Konopka, Cotter earn All-American honors in Fargo at nationals

written by Gerry deSimas, Jr. , Connecticut Wrestling Online | July 13, 2026

The Junior and 16U nationals begin in Fargo on Friday. (Tony Rotondo photo courtesy USA Wrestling)

Two state wrestlers earned All-American honors at USA Wrestling’s Junior National and 16 and under (16U) freestyle national championship tournaments in Fargo, North Dakota on Sunday.

Simsbury’s Max Konopka earned his second All-American medal in Fargo with a seventh place finish in the Junior National division at 215 pounds while Newtown’s Joey Cotter earned All-American honors for the first time with his sixth place finish at 100 pounds in the 16U tournament.

Cotter was among six Connecticut wrestlers with three or more wins in the 16U tournaments while Konopka was among six wrestlers with three or more wins in the Junior National competition.

Konopka, who will be a senior at Greens Farms Academy in Westport this fall, went 6-2 in the tournament and pinned Missouri’s Carter Brown in 3:37 to finish seventh.

Konopka (215) won his first four matches of the tournament, including a 13-11 win over Indiana’s Ceasar Salas with six seconds left in regulation to win the match. Konopka lost on criteria in the quarterfinals when Pennsylvania’s Decker Bechtold won on criteria, 2-2, thanks to a push out that tied the match with seventh seconds left on the clock.

Konopka outlasted Kansas’ Cooper Reeves, 24-16 to earn All-American honors before losing to Utah’s Ladd Holeman by technical fall, 14-0, in 2:23 to fall into the seventh place bout.

His previous All-American medal came in 2024 when he was second in 16U freestyle at 190 pounds.

Cotter went 7-3 with three pins to finish sixth at 100 pounds in the 16U freestyle tournament.

He won his first three matches with two pins and a 10-0 win by technical fall in 33 seconds. Cotter lost by technical fall in 1:48 to Iowa’s Shay Lundvall but won four consecutive bouts in the consolation round to earn All-American honors. His 5-2 win over West Virginia’s Cade Ruckle put Cotter into the medal round.

In the consolation semifinal, Cotter fell to Pennsylvania’s Leonidas Murillo, 13-10 and dropped another match to Lundvall (pin in 2:21) to finish sixth.

Plainville’s Logan Bailey went 5-2 at 106 pounds, winning four matches in the consolation round of the 16J tournament while Ledyard’s Lukas Boxley (138) was also 5-2 at 138 pounds with two wins in the championship round and three in the consolation brackets.

Ridgefield’s Jaxon Sgrulletta (132) went 4-2 with four wins in the consolation round in 16U after falling in the first match of his tournament. Darien’s Lincoln Snell (215) and Plainville’s Jaxsen Bailey (138) and Trumbull’s Ryder Zychek (144) each went 3-2.

In the Junior National tournament, Canton’s Colby Houle went 6-2 at 165 pounds, losing twice to California’s Jacob Perez in the championship round and the consolation round. Houle, who wrestled for three years at Northfield Mt. Hermon, recently announced his intention to wrestle at New York Military Academy next winter.

Danbury’s Dylan Meyers (132) went 4-2 in the tournament with all four wins in the consolation bracket. Southington’s Chase Kastner (132), Stamford’s Joseph Pellicci (132), Newtown’s Antonio Arguello (157), Middletown’s Isaiah McDaniel (157), Winsted’s Evan Schibi (165) and Bristol’s Alex Lamarre (165) each went 3-2 in the Junior National tournament.

