2024 Fargo Junior Women's Recap: Moore Breaks Through to Earn First AA; Four Others Repeat as Medalists

110 Pounds: Teegan Sibble---8th Place

A year removed from finishing 8th on the 16U level under the Dome, the two-time Girls State Invitational runner-up made the prosperous jump up to the junior ranks by battling her way to a 5-3 resume that equaled her previous best from 2023!!!!

Seeded 15th in the bracket (despite being ranked 15th in the nation), the Bolivar-Richburg rising senior came out of the gates on a mission, hitting three moves of 4 points or better in racking up early day #1 victories by scores of 12-0 and fall 4:09 (up 6-2) versus Megan Rowland (3x North Carolina Girls State medalist/2023 runner-up) and 21st-ranked,  Alicia Serratos (2x California Girls State placer)....

Knocked into the out-bracket in the round of 16 by #7 Caley Graber (5th at the 2024 Minnesota Boys State Tournament; 2023 Minnesota Girls State Champion; 2022 Super 32 3rd; 2024 USAW Girls Junior Folk National Champion; 2x Fargo 16U AA/2023 National runner-up), Sibble would rebound to string together a three-bout streak, including dubs over a pair of top-30 personnel....

The rally back to top-8 status commencing with a showdown with #30 Sophia Shultz (2x Nebraska Girls State finalist/2024 Champion;  Multiple-time USAW Girls Nationals All-American/Jr. 5th in '23), Sibble trailed 6-2 before stepping and launching her foe for a 4-pointer on the edge of the mat to square the bout at 6-6 late in the 1st period....Unfortunately, in the midst of the action, Shultz sustained an injury and would not continue following the sequence...

Up next was a cross-state clash with New Jersey's Princessstorm Woody (2x Girls State placer/2024 Bronze; 2024 NHSCA 8th) that witnessed the Empire invading the Garden when Sibble jumped out to an 8-2 cushion (threatened the fall on multiple occasions with big tosses in each of the two periods) before Woody coincidentally would also be forced to injury default in the last 40 ticks of the match!

Needing just one additional "w" to lock up AA for the second time in her career, Sibble delivered when the stakes were highest, as she'd drive through for a 4pt feet-to-back TD (double-leg) during the first 40 seconds of the 1st period and then further chipped away with an induced stepout and TD in the 1st, bolstered by a 2pt exposure + a lost challenge in the 2nd as the crux of a 10-5 decision against 24th-ranked/3x California Girls State placer, Avy Perez, in the blood round!

Washington's Libby Roberts (#8 ranked; 3x Washington Girls State champion; 2024 Women's Nationals U17 4th; Multi-time U.S. Open Girls Showcase placer/2024 runner-up; 2023 Fargo 16U National runner-up; 2022 NHSCA National Champion) & Joy Cantu (3x Indiana Girls State medalist/2024 runner-up; 2023 USAW Girls Nationals Junior 3rd; 2021 Fargo 16U 8th) handed Sibble losses at the back end of the tournament!

‍

125 Pounds: Ragan Retell----4th Place

In what was likely the final scholastic appearance for the immensely decorated Bengal senior, the Curby Training Center mentee did not disappoint, as she'd compile a 7-2 overall record en route to a fourth place finish to officially become a three-time Fargo All-American!!!

A bronze medalist on the 16U level in 2021, as well as a Junior 6th a summer ago, the 2x NYSPHSAA Girls State Invitational placer/2024 Queen entered the party sitting on the #7 line of the bracket, but would do "Ragan Retell" type things on her way to treating those in attendance to an absolute show!

Securing falls and/or techs in all seven of her arm-raising efforts, the future Elmira Eagle advanced to the quarterfinals behind 12-2, pin 1:38 (up 8-0), pin 0:29 (up 4-0), and 13-2 verdicts over the likes of Abby Richard (2024 Oregon Girls State Bronze medalist), Sarah Callender (2x Alaska Girls State placer/2024 runner-up), Shelby Prather (2024 Idaho Girls State 5th), & California's Alyssa Jones..

However, it would be her body of work after she was eliminated from title contention that especially stood out, as she proved why she is the present-day #9 ranked woman in the land when she posted an 11-0 TF in the blood round over #7 Lexie Lopez (Colorado) in the blood round; complemented by a 10-0 blanking in the consolation semifinals against #10 Alejandra Valdiviezo (CA)...

