FARGO: 16U Greco quarterfinals set up through 138 pounds

FARGO, North Dakota – The first day of 16U Boys Greco-Roman action at the 2026 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals at the FARGODOOME saw six wrestlers keep their hopes alive for two Fargo titles.

Among the six individuals looking for two titles this week is last year’s runner-up, Cyrus Millage of Iowa. Millage locked in his spot in the quarterfinals with a 32-second, 8-0 tech fall in the round of 16 at 100 pounds. He is the only one of the six who is currently in the quarterfinals.

Jaimon Mogard of Iowa (157), Layden Acevedo (175) and Bryce Collins (190) of Pennsylvania, Kade Splinter of Wisconsin (215) and Sawyer Schendel of Minnesota (285) are still alive for the Fargo double and currently sit in the round of 16, which continues on Wednesday morning.

Mogard and Schendel both kept their USA Wrestling Triple Crown hopes alive with two wins each. At 157 pounds, Mogard picked up two technical falls (12-4, 8-0) to stay alive, and Schendel shutout both his opponents on Tuesday (3-0, 8-0) to advance to the round of 16.

Two 16U Boys freestyle champions who are also wrestling Greco-Roman lost on Tuesday evening. Sebastian Gutierrez of California went 2-2 on the day to close out his Fargo run at 113 pounds. Indiana’s Jeremy Carver dropped a 9-8 decision to Washington’s Arcadius Cruz in the round of 16 to slide into the consolation side of the 126-pound bracket.

All three returning champions are still alive heading into day two of Greco-Roman competition. Miro Parr-Coffin and Ryder Owen of Washington and Diego Robertty of Iowa are all in the quarterfinals. Parr-Coffin, who won two titles at the 2025 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals, advanced to the 106-pound quarterfinals with three technical falls. Following a runner-up finish in 16U Boys freestyle, Robertty has rolled through the 120-pound bracket thus far, with four shutouts and has ended each match in the first period. Owen has three 8-0 technical falls and a 16-second pin across his first four matches at 132 pounds.

Two runners-up from 2025 are still alive in this year’s tournament, with Millage and Zachary Donalson of Arkansas looking for the top step of the Greco-Roman podium this year. Donalson teched his way to the quarterfinals to keep his run alive at 126 pounds. Delaware’s Cody Bakhsh was the only 2025 runner-up who bowed out of title contention after a 10-0 defeat to Ashur Whitmer of Iowa at 113 pounds.

The first portion of the round of 16 featured two No. 1 seeds going down. At 94 pounds, Mason Irwin of New Jersey outlasted top-seeded Michael Nicosia of Pennsylvania in a 5-1 battle. Wisconsin’s Isaac Weber pinned No. 1-seeded Lewis Davis of Arkansas at the 1:51 mark of their bout at 132 pounds.

Illinois leads all states with 44 wrestlers still alive in the tournament. Pennsylvania has the second-most wrestlers with 30, followed by Iowa with 27.

Competition continues at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals on Wednesday at 9 a.m. CT, where Junior and 16U Boys Greco-Roman will wrestle through the semifinals. The third-, fifth- and seventh-place matches will take place at 4 p.m. CT, followed by the championship finals at 5:30 p.m. CT.

Top 10 States | Wrestlers Remaining

1. Illinois, 44

2. Pennsylvania, 30

3. Iowa, 27

T4. Michigan, 23

T4. Ohio, 23

T4. Utah, 23

T7. California, 22

T7. Minnesota, 22

9. Colorado, 20

10. Indiana, 19