The Girls’ Freestyle competition for 16U and Junior Divsions kicked off the 2024 Unites States Marine Corp Nationals at the Fargo Dome on Saturday and concluded on Sunday evening. Maryland’s only wrestlers to earn stop signs reached the finals, Archbishop Spalding’s Taina Fernandez (16U, 136) and Randallstown’s Ugochi Anunobi (JR, 155).
Fernandez added another high-level crown to her vast collection of championships by winning a battle of National Prep Champions in her finals match over Blair Academy, New Jersey’s Corynne McNulty, 11-0. Fernandez, who is ranked No. 1 in the nation at 135, won preps at 126lbs. McNulty, who is ranked sixth in the nation at 140, won her prep title at 132lbs.
As per usual for Fernandez, none of her opponents scored a point. This is a trend Fernandez has established in winning National and World titles. In fact, no one at Fargo lasted past the first period. McNulty, who is from Massachusetts, fell by technical superiority in 2:23. In FS, a ten-point margin is needed for a tech.
In the Semis, it took the Cavalier 1:21 to rack up a 10-0 tech of Montana’s Meadow Mahlmeister. A quarter final meeting with Texas’s Camille Rainey ended by tech at the 1:48 mark. Rainey is ranked fifteenth in the country at 140.
Ohio’s Chloe Tompkins was blanked, 10-0, in 2:08 in the round of 16. The soon-to-be sophomore planted Lexa Rozevink (Iowa) in 1:10 seconds in the round of 32. The opening match with Nebraska’s Maia Ruben ended with a 10-0 tech in 24 seconds.
Anunobi came up short in her title quest after dropping down from 170lbs, where she is ranked number 10 nationally. In the finals, the outgoing senior, who will compete for Life University in Georgia, encountered the No. 2 155lber in the nation, California’s Eduarda Rodrigues and was eventually pinned in 3:54. Rodrigues was the No. 1 seed, Anunobi despite her national ranking was given the 18th seed.
In the semis, Anunobi, a multi-time state champion, edged New York’s Adrianna Palumbo, 12-11. Palumbo would go on to place fourth. The quarter finals saw Anunobi take out eighth place finisher, Maggie Ortman (MO), 10-0. Anunobi upended the No. 2 seed from Colorado, Alison Evans, in the round of 16 with a 32 second pin. Evans did not reach the podium.
Two more 10-0 techs and a fall were registered in Anunobi’s first three matches. Samaria Bennett (TX) and Ida Pellei (VA) fell by tech and Amanda Yu Ramirez of Arizona was flattened in 35 seconds to start things off for Anunobi.
Laurel’s state champ and nationally ranked Alexandra Ford reached the blood round at 140lbs before her journey in the Junior Division came to an end at the hands of Missouri’s Annelise Obermark, by fall, in 1:29. Obermark placed fourth. Ford, who is No. 26 at 140 in the country, reached the quarterfinals and dropped that match to the eventual champion, Pennsylvania’s Haylie Jaffe, 10-0.
Four straight wins got Ford, who will be a senior this year, started on a high note with a 10-0 tech over New Jersey’s Isabella Prem-Golden to open the action. A 2:19 decking of Illinois Natalie Beaumont followed that in the round of 64. In the rounds of 32 and 16, Ford posted identical 10-5 wins against Kryssceah Ravenelle (RI) and Taydem Bylin (WA) respectively.
Nationally ranked state champion, Lexy Pabon of Crofton also posted a 4-2 record in the Junior brackets at 130lbs. Pabon, who will also be a senior this year is currently ranked No. 17 at 125 in the country. Pabon was pinned in the consolation round of 16 #2 in 2:35 by Liz Donovan (MA). Two wins in the consolation bracket came before that loss, including a pin of Texas’ Neelie Parker, 1:56, and a 14-4 tech versus Nebraska’s Regan Rosseter.
A 10-0 loss to Mackenzie English (CA) in the round of 32 pushed Pabon to the consolation rounds. Prior to that, Pabon posted a round of 64 pin of Illinois’ Grace Laird, 3:17, and an opening victory, 10-0, against Florida’s Sheyla Ochoa Salgado.
Another nationally ranked Marylander, who is also a state champion, went 2-2 at 100lbs, Arundel’s Jada Chaves (Junior, 100lbs). The outgoing senior is ranked 16th nationally at 105lbs. Two pins out of the gate had Chaves rolling in the right direction before getting tripped up in the round of 16.