In her bout with the former [Lopez; 2x Colorado State finalist/2024 Champion; 2023 Fargo 16U National runner-up], Retell broke open a 1-0 lead at the end of the 1st period by exploding for 10 quick points during the opening minute of the 2nd, slipping a headlock for a 2pt counter TD (originally not awarded; but granted after a successful challenge) and then rolling through four straight leg-lace in par terre to polish off the dub!!

The match with Valdiviezo (3x California Girls State placer/2024 Champion; 3x Fargo All-American; 2023 U.S. Open Girls Showcase Bronze medalist) was an even more decisive affair, as Retell collected four takedowns in all (three during the 1st period) and tacked on a 2pt turn...

Sandwiched around the upending of her fellow top-10ers would be one of the wildest and entertaining contests of the entire weekend, as the New Yorker and her Missouri opponent, Kailey Benson (3x Missouri Girls State placer/2x finalist/2024 Champion; 2x NHSCA All-American/2024 runner-up; 2024 USAW Girls Folk Nationals Junior runner-up; 2023 Fargo 16U 4th) combined for 26 cumulative points before Retell eventually managed to pick up a stick at the 4:44 mark...

Trailing Benson 15-7 with just under 1:30 to go in regulation, the always dangerous Empire Stater would get to an over/under position and use it to whip her nemesis straight to her back (to cut the deficit to 15-11), where she held her until the official slapped the mat!

Retell's only two losses of the weekend came at the hands of the #1 and #3 ranked wrestlers in the country---Karlee Brooks (AZ; 2023 UWW U17 World 5th; Multiple-time Super 32 medalist/2023 runner-up) & Kaidance Gerg (2024 Women's Nationals U20 7th; 2024 U.S. Open Girls Showcase National runner-up; 2023 Fargo Junior National Champion) during the quarterfinal and bronze-medal contests!!!

‍

145 Pounds: Selina Moore---6th Place

In a weekend where the NYS faithful got to see two wrestlers from our schools win 16U National crowns and double digits achieve All-American honors; nothing could hold a candle to the emotion and chills of watching the 2x State medalist/2024 Champ out of Sherburne-Earlville hugging her father after locking up AA for the first time in Fargo!!

A young lady that was determined to make an emphatic statement,  if there was an "all heart and guts" team, Moore would have been the captain of that squad as she overcame a loss in the round of 32 by running off victories in her next six appearances in a row, including four top-30 triumphs!!!!

Her journey back to the podium sparked by a 12-0 TF over 2x Oregon Girls State medalist/2024 Bronze, Paige Allen, in her first consolation bout, momentum continued to grow for the 2024 NHSCA National titlist [Moore], as she required just 37 seconds to glue 2024 Iowa Girls State runner-up, Greta Brus!

A gauntlet of four nationally ranked hurdles awaiting her the deeper into the tourney she traveled, Moore was so focused and committed to the objective that she actually made a difficult task look quite simplistic, as one-by-one, she conquered #28 (Katherine Stewart; FL), #30 (Elly Janovsky; IN), #25 (Hadyn Stine; TX), and #12 (Desza Munson; CO) by tallies of 12-2, 11-0, 12-2, and 3:24 fall (leading 14-6)!!!...

Versus the Floridian [3x Girls State medalist/2x finalist/2024 Champion; 2x NHSCA AA/3rd in '24; 2024 U.S. Open Girls Showcase 4th], Moore transformed a 2-2 match late in the 1st into a one-sided spectacle, as she hit a four-point headlock just prior to the break; and then detonated another 4-pointer with a toss less than :20 into the 2nd...For good measure, she spun behind Stewart and dragged her down to the mat for a terminating TD with 1:35 to go in regulation!!

The collision with Janovsky lasting just 83 seconds, the New Yorker had a 4pt back suplex on the edge of the mat to turn a 2-0 lead into a 6-0 cushion and then shortly after utilized double-overs to throw the 4x Indiana Girls State medalist/3x finalist/2x Champion for an additional 4pts!!!

Incorporating everything from dumps (for 4pts) to 2pt arm-bars, the full range of Moore's skills were demonstrated in the win over the 2x Texas Girls State placer/2024 Champion, Stine....

Connecting with a pair of 4-point moves (inside trip, gut-wrench from a standing position) to boast an 11-2 advantage at end of 3:00 versus Munson (3x Colorado State finalist/2x Champion; 2024 Women’s Nationals U20 4th; 2024 U.S. Open Girls HS Showcase 5th), the NY would get headlocked at the beginning of the 2nd, but kept her poise and eventually was able to pop her head and then transition to a power-half to facilitate the stick!!!