Bracket and live results will be available on USA Bracketing

16U freestyle nationals
At Fargo, N.D.
Team results (top 10): Pennsylvania 352, 2. Iowa 178, 3. California 128, 4. Ohio 115, 5. Wisconsin 100, 6. Indiana 88, 7. Minnesota 79, 8. Washington 76, 9. Illinois 71, 10. Florida 58
Other states:
Individual results
88 pounds
Final: Kai McDonald (Iowa) tech. fall Grayden Paris (Pennsylvania), 10-0
3. Elijah Jensen (Washington) dec. Garrett Whalen (Pennsylvania), 8-5
5. Zander Melendez (California) tech. fall Cameron Smith (Ohio), 10-0
7. Ryker Rollans (Nevada) dec. Cole Train Vanderwerff (Wisconsin), 18-12
94 pounds
Final: Johnathan Thompson (Iowa) tech. fall Jaxon Holtz (Ohio), 13-2
3. Walker Hoffman (Pennsylvania) dec. Chase Smith (Tennessee), 9-2
5. George Dipsey (New Jersey) dec. Case Freeman (Iowa), 7-3
7. Dominick Sindone (Michigan) dec. Michael Nicosia (Pennsylvania), 3-1
100 pounds
Final: Cyrus Millage (Iowa) dec. Nelson Villafane (Pennsylvania), 10-8
3. Leonidas Murillo (Pennsylvania) dec. Parker Workman (Ohio), 6-4
5. Shay Lundvall (Iowa) fall Joey Cotter (Connecticut), 2:21
7. Cade Ruckle (Nevada) dec. Reese Babcock (Illinois), 4-3
106 pounds
Final: Sebastian Gutierrez (California) dec. Cameron Bartlow (California), 6-5
3. Amir Newman-Winfrey (Iowa) tech. fall Stephen Bagocius (New Jersey), 14-3
5. Knox Ayala (Iowa) dec. Casen Becker (Colorado), 6-0
7. Gavin Hoeft (Minnesota) tech. fall Ryder Ream (Pennsylvania), 11-0
113 pounds
Final: Michael Bernabe (California) dec. Diego Robertty (Iowa), 4-4
3. Jhakai Roller (Tennessee) dec. Evan Cies (Pennsylvania), 12-7
5. Lucas Layne (Florida) dec. Keilan Yang (Wisconsin), 10-4
7. Patrick Bulger (Pennsylvania) fall Nathan Hoopman (Minnesota), 3:51
120 pounds
Final: Cohen Reer (Ohio) dec. Spenser McCammon (Indiana), 13-5
3. Erik Klichurov (Illinois) fall Shiloh Joyce (New Jersey), 1:56
5. Devin Hord (North Carolina) med. for. Jack Anello (New Jersey)
7. Xavier Seabury (New York) tech. fall Cody Householder (Pennsylvania), 10-0
126 pounds
Final: Jeremy Carver (Indiana) dec. Kash Larkin (Arizona), 8-4
3. Arturo Reyes (Pennsylvania) dec. Mason Milsaps (Texas), 7-0
5. Noel Verduzco (Indiana) tech. fall Anthony Bergeron (Ohio), 10-0
7. Davien Martinez (Colorado) tech. fall Westin Pollock (Oklahoma), 14-4
132 pounds
Final: Alex Marchetti (Pennsylvania) dec. CJ Caines (Pennsylvania), 5-1
3. Josiah Stanton (Indiana) fall Jack Cole (Pennsylvania), 2:49
5. Jeffrey Dunaway (Illinois) dec. Lewis Davis (Arkansas), 9-8
7. Ryder Owen (Washington) dec. Mitchell Chen (Pennsylvania), 7-4
