class of 2022, for now. He had four technical falls to open the tournament before an 11-10 win in the semifinal round. Ranked No. 44 overall in the Class of 2021, Picklo was state runner-up in high school this past season as a freshman; his tournament featured three technical falls and two falls before an 8-2 decision in the semifinal.
160 pounds: Quayin Short (Minnesota) vs. Connor O'Neill (New Jersey)
Ranked No. 47 overall in the Class of 2021, Short was state runner-up this past season in high school and finished third in Cadet folkstyle at this weight class. His tournament started with three technical falls before a 9-0 decision in the quarterfinal round, and then a 5-3 decision over Clayton Ulrey (Pennsylvania), ranked No. 43 overall in the Class of 2020 and a Flo Nationals placer. Two-time state qualifier O'Neill was runner-up to Ulrey at the NHSCA Sophomore Nationals this spring; this tournament run includes three technical falls, a pin, and a 13-12 semifinal victory over Cadet folkstyle champion Duwayne Villalpando (Kansas)
170 pounds: Sam Skillings (Wisconsin) vs. Luke Stout (Pennsylvania)
Skillings placed fourth in Cadet folkstyle at this weight class, but failed to make state during his sophomore high school season; this tournament run includes two pins, two technical falls, and a 9-2 semifinal decision victory. Fellow Class of 2020 member Stout placed fourth at state this season, his most notable win coming 8-2 in the round of 16 over Greyden Penner (Missouri), who ranks No. 37 overall in the same grade level. Stout's other four matches this tournament were won by technical fall.
182 pounds: Nathan Haas (California) vs. Rocky Elam (Missouri)
Haas was a state quarterfinalist this high school season as a sophomore, and dominated his way to the semifinal with four technical fall victories in four bouts. In that semifinal, it was a 3-1 victory over Cadet folkstyle champion Kyle Haas (Kansas), ranked No. 14 overall in the Class of 2021. Returning Cadet freestyle All-American Elam placed third in Cadet folkstyle, losing to Haas along the way. This tournament run includes two technical falls, a pin, an 8-1 decision over two-time state champion Sam Fisher (Virginia), and a 6-2 decision over state placer John Poznanski (New Jersey)
195 pounds: Kolby Franklin (Pennsylvania) vs. Noah Pettigrew (Georgia)
This match features a pair of incoming freshmen, Franklin ranked No. 20 in the Class of 2022 with Pettigrew outside the top 25. Franklin has dominated this tournament with four technical falls from five bouts, only tested in a 14-8 decision over Cadet folkstyle runner-up Gavin Carter (Kansas), who also was a state champion this high school season. Pettigrew has two technical falls in four matches, most notably tested in an 11-11 criteria win over state placer Dorian Crosby (Pennsylvania) in the semifinal round.
220 pounds: Chris Island (California) vs. Nathaniel Deasey (Arizona)
This is a rematch of the Cadet folkstyle final in this weight class, won by Island. The state qualifier was most likely the residual beneficiary of the unfortunate injury to UWW Cadet freestyle runner-up Hunter Catka (Pennsylvania) in the round of 16 on Saturday night. For this tournament, Island has three technical falls before an 8-4 decision in the semifinal. Fellow state qualifier Deasey also was runner-up at the NHSCA Freshman Nationals this year, and for the tournament has two pins to go with two technical falls, which includes one over state placer Justin Darter (California) in an early round.
285 pounds: Hayden Copass (Illinois) vs. Colby Whitehill (Pennsylvania)
Copass qualified for state this season as a freshman. His tournament to date includes a pin, a technical fall, and two decisions; while state placer Whitehill is a returning Cadet double All-American, and his tournament run includes three technical falls before a 13-8 semifinal victory.
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