Her losses coming to Delarie Juarez (2x California Girls State medalist/2024 Champion; 2023 Fargo 16U 7th; Multiple-time U.S. Open Girls Showcase medalist), #1 Sydney Perry (4x Illinois State Champion; 2022 UWW U17 World 5th; 2024 Women's Nationals U20 Bronze medalist;  2x Super 32 medalist/3rd in '22; 4x Fargo All-American/3x finalist/2022 Junior National Champion), and Minnesota's Audrey Rogotzke (3x Minesota State medalist/2x finalist/2022 Champ; 2x Fargo All-American; 2024 U.S. Open Girls Showcase 8th), Moore's 8-3, top-6 vitae (as a #28 seed) is sure to have her phone ringing off the hook today from interested suitors!!

As a reminder, she is/was a key piece of the Buffalo State 2024 recruiting class that were blindsided when the University parted ways with the coaches---Steve Hart & Kellen Devlin, that courted them to the program!

‍

155 Pounds: Adriana Palumbo---4th Place

The lone junior semifinalist for New York in 2024, the #7 ranked/2024 NYSPHSAA Girls State gold medalist for Pleasantville suffered a few heartbreaking losses (matches she was winning for the majority), but for the most part was utterly dominant and remarkable in emerging with a career-best top-4 effort under the Dome....

Getting better with age, the Section 1 superstar has steadily climbed up the ladder in her three trips to North Dakota, as she went from taking 8th in 2022 on the 16U level to 6th last year as a junior, and now 4th....And her entire senior campaign still awaits her in 2025!!!

Unscored upon for the entirety of Day #1 (37-0), Palumbo struck for four takedowns and a 2pt leg-lace to kickoff her tourney with a 10-0 TF over 2x Utah Girls State medalist/2024 Champion, Alexis Kirkland; used a suck-back (up 5-0) to pin Cicely Cullins (3x West Virginia Girls State medalist/2023 Runner-up) in 1:47; and had a highlight reel 5pt back suplex as part of a 10-0 round of 16 blanking of 2x Washington Girls State medalist/2023 runner-up, Belen Lopez...

But alas, her most impressive win on Saturday came during the nightcap, as she'd snap down on her opponent's head and then connect with a pancake to garner a 36-second fall in the quarters over 14th ranked, Mya Bethel (#14 ranked; 3x Florida Girls State Champion; 2023 Super 32 Bronze medalist; 2023 Fargo 16U National Champion)....

Dropping a back-and-forth, 12-11 decision in the semis to #9 Ugochi Anunobi (3x Maryland Girls State Champion; 2x NHSCA AA/3rd in '24' 2023 Super 32 6th; 2023 Fargo Junior 4th; 2024 Women's Nationals U20 5th), the GPS trained gem bounced back in the consolation semifinals when she avenged a loss from months earlier at Women's U20 Nationals, reversing the 6-3 blemish by converting three takedowns (two via low-single/ankle pick) and rolling through a pair of leg-laces to thwart #9 ranked, Gretchen Donally (4x Montana Girls State medalist/3x Champion;  2024 Women's Nationals U20 Bronze; 2024 USAW Girls Folk Nationals Junior runner-up; 2023 Fargo Junior 7th; 2023 U.S. Open Girls Showcase National Champion), 10-0!!!

In her final outing in Fargo, Palumbo would unfortunately get caught in a cradle (up 5-0) and pinned by Bethel in the rematch of the aforementioned quarterfinal contest!!

‍

170 Pounds: Brynn Shepardson---8th Place

Taking the nation by storm last season when as a relative unknown she finished 4th in 16U competition, the 2x NYSPHSAA Girls medalist/2024 titlist did not need surprises in her return to the Roughrider State; she just relied on God-given talent and a refusal to lose second to none as a means of guiding her to a 5-3 record that generated top-8 acclaim!!!

The consummate fighter who never backs down and tends to get stronger the longer a bout goes on, it was evident from her first trip to the mat that the Little Falls rep had no intention of going down gently...

Trailing her round of 64 bounds 10-4, Shepardson connected with one of her bread-and-butter low-level attacks for the TD and then off the ensuing scramble, would be able to transition to a power-half to earn the slap of the mat with just :05 to go in the opening period versus 2x Kentucky Girls State placer/2024 Champion, Brooke Arbic!