Nebraska’s Ella Japp was put to sleep in 1:26, while Chaves was holding a 6-0 lead. Chaves was out front of Florida’s Emily Doolittle, 6-0, before planting her in 1:30. Oklahoma’s Destiny Jones won a nailbiter over Chaves, 18-17, in the round of 16. Chaves was not able to rebound in the consolation backet dropping her first match, 8-2, to North Carolina’s Anna Ockerman.
A 2-2 record was also collected by MSWA Middle School state champion, Summer Mutschler (16U, 100lbs). Mutschler was decked by Vina Nguyen (WA) in 19 seconds in her last match in the consolation bracket after pinning South Dakota’s Liza Krueger in 40 seconds of her first consolation match. A 10-0 round of 32 loss to silver medalist Madsion Nieuwehuis of Michigan, who is ranked fourth in the nation at 100lbs, came after blanking New York’s Jadyn Graham, 10-0, in the round of 64.
The final Maryland girl at Fargo was Glenelg’s just graduated senior, Rowan Titus (JR, 235). Titus won her opening match by fall versus New York’s Tiarra Guan, 3:25, then lost two straight to fall out of the competition. A round of 32 loss occurred on a 55 second pin by Michigan’s Sabrina Nauss. A 1:03 pin was executed on Titus by North Dakota’s Morgan Harvey in the consolation bracket.
16U WOMEN FREESTYLE
FINALS
88-Lily Enos (IL) VPO1 Brynn Engel (WI), 8-3
94-Justice Gutierrez (CO) VPO1 Natalie Radecki (DE), 1-1
100-Jaclyn Bouzakis (PA) VPO Madison Nieuwenhuis (MI), 6-0
106-Julia Horger (PA) VPO1 Marlee Solomon (CA), 9-6
112-Charlie Wylie (NJ) VPO Kayla Batres (CT), 8-0
118-Haley Gonzales (NY) VPO1 Cheyenne Frank (MI), 9-3
124-Mekala James (CA) VPO1 Victoria Carbonaro (NJ), 7-4
130-Taina Mcgowan (NJ) VPO1 Caroline Hilton (TN), 3-2
136-Taina Fernandez (MD) VSU Corynne Mcnulty (MA), 11-0 2:23
142-Violette Lasure (PA) VPO1 Greta Garbuzovas (GA), 11-5
148-Kaili Manuel (MI) VSU1 Ella Poalillo (NJ), 14-3 3:53
155-Janiya Johnson (TN) VPO1 Jayci Shelton (MO), 8-4
170-Millie Azlin (OK) VPO1 Matilda Hruby (CO), 11-9
190-Brooke Huffman (WI) VFA Tevia nau Rarick (UT), 10-7 3:06
235-Brenda Banks (PA) VFA Deionna Borders (OH), 4-1 1:56
3RD PLACE
88-Katelyn Rowles (IN) VPO1 Kayla Pastika (MN), 8-2
94-Libertie Nigh (OH) VPO1 Khyla Lipumano (AZ), 6-4
100-Angelica Serratos (CA) VPO1 Ryleigh Sturgill (TN), 8-4
106-Sarissa Tucker (VA) VPO1 Abigail Gonzalez (FL), 7-1
112-Nakayla Dawson (MI) VFA Lilly Quintanilla (WY), 11-0 0:54
118-Alexis Lazar (MI) VPO Mackenzie Carder (OH), 5-0
124-Emma Bacon (PA) VSU Danica Torres (AZ), 11-0 1:40
130-Lilliana Banks (WI) VSU1 Kalynn Lyons (NE), 12-2 2:24
136-Timberly Martinez (CO) VSU1 Maddie Marsh (IN), 14-1 3:08
142-Dulcy Martinez (CA) VSU Harlow Skenandore (WI), 10-0 3:24
