There’s a returned sense of normalcy in Fargo this July. It almost didn’t feel like we went without Nationals in 2020 until we arrived onsite yesterday and realized just what void needed to be filled. The action was nonstop since 8am, and the day was filled with varied amounts of triumph and heartbreak that accompany events like this. 

Today’s blog is focused on the women as the 16U division wrestled through the semis. Highlighting the division for Wisconsin are two ladies that earned All-American status and will wrestle tomorrow: Hanna Errthum (132) will wrestle for 3rd, and Faith Bartoszek (144) for 5th.

Errthum set out on a path to take the 132-pound bracket by storm. She opened the day with two technical superiorities—over Pennsylvania and Missouri—to land in the quarters and then picked up a fall over Colorado’s Alicen Dillard to advance to the championship semis. Errthum created an 8-0 lead versus her opponent from Ohio but got caught in a compromising position that ended the match by fall. She returned to the mat with ferocity after the heartbreaking loss, and defeated Lilly Luft of Iowa, 7-2. Errthum will wrestle Mishell Rebisch of Alaska for 3rd place tomorrow afternoon. 

Bartoszek’s route to the semifinals included a win by fall over Colorado, win by decision over New Jersey and a technical superiority over North Dakota. In the 144-pound semifinal match Bartoszek’s opponent from Michigan punched the score up 4-0 in the first period and held onto that lead into the second. Bartoszek took the lead by criteria in the second period but was unable to ward off a takedown and got edged out 8-6. She returned to the mat for the consolation semis where she lost a close match to Tennesse’s Maggie Graham, 4-2. Bartoszek will wrestle Virginia’s Stella Steigler for 5th place tomorrow afternoon. 

Bopasoreya Quintana put together a 4-2 performance at 106 pounds. Her final match of the tournament was versus 2021 U15 champion Rianna Murphy—Quintana scored 5 points in a six-minute battle that ended by decision, 9-5. First-year cadet and 8th grade wrestler Brooke Corrigan (94) made her way into the All-American blood round in a back-and-forth match she lost in just the final seconds, 10-8. Haeli Casey went 2-2 at 100 pounds. Mattie Papenthien (132) and Natalie Klavetter (112) showed up and battled in their first ever Fargo appearances. 

While the women wrestled through the championship and consolation semifinals, the 16U boys used all of sessions I and II to work through preliminary and consolation rounds. Some of the brackets were large enough to have rounds of 128.  

Wisconsin has 10 boys in the 16U freestyle quarterfinals and 7 in the first consi of 8. On the championship side are Aeoden Sinclair (160), Brett Back (145), Charlie Millard (145), Cole Mirasola (182), Connor Mirasola (182), Haakon Peterson (88), Koy Hopke (220), Lincoln Flayter (94), Zachary Eliszewski (152) and Zane Licht (145).

Active in the consolations are Evan Gratz (285), Griffin Empey (285), Ian Smith (182), Karsen Otis (152), Liam Neitzel (94), Reid Spurley (113) and Silas Dailey (152). 

Wrestling resumes Sunday morning at 8am. USA Wrestling’s complete schedule is here.

Sunday’s Schedule (Day 2) 
8am – 1:30pm: Junior MFS Prelims & Consolations
1:30 – 4pm: 16U WFS Finals, Medals Matches & Awards
4:30 – 9pm: 16U MFS Quarters, Semis & Consolations; Junior MFS Prelims & Consolations

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