This comeback victory setting the tone and illustrating the burning hunger felt by the rising senior, she'd finish Saturday with a 3-1 record (all wins by pin), adding a fall by cradle (up 8-2) in a time of 2:05 against 2x Ohio Girls State medalist/2023 Fargo 16U 8th, Kate Simmons, in the round of 32; and then catching the head on the continuation of a 2pt chest wrap surrendered (7-4 score) to glue August Rottmann (3x Illinois Girls State placer/2023 Titlist; 2023 USAW Girls Folk Nationals 16U runner-up; 2023 Fargo 16U 5th) at the 1:12 mark!

The solo imperfection on day #1 happening in the round of 16 versus #19 ranked Jael Miller (3x Pennsylvania Girls State finalist/2x Champion;  3x Fargo All-American); Shepardson had little trouble putting the loss in the rear-view mirror, as she'd build off of the win over Rottman to conclude Saturday by banking two more consolation triumphs on Sunday morning by scores of 16-6 and 6-6 (criteria) over Selena Mares-Castro (Washington) & Autumn Elsbury (Iowa)...

When pitted against the 2024 Washington Girls State Champion, the S3 girl was able to routinely get in on her single-leg attacks, converting time and time again for either takedowns or exposures...

The blood round nailbiter with Elsbury (2x Iowa Girls State medalist/2024 runner-up; 2023 Fargo 16U 4th) was settled when down 4-0 at that precise moment, Shepardson was able to capitalize off of an over/under, chucking the Hawkeye State entry to her back for 4pts to knot the score at 4-4 at the break...

The only scoring of the 2nd period being an exchange of takedowns, by virtue of her 4-pointer earlier, the NYer prevailed!!!

Shepardson dropped her final last outings to Sophia Bassino (3x Wisconsin Girls State placer/2022 runner-up; 2023 USAW Girls Folk Nationals Junior 4th) and 21st- ranked Kiley Dillow (2x Kansas Girls State medalist/2024 Champion; 2024 USAW Girls Folk Nationals Junior 3rd) to cap off her stay in N.D.

‍

Junior:

100lbs:
1-2 – Aislin Kellner (Arlington-1)

105lbs:
0-2 – Aubrey Lamb (Fairport-5)
0-2 – Marielys Lugo Fernandez (Bathgate Campus-P)

110lbs:
1-2 – Carlye Ana Boenau (LaSalle-2)
5-3 (8th) – Teegan Sibble (Bolivar Richburg-5)

115lbs:
1-2 – Cailan Drake (Shaker-2)
0-2 – Fenna Clover Van Der Velden (Ward Melville-11)
0-2 – Mora Peterson (Islip-11)
6-2 – Yianna Foufas (Mepham-8)
1-2 – Makayla Matson (Niskayuna-Schenectady-2)
1-2 – Maia DeLaCruz (Shaker-2)

120lbs:
0-2 – Delaney Bisaillon (Mechanicville-Stillwater-2)
0-2 – Sophia Torian (Shaker-2)

125lbs:
3-2 – Brooke Tarshis (Pine Bush-9)
3-2 – Taylor Aiello (John Glenn-11)
7-2 (4th) – Ragan Retell (Tamarac-2)

130lbs:
2-2 – Mia Collins (Ballston Spa-2)
0-2 – Valerie Iglesias (Bay Shore-11)

140lbs:
0-2 – Nadia Hawrylchak (Guilderland-2)
1-2 – Camila Hidalgo (Walt Whitman-11)
2-2 – Talia Robles (Mepham-8)

145lbs:
3-2 – Isabella Gretzinger (Shenendehowa-2)
8-3 (6th) – Selina Moore (Sherburne-Earlville-3)
0-2 – Jaymie Landon (Granville-2)
1-2 – Janessa Santiago (Cazenovia-3)

155lbs:
0-2 – Elizabeth Williamson (Shaker-2)
2-2 – Lauren Garcia (White Plains-1)
6-2 (4th) – Adriana Palumbo (Pleasantville-1)
1-2 – Teagan McGuinness (Union Endicott-4)

170lbs:
5-3 (8th) – Brynn Shepardson (Little Falls-3)

190lbs:
1-2 – Emily Dudar (Shaker-2)
4-2 – Alexis Durdon (Windsor-4)
0-2 – Marissa Crofoot (Fulton-3)

235lbs:
0-2 – Tiarra Guan (Great Neck South-8)
0-2 – Patricia Deslandes (Minisink Valley-9)