2018 Fargo Finalist Predictions

Photo: Carson Manville (bottom), who won both a Cadet freestyle and Greco-Roman championship at 132 pounds last summer, is expected to do the same in Fargo, N.D., this month at the Cadet/Junior Nationals.

By Rob Sherrill

It’s now time for WIN’s annual fearless forecast. You know…the one where we hang ourselves out to dry. Who will make the Cadet and Junior National finals at Fargo?

First, here is a schedule of the six finals that will take place in the Fargodome July 12-20:

• Cadet Women, Sunday, July 15, 1:30 p.m.
• Cadet Freestyle, Monday, July 16, 1 p.m.
• Junior Freestyle, Tuesday, July 17, 1 p.m.
• Junior Women, Wednesday, July 18, 1:30 p.m.
• Cadet Greco-Roman, Thursday, July 19, 1:30 p.m.
• Junior Greco-Roman, Friday, July 20, 3 p.m.

As is our usual rule, everybody who makes our predictions already has participated in at least one USA Wrestling event this year. In some years, that has limited the available talent pool significantly (though we’re not using that as an excuse). No Fargo walk-ins are on this list, regardless of ability. Still, plenty of the nation’s elite wrestlers have come out for one or more events this year.

Since this forecast was done prior to the Junior National Duals, that age group involves a little more guesswork. The Cadet National Duals are in the books, so we have the benefit of hindsight there. CLICK HERE TO SEE RECAP OF CADET NATIONAL DUALS

So, with apologies to blind squirrels everywhere, here’s a guess at what the Cadet and Junior National finals could look like:

Cadet Nationals – Finals Predictions

Junior Nationals – Finals Predictions

Freestyle                                    Greco-Roman