148-Cassandra Gonzales (MN) VPO1 Olivia Georges (NJ), 4-4
155-Sarah Pulk (MN) VPO1 Laila Hustoles (OK), 6-6
170-Elizabeth Madison (OH) VFA Miley Walz (IA), 10-0 2:27
190-Esmeralda Tellez (PA) VPO1 Blake Baker (TX), 3-1
235-Phoenix Molina (IL) VPO1 Jayden Moehle (MO), 8-2
5TH PLACE
88-Kylee Tran (OK) VPO1 Fern Jewett (MA), 6-4
94-Makayla Smith (PA) VSU Siera Becker (IA), 10-0 2:00
100-Violet Diaz (IA) VPO1 Alicia Kenfack (ND), 9-2
106-Marie Sharp (NJ) VFA Bianca Eide (MN), 12-2 3:27
112-Isabel Kaplan (IN) VPO Nevada Daniels (TX), 7-0
118-Carolyn Geckler (OH) VPO1 Emjay Neumann (WI), 6-2
124-Kailin Sebert (TX) VFA Ariella Dobin (IL), 4-0 0:55
130-Sophia Slaughter (VA) VIN Riley Hanrahan (WI)
136-Isabella Miller (IA) VPO1 Meadow Mahlmeister (MT), 11-2
142-Roxy Sheen (ID) VFA Victoria Alvarado (NY), 9-2 2:54
148-Veronica Madrid (KS) VFA Ryen Hickey (CO), 4-2 0:35
155-Eva Garcia (CA) VFA Audrey Levendusky (TN), 4-4 1:25
170-Addeline Graser (NE) VIN Emily Carvalho (CA)
190-Mia Cienega (WA) VFA Olivia Ruacho (CA), 8-0 0:58
235-Mackenna Atkinson (PA) VSU Peyton Mullin (NY), 12-0 1:02
7TH PLACE
88-Cadence Grulla (GA) VPO1 Anabelle Wessel (NY), 7-1
94-Alliya Walker (VA) VSU Kate Hollinger (PA), 12-0 2:26
100-Killian Evans (MO) VFA Dilynn Albrecht (WI), 10-2 2:12
106-Chloe Skiles (IL) VIN Camryn Gresham (OH)
112-Samiyah Rahming (PA) VSU Daylee Watson (PA), 10-0 1:48
118-Aubree Gutierrez (CA) VPO1 Sara Mclaughlin (MA), 13-12
124-Olivia Bezdicek (ID) VFA Franky Groom-frey (WI), 6-3 2:51
130-Lauren Zaragoza (CA) VPO1 Naima Ghaffar (IN), 8-3
136-Nia Hagler (UT) VFA Paisley Denault (MI), 8-4 1:31
142-Kayden Sipp (NE) VFA Kelice Luker (OK), 6-3 1:40
148-Breanne Gibbs (MO) VFA Mackenna Webster (MI), 2-0 1:02
155-Rhaigyn Trenary (IN) VFA Symone Jewell (CA), 4-2 0:39
170-Makayla Vasser (NE) VSU Carli Vargas (MO), 11-0 0:54
190-Latoya Sylvestre (FL) VFA Macy Barber (NE), 6-0 0:49
235-Aarianna Bloyd (IL) VPO1 Shelby Wells (TX), 4-1
JUNIOR WOMEN FREESTYLE
FINALS
95-Samantha Bertini (MA) VFA Kinlee Brandley (UT), 4-0 0:41
100-Katey Valdez (CO) VIN Valarie Solorio (PA), 4-4 4:57
105-Heather Crull (IN) VSU Aroma Marrufo (MO), 11-0 1:55
110-Taylor Whiting (WI) VSU Chloe Dearwester (OH), 11-0 1:55
115-Zao Estrada (SC) VSU Cassidy Benwell (MO), 10-0 1:50
120-Aspen Blasko (MN) VFA Savannah Witt (PA), 7-0 1:48
125-Karlee Brooks (AZ) VSU Rose Kaplan (IN), 10-0 2:07
130-Samantha Sachs (CA) VPO1 Lynn Horn (OK), 3-1
135-Isis France (AZ) VFA Isabella Cepak (MI), 19-8 3:26
140-Haylie Jaffe (PA) VSU Aleksandra Bastaic (IN), 10-0 1:51
145-Valerie Hamilton (IL) VPO Sarah Henckel (CT), 3-0
155-Eduarda Rodrigues (CA) VFA Ugochi Anunobi (MD), 17-6 3:54
170-Kali Hayden (OK) VSU Kaylie Hall (WV), 12-0 1:14
