Fargo 2025: Every Returning 16U Boys All-American Still Competing This Season

The 2025 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals in Fargo crowned champions across 18 weight classes in the 16U Boys division, and the athletes who stood on the podium last July have spent this season proving it was no fluke. We tracked down every top-four finisher in both freestyle and Greco-Roman who is back on the mat this season, and the numbers tell a story about which wrestlers have grown, which have stayed elite, and which divisions will produce the most drama when Fargo rolls around again in 2026.

Across all 18 weight classes, 125 returning All-Americans are actively competing this season. The highest-rated among them is Johnathan Thompson of Iowa, the freestyle runner-up at 88 pounds, who currently carries a 2525 Glicko-2 rating and a 31-3 record. Among boys, the next tier includes Thiago Silva of California (2457, Greco 113 lbs 3rd place), Brody Compau of Michigan (2424, freestyle 100 lbs champion), and Wyatt Dannegger of Missouri (2416, Greco 100 lbs champion). These are wrestlers whose current season form confirms that their Fargo results were not a fluke.

The lower weights are shaping up to be the deepest. At 88 pounds, Iowa dominates with Thompson, Ty Martin (Greco champion, 41-5, 2343), and Cyrus Millage (Greco runner-up, 18-6, 2338) all returning. At 106, a loaded field of eight returners includes Connor Maddox of Indiana (freestyle champion, 2471, 53-5) plus Lincoln Valdez of Colorado (2317), Paden Alyea of Virginia (2334), and Kash Larkin of Arizona (2291). The 113-pound Greco bracket will be fascinating: Thiago Silva posted a 2457 rating from the third-place position, well above champion Greysen Packer's 2306, suggesting a potential title-match rematch between wrestlers whose seasons have diverged dramatically.

The middle weights tell a story of depth over dominance. At 126, four freestyle returners all carry ratings between 2235 and 2377, led by Robert Ruscitti of Illinois at 2377 despite only finishing fourth last year — a sign that Fargo placement and current form do not always align. At 132, Illia Kyryianenko of Florida (freestyle champion, 2407) is the clear frontrunner, but Cane Smolarsky of Georgia has been the busiest with 56 wins. The 138-pound bracket might produce the biggest upset: Connor Crum of Washington, who finished fourth in freestyle, now carries the highest rating in the weight at 2253 while champion Pierre Greenhill sits at 2000.

The upper weights feature some of the most active wrestlers in the division. At 157, all eight returners have wrestled at least 32 matches this season, with Jacob Hadden of Oklahoma leading the way at 58-23. At 165, Sean Breedlove of Indiana (freestyle runner-up) has the best record among returners at 45-2 with a 2368 rating, while Shannon Hughes of Iowa has been the iron man with 52 matches. At 175, Layth Qouchbane of Oregon stands out with a remarkable 65-4 record from the fourth-place Greco position. William Etu of Virginia owns the heavyweight division's top spot at 190 with a 2367 rating and 61-5 record.

At the top end, 215 and 285 are thinner on returners but not on intrigue. Eaghan Fleshman of Iowa (215 freestyle 3rd) carries a 2294 rating that is 337 points higher than champion Meric Hagarty's 1957, making him the clear favorite heading into next summer. At 285, Carlos Rodriguez Jr. of South Dakota (freestyle 3rd, 2123 rating, 48-10 record) is the most active heavyweight returner by a wide margin. The Greco brackets at these weights are especially thin, suggesting opportunities for new faces to break through.

For a deeper look at any of these wrestlers, click through to their MatMetrics profile to see full rating histories, archetype breakdowns, and recent match results. And if you are coaching or parenting a 16U wrestler headed to Fargo, bookmark the rankings page — the picture will keep shifting between now and July.