Washington, Minnesota, and Wisconsin Wrestlers to Watch at Fargo 2026

Washington, Minnesota, and Wisconsin round out our Fargo preview series with three northern states that bring different strengths to the 2026 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals. Washington is the fourth-largest wrestling state in the country by rostered wrestlers with nearly 14,000, while Minnesota and Wisconsin each contribute roughly 8,000-9,000. All three states have deep folkstyle traditions and are building out their freestyle and Greco-Roman development, with Washington leading the way in overall rating depth.

Washington's top wrestler is Rex Bryson of Centralia, who carries a 2508 overall rating on an 88-1 record — just one loss all season. Saige McCleery of Sumner (2459, 61-1) leads the girls with a 2007 freestyle rating and has also lost just once. Gonzaga Prep is Washington's deepest pipeline: Ryder Owen (2378, 121-25) carries a 2032 freestyle and 2165 Greco-Roman rating, Miro Parr-Coffin (2328, 108-18) adds a 2007 freestyle and 2058 Greco-Roman rating, and Austin Schield (2278, 134-30) brings 134 wins and ratings near 1950 in both international styles. Persephone Puz of Vashon Island (2378, 54-2) and Raenah Smith of Mead (2346, 52-6) add girls depth, and Justyce Zuniga of Toppenish (2276, 78-17) carries a 1984 freestyle and 1904 Greco-Roman rating.

Minnesota is a wrestling state to its core, and while the rated data is thinner here than in some states — a function of how dual-meet coverage feeds the database — the talent is real. Jackson Doman of Canby leads the state at 2309 on a perfect 34-0 record. Micah Hach of South Dakota State (2298, 70-5) brings a 2066 freestyle and 1958 Greco-Roman rating. On the girls side, Bode Hutchinson of Grand Rapids (2178, 117-20) has logged an impressive 117 wins and carries a 1986 freestyle and 1857 Greco-Roman rating. Miles Wildman of Minnewaska Area (2177, 51-6) and the Kasson/Mantorville pipeline round out Minnesota's boys depth. Minnesota wrestlers tend to be tougher than their ratings suggest — the state's folkstyle culture produces grinders who know how to win ugly at Fargo.

Wisconsin is building a strong girls program. Hailey Worden of Gold Rush Wrestling leads the state at 2315 on a 122-22 record with freestyle and Greco-Roman ratings both above 2000 — one of the few Wisconsin wrestlers rated above 2000 in both international styles. Kylee Kurszewski of Neenah (2301, 109-18) carries a 1923 freestyle rating. On the boys side, Zahn Beal of Arrowhead (2279, 76-15) leads with a 1937 freestyle rating, and Isaac Weber of Germantown (2221, 120-27) brings 120 wins and a 2011 freestyle rating. The Askren Wrestling Academy, founded by Olympic silver medalist Ben Askren, is developing girls talent with Naomi Foote (2191, 41-5) in the program. Oregon contributes depth with wrestlers like Aileen Paniagua (2183, 117-15) and Alana Troullier (2182, 64-11) from the same school.

These three states share a northern wrestling identity that prizes toughness and off-season development. Washington has the most rating depth and the strongest cross-style athletes — Owen and Parr-Coffin from Gonzaga Prep both carry dual freestyle and Greco ratings above 2000, the profile that tends to predict Fargo success. Minnesota and Wisconsin are states where the dual-meet grind of the folkstyle season produces wrestlers who may not carry the highest ratings but consistently show up prepared at national events. All three states have invested in girls wrestling, with Washington's McCleery and Wisconsin's Worden leading programs that continue to grow.

For the full profiles on any of these wrestlers — including WPR scores, archetype breakdowns, rating trajectories, and complete match histories — click through to their MatMetrics profile. That wraps our ten-part Fargo preview series covering 22 states. The 2026 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals in Fargo will be one of the deepest fields in recent memory, and every state we have profiled is sending real contenders.