190-Isabella Phillips (WA) VPO Ella Murphey (TN), 9-0
235-Sabrina Nauss (MI) VSU1 Tirza Twoteeth (MT), 16-5 4:31
3RD PLACE
95-Mya Hairston (MO) VSU1 Alexa Rodriguez lopez (TX), 15-4 2:21
100-Kristina Kent (UT) VSU Kendall Moe (IN), 10-0 1:24
105-Jennifer Favela (CA) VPO1 Addie Morse (OK), 9-6
110-Abbi Cooper (CA) VSU Libby Roberts (WA), 10-0 1:28
115-Harlee Hiller (IL) VFA Lorianna Piestewa (NM), 8-0 1:11
120-Calli Gilchrist (CT) VFA Shayna Ward (CA), 3-2 1:24
125-Kaidance Gerg (ID) VSU1 Ragan Retell (NY), 19-8 5:38
130-Carley Ceshker (WI) VFA Janie Houser (CA), 11-0 2:24
135-Celeste Detoles (UT) VPO1 Kayla Edwards (CA), 8-5
140-Amelia Fawcett (AK) VSU1 Annelise Obermark (MO), 11-1 3:53
145-Olivia Davis (CA) VFA Sydney Perry (IL), 4-0 1:59
155-Mya Bethel (FL) VFA Adriana Palumbo (NY), 5-4 4:23
170-Jael Miller (PA) VFA Billie Bonwell (NV), 6-2 1:31
190-Genevieve An (GA) VPO1 Maria Aiono (NV), 8-4
235-Kinslee Collier (OK) VPO Angel Hill (CA), 3-0
5TH PLACE
95-Annalise Maralit (SC) VIN Mia Vazquez (IL)
100-Makennah Craft (OH) VFA Zoey Haney (MO), 6-0 2:27
105-Joely Slyter (ID) VSU1 Ashley Naranjo (WA), 12-2 1:27
110-Caley Graber (MN) VSU1 Mariah Dillard (TX), 12-2 4:41
115-Leiannah Landreth (KS) VFA Marjorie Mcdaniel (WA), 2-2 1:18
120-Milana Borrelli (FL) VSU Noelani Lutz (NV), 11-0 0:39
125-Sierra Chiesa (PA) VPO1 Alejandra Valdiviezo (CA), 5-3
130-Emma Chacon (AZ) VPO1 Christina Borgmann (FL), 7-4
135-Margaret Buurma (MI) VPO1 Kaylan Hitchcock (KS), 14-7
140-Lexi Ritchie (IL) VFA Louise Juitt (MO), 6-0 1:19
145-Audrey Rogotzke (MN) VFA Selina Moore (NY), 12-0 2:25
155-Sage Rosario (KS) VPO Gretchen Donally (MT), 7-0
170-Alexandria Alli (OH) VSU Sophia Bassino (WI), 10-0 1:27
190-Isabella Renfro (MO) VPO1 Alyssa Favara (PA), 6-6
235-Lorelei Hartman (CA) VPO1 Keilikki nau Rarick (UT), 6-3
7TH PLACE
95-Kaylie Zeller (HI) VFA Navjot Waraich (CA), 11-4 2:39
100-Mia Navarro (CA) VFA Brianne Graves (OH), 6-4 4:10
105-Jazmine Turner (CA) VSU Lily Runez (MA), 10-0 2:13
110-Joy Cantu (IN) VFA Teegan Sibble (NY), 7-4 1:17
115-Angelina Vargas (MO) VSU Akeelah Moore (VT), 10-0 0:27
120-Angelina Cassioppi (IL) VFA Raegan Briggs (OH), 6-5 5:21
125-Kailey Benson (MO) VSU Emily Murphy (PA), 10-0 3:13
130-Anna Vogt (TX) VFA Jordyn Anderson (VA), 6-4 4:13
135-Paige Gershmel (MT) VPO1 Jacinda Espinosa (MO), 4-4
140-Morgan Lucio (AZ) VPO1 Morgan Edwards (PA), 15-6
145-Avari Johnson (KS) VFA Desza Munson (CO), 4-0 1:12
155-Jahlia Miguel (HI) VSU Maggie Ortmann (MO), 11-0 0:59
170-Kiley Dillow (KS) VFA Brynn Shepardson (NY), 4-0 1:50
190-Kathryn Hingano (CA) VFA Josephine Larson (IL), 4-0 0:26
235-Chloe Hoselton (IL) VFA Kinea Moore (FL), 6-6 2:04
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