FARMINGTON, Utah — Minnesota Red battled its way to a fourth-place finish in the top-tier Gold/Silver championship bracket at the 2026 16U Freestyle Wrestling National Duals, leading a strong two-team showing for the state in the 45-team tournament.
The two-day tournament, featuring the nation’s best 16-and-under freestyle wrestlers, concluded Saturday at Western Sports Park.
Minnesota Red established its championship credentials on opening day, suffering a narrow 38-32 loss to New Jersey in the bracket finals after steamrolling Nebraska (61-13) and Washington (49-24) in Pool A. The 2-1 start punched the squad’s ticket to the elite tier on day two.
After dropping their opening championship bracket dual to eventual national champion Pennsylvania Blue, Minnesota Red rallied for back-to-back, razor-thin victories. They edged past traditional powerhouse Illinois 39-32, before knocking off border-rival Iowa Red 35-33.
The run culminated in a tight 37-32 loss to California Gold in the third-place dual. Minnesota Red jumped out to an early advantage with dominant individual performances, including a 10-0 technical fall by Kadin Martin (157 pounds) and a pin from Kaden Lindquist (120) in 3:27. Grayson Schroeder (100) and Ezekiel Rodrigues (132) also secured big victories, but California Gold’s late-weight depth proved just enough to edge out the Minnesotans.
Meanwhile, Minnesota Blue put together a gritty, marathon performance of their own to claim third place in the third-tier Red/Blue bracket.
After wrestling six duals on day one to finish 4-2 in a grueling Pool C preliminary, Minnesota Blue caught fire on Saturday. They went 3-1 on the final day, punctuated by a commanding 49-27 victory over Florida in their final matchup.
Minnesota Blue left little doubt in the third-place dual, powered by pins from Lincoln Marr (190) and four technical falls from Elias Motta (165), Adrian Fuchs (215), Ivan Larsen (100), and Nolan Seman (150).
Pennsylvania Blue took home the overall national title, followed by Ohio in second, and California Gold in third.
Highlighting the individual performances for Minnesota were 113-pounders Gavin Hoeft and Garrett Bjerga, who both earned All-Tournament Team honors by finishing the weekend undefeated. Hoeft, wrestling for Minnesota Blue, put together a flawless 10-0 record over the grueling two-day stretch. Bjerga anchored the lower weights for Minnesota Red, tearing through his slate with a perfect 7-0 mark.
Final Team Standings (Gold/Silver Bracket)
- Pennsylvania Blue
- Ohio
- California Gold
- Minnesota Red
- Wisconsin
- Iowa Red
- Illinois
- New Jersey
Gold/Silver bracket third-place dual:
California Gold over Minnesota Red (37-32)
157: Kadin Martin (MIRE) def. Noah Moylan (CAGO), TF 10-0 (2:43)
165: Adrian Barbosa (CAGO) def. Rex Ayshford (MIRE), Dec 7-2
175: Destan Skelly (MIRE) def. Chase Young (CAGO), Dec 10-8
190: Charlie Johnson (MIRE) def. Leon Bleess (CAGO), Dec 11-8
215: Steven Gomez III (CAGO) def. Duke Bartoo (MIRE), TF 13-2 (2:08)
285: Sawyer Schendel (MIRE) def. Edwin Davis (CAGO), Dec 7-0
88: Zander Melendez (CAGO) def. Kamden Gallus (MIRE), TF 10-0 (0:30)
94: Samuel Svitana (CAGO) def. Brody Sundby (MIRE), TF 10-0 (1:19)
100: Grayson Schroeder (MIRE) def. Andersen Park (CAGO), Dec 4-0
106: Ausome Guillermo (CAGO) def. Evann Linn (MIRE), TF 10-0 (0:43)
113: Garrett Bjerga (MIRE) def. Quentin Walls (CAGO), Dec 8-4
120: Kaden Lindquist (MIRE) def. David McClurg (CAGO), Fall 3:27
126: Jacob Dominguez (CAGO) def. Beckett Edstrom (MIRE), TF 11-0 (1:33)
132: Ezekiel Rodrigues (MIRE) def. Jimmy Jimenez (CAGO), TF 10-0 (0:49)
138: Marco Costa (CAGO) def. Jameson Priebe (MIRE), TF 10-0 (0:37)
144: Raymond Castillo (CAGO) def. Cayden Neisen (MIRE), Dec 4-2
150: Xander Fronhofer (CAGO) def. Danan Nelson (MIRE), TF 11-1 (1:31)
Red/Blue bracket third-place dual:
Minnesota Blue over Florida (49-27)
157: Jake Austin (FLOR) def. Nash Graner (MIBL), TF 12-2 (3:06)
165: Elias Motta (MIBL) def. Howard Hill (FLOR), TF 12-2 (1:42)
175: Gavin Edwards (MIBL) won by forfeit
190: Lincoln Marr (MIBL) def. Ari Rupe (FLOR), Fall 2:31
215: Adrian Fuchs (MIBL) def. Gable Herl (FLOR), TF 10-0 (1:29)
285: Thomas Olson (MIBL) def. Gabriel Pena (FLOR), Dec 8-4
88: Ian Cooley (MIBL) won by forfeit
94: Phillip Durden (FLOR) def. Nolan Vos (MIBL), Dec 14-7
100: Ivan Larsen (MIBL) def. Henry Johnson (FLOR), TF 10-0 (1:18)
106: Kenly Estevez (FLOR) def. Anthony Chilton (MIBL), TF 11-0 (3:10)
113: Gavin Hoeft (MIBL) def. Noah Desmond (FLOR), Dec 6-3
120: Tucker McLennan (MIBL) won by forfeit
126: Benito Barnhart (FLOR) def. Peter Alexander Schutz (MIBL), Dec 11-2
132: Cale Wimberly (FLOR) def. Clayton Birkholz (MIBL), Fall 2:40
138: Elijah Castanon (FLOR) def. Jayden Mattern-Badillo (MIBL), Dec 10-2
144: Jaden Neunsinger (MIBL) def. Russ Haas (FLOR), Dec 10-2
150: Nolan Seman (MIBL) def. Marco DeMayo (FLOR), TF 14-4 (1:58)