138 pounds
Final: Bryar Hooks (Oklahoma) dec. Austin Schield (Washington), 5-3
3. Raymond Castillo (California) tech. fall Frank Leanza (Pennsylvania), 11-0
5. Maximus Pearch (Illinois) dec. Marco Costa (California), 12-7
7. Julian (Gullien) Holguin (California) dec. Maddox Fields (Texas), 7-5
144 pounds
Final: Reece Movahed (Pennsylvania) dec. Vinny Ferrari (Texas), 4-0
3. Caleb Kosko (Pennsylvania) tech. fall Kaden Clark (Alabama), 12-1
5. Jeremiah Hayes (Illinois) med. for. Daniel Jones (New York)
7. Stetson Gabel (Colorado) dec. Jake Amiott (North Carolina), 14-6
150 pounds
Final: Illia Kyrianenko (Florida) dec. Reza Massjouni (Virginia), 8-6
3. Caden Woodall (Arizona) fall Liam Crandall (Wisconsin), 2:34
5. Dakota Anderson (Washington) dec. Lincoln Hinchman (Indiana), 10-7
7. Grayson Hostetter (Pennsylvania) for. Lincoln James (Ohio)
157 pounds
Final: Jaimon Mogard (Iowa) dec. Tommy Rowlands (Ohio), 4-1
3. Jake Austin (Florida) dec. Lucas Drake (Pennsylvania), 9-0
5. Allen Diaz (Nebraska) med. for. Asher Bacon (Pennsylvania)
7. Thomas Gorski (Ohio) tech. fall Aaron Schmitz (Montana), 12-1
165 pounds
Final: Harrison Murdock (Georgia) tech. fall Easton Kammerud (Wisconsin), 10-0
3. Grayson Debevoise (Ohio) dec. Donovan Symalla (Colorado), 5-4
5. Collin Hamm (Wisconsin) tech. fall Brooxton Lundgren (Iowa), 12-2
7. Adrian Barbosa (California) dec. Chase Young (California), 6-5
175 pounds
Final: Layden Acevedo (Pennsylvania) tech. fall Destan Skelly (Minnesota), 11-0
3. Otis Davis (Illinois) dec. Braylen Yates (North Carolina), 6-2
5. Ibrahim Dheel (Virginia) med. for. William Moran (Washington)
7. Teag Sanderson (Pennsylvania) med. for. Tyde Nelsen (Iowa)
190 pounds
Final: Bryce Collins (Pennsylvania) dec. Duane Leslie (Washington), 6-2
3. Mason McDonnell (California) dec. Dresden Beard (Kansas), 18-14
5. Samuel Josey (Florida) tech. fall Rosco Lewis (Oklahoma), 12-0
7. Treyton Altuve (Wisconsin) fall Brock Conaway (Missouri), 1:22
215 pounds
Final: Kade Splinter (Wisconsin) tech. fall Mason Chamberlain (Pennsylvania), 10-0
3. Phillip Harris (Minnesota) dec. Duke Bartoo (Minnesota), 9-5
5. Meric Hagarty (Iowa) tech. fall Liam Rodebush (Idaho), 11-0 (2:12)
7. Brennan Breisinger (Pennsylvania) dec. Christopher Soeder (Ohio), 6-0
285 pounds
Final: Sawyer Schendel (Minnesota) dec. Leland Havens (Wisconsin), 6-3
3. John Montgomery (Pennsylvania) dec. A.W. VanKirk (Indiana), 6-0
5. Lucas Franklin (Oklahoma) tech. fall Anthony Samanich (Illinois), 10-0
7. Michael Danial (Illinois) dec. Carter Reis (Pennsylvania), 4-1

