Below are the final results from the 16U Women's Freestyle Finals.
94 - Valarie Solorio (FL) over Gabriella Gomez (IL) 6-3
100 - Makenzie Smith (IN) over Mikayla Garcia (CA) Fall 1:39
106 - Paige Morales (CA) over Kiely Tabaldo (CA) 4-0
112 - Cecilia Williams (MI) over Zao Estrada (SC) 4-2
117 - Cadence Diduch (IL) over Valerie Hamilton (IL) 4-0
122 - Shelby Moore (WA) over Julianna Morris (CT) 10-0
127 - Skylar Little Soldier (MN) over Taydem Khamjoi (CA) 13-4
132 - Cassia Zammit (OH) over Sydney Perry (IL) 8-2
138 - Alessandra Elliott (NY) over Lydia Roope (MI) 6-2
144 - Nebi Tsarni (MD) over Amarisa Manuel (MI) 3-2
152 - Robinson (TX) over Genesis Gilmore (TN) 10-0
164 - Ella Pagel (MN) over Ali Haiser (MO) Fall 2:28
180 - Sabrina Nauss (MI) over Kiara Ganey (IL) 13-2
200 - Catherine Dutton (MO) over Mariyah Brumley (MO) 12-0
Now Some Takeaways:
Texas' Jasmine Robinson was the talk of the Finals: Robinson, out of powerhouse Allen, Texas, the same school that produced three-time NCAA champion and four-time finalist, Bo Nikal, was on a mission inside the Fargodome. She finished her run to the title a perfect 4-0, with three tech falls and a pin. Robinson did not surrender a single point throughout her four matches. Most impressively, she saved her biggest move, a monster throw, for the gold medal match against Genesis Gilmore of Tennessee, who became the Volunteer State's first Fargo All-American as a 2021 runner-up. Take a look at the match here. The throw, coupled with her dominance on the mat, undoubtedly helped Robinson take home Outstanding Wrestler honors.
Nebi Tsarni makes Maryland History: In what was arguably the most exciting of the 14 finals matches, Tsarni was trailing by a point in the last seconds but was able to secure a takedown at the buzzer to claim the title and make history. Watch the fantastic finish here. With this match as proof, you're never truly out of it until the clock strikes zero. With the win, Tsarni is Maryland's first 16U women's freestyle champion. She was 4-0 in Fargo.
Minnesota Eighth Grader Ella Pagel made it look Easy: Not only did Minnesota's Ella Pagel storm to a title as one of the youngest participants in the women's 16U freestyle field, just 14 years old, but also, she did so quickly. During Day One of the competition, the No. 4 ranked wrestler recorded three technical falls, all under a minute each, and her longest match failed to reach the second period. Pagel went into the finals with 47 scored and no points given up. In her finals match against Missouri's Ali Haiser, Pagel was leading 8-2 early in the second period when she secured the win by fall to earn her first Fargo stop sign. She outscored opponents 55-2 overall.
Rankings are meaningless; ask Cecilia Williams and Skylar Little Solider: When you look at rankings, overall records, or other things of that nature, these stats can give you an idea who might win a match, but really, these figures mean absolutely nothing. In the 112-pound final, we saw No. 14 Cecilia Williams (Michigan) edge No. 2 Zao Estrada (South Carolina) via a tight 4-2 decision. Three bouts later, at 127 pounds, we saw No. 17 Minnesota's Skylar Little Solider (Yes, her name is that cool) tech fall No. 6 Taydem Khamjoi (California). In other words, this is why we wrestle, because the wrestler who is supposed to win on paper does not always get it done down on the mat. Check out the 112-pound final here and the 127-pond final here.
Check out some post-Finals interviews from our 16U Women's Freestyle champions here from USA Wrestling.
Also, here is the 16U Women's National Championships recap from USA Wrestling.
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