2026 Junior Boys Freestyle Results
At Fargo, North Dakota
Team results: California 197, 2. Iowa 158, 3. Pennsylvania 157, 4. Florida 119, 5. Illinois 105, 6. Indiana 98, 7. Ohio 92, 8. Minnesota 91, 9. Wisconsin 68, 10. Oklahoma 53
Other teams: 23. Rhode Island 7, 27. Connecticut 5, 29. New York 2; 30. Massachusetts and Maine 0
Individual results
100 pounds
Final: Ty Martin (Iowa) tech. fall Symon Woods (Illinois), 10-0 (3:22)
3. DeVaughn Miller (Alabama) tech. fall Logan Raske (Tennessee), 18-7 (5:32)
5. Ryker Leonard (Ohio) tech. fall David Serrano (Florida), 12-1 (1:48)
7. Parker Williams (Florida) fall Jaxson Tocco (New York), 5:00
106 pounds
Final: Luke Loren (California) dec. Cache Williams (Oklahoma), 12-8
3. Jackson Thorn (Minnesota) tech. fall Frank Fuentes (California), 13-2 (3:35)
5. Aidan Ortega (Illinois) tech. fall Alex Huddleston (Indiana), 14-3 (2:45)
7. Dakota Harmer (Michigan) tech. fall Michael Densmore (Georgia), 11-0 (3:22)
113 pounds
Final: Analu Woode (Hawaii) fall Thales Silva (California), 3:15
3. Cason Craft (Oklahoma) dec. Camden Rugg (Wisconsin), 6-5
5. Koa DeLoach (Florida) dec. Niko Odiotti (Illinois), 14-12
7. Turner Ross (Oklahoma) fall Traevon Ducking (Indiana), 1:50
120 pounds
Final: Brayden Wenrich (Pennsylvania) tech. fall Michael Batista (New Jersey), 14-2 (2:06)
3. Thiago Silva (California) tech. fall Landon Thoennes (Minnesota), 15-5 (3:51)
5. Loc Webber (Ohio) tech. fall Brand’n Edstrom (Idaho), 13-1 (2:46)
7. Aiden Garcia (California) tech. fall Tyler Verceles (Maryland), 10-0 (2:27)
126 pounds
Final: Samuel Sanchez (California) tech. fall Hayden Schwab (Iowa), 11-1 (3:45)
3. Mateo Gallegos (Pennsylvania) dec. Cale Vandermark (Iowa), 3-0
5. Van Smith (Oklahoma) dec. Matthew Mulligan (New Jersey), 10-8
7. Cody Clarke (Georgia) tech. fall Isaiah Jones (Oklahoma), 17-7 (3:28)
132 pounds
Final: Antonio Mills (Georgia) dec. Paul Kenny (New Jersey), 12-9
3. Nathan Rioux (Indiana) dec. Blaze Van Gundy (Ohio), 9-4
5. Tommy Wurster (Ohio) dec. Miklo Hernandez (Minnesota), 5-1
7. Jamiel Castleberry (Illinois) dec. Eddie Woody, Jr. (Iowa), 3-3
138 pounds
Final: Tyler Dekraker (Florida) dec. Dawson Youngblut (Iowa), 10-2
3. Nicholas Sorrow (Michigan) dec. Tanner Guenot (Pennsylvania), 6-2
5. Urijah Lopez (Ohio) dec. Gage Bjerga (Minnesota), 6-4
7. Austin Ellis (Utah) dec. Shamus Regan (Florida), 3-2
144 pounds
Final: Jesse Grajeda (California) tech. fall Braylon Reynolds (Indiana), 11-0 (5:37)
3. Dale Corbin (Pennsylvania) dec. Cole Speer (Ohio), 5-2
5. Michael Lopez (Colorado) tech. fall Cody Trevino (Iowa), 10-0 (1:07)
7. Gavin Landers (Iowa) tech. fall Nico DeSalvo (Iowa), 10-0 (4:40)
150 pounds
Final: Davis Parrow (Minnesota) dec. Jason Dube (Pennsylvania), 9-7
3. Peyton Hornsby (Indiana) tech. fall Austin Collins (Colorado), 18-8 (2:27)
5. Matthew O’Neill (Pennsylvania) inj. def. Deacon Morgan (Michigan), 2:58
7. Bennett Kujawa (Minnesota) dec. Bobby Duffy (New Jersey), 15-13
157 pounds
Final: Charlie DeSena (Florida) dec. Mac Crosson (Iowa), 3-2
Lincoln Robideau (Minnesota) tech. fall Jet Brown (Missouri), 16-6 (5:12)
Wyatt Medlin (Illinois) tech. fall Mason Petersen (Nebraska), 10-0 (2:45)
Brooklyn Pickett (Maryland) med. for. Jake Miller (Oklahoma)
165 pounds
Final: Melvin Miller (Pennsylvania) dec. Rocco Cassioppi (Illinois), 7-4
Jacob Perez (California) tech. fall Aiden Arnett (Illinois), 10-0 (2:08)
Joe Bachmann (Pennsylvania) med. for. Declan Koch (Wisconsin)
Grayson Eggum (Minnesota) dec. David Ogunsanya (Illinois), 6-2
175 pounds
Final: Zack Aquila (Ohio) dec. Mario Carini (California), 9-8
3. Tomm Heiser (Wisconsin) dec. Lucas Boe (Florida), 13-11
5. Bruno Cassioppi (Illinois) dec. Jakob Hoke (Ohio), 13-4
7. Maximus Dhabolt (Iowa) tech. fall Noah Tucker (Maryland), 11-1 (3:00)
190 pounds
Final: Waylon Cressell (Iowa) dec. Nicholas Singer (Pennsylvania), 8-3
3. Mason Ontiveros (California) tech. fall Jaxon Penovich (Illinois), 13-0 (4:54)
5. Kyle Gallo (Florida) dec. Everett Joyce (Kansas), 8-7
7. Eli Leonard (Wisconsin) dec. Victor Marks-Jenkins (Maryland), 3-3
 215 pounds
Final: Sam Howard (Indiana) dec. Daniel Moylan (California), 11-10
3. William Ward (North Dakota) fall Ceasar Salas (Indiana), 4:01
5. Ladd Holman (Utah) med. for. Decker Bechtold (Pennsylvania)
7. Maximus Konopka (Connecticut) fall Carter Brown (Missouri), 3:37
285 pounds
Final: Michael Mocco (Florida) dec. Tyson Martin (Wisconsin), 9-6
3. Ashton Honnold (Iowa) dec. Kal-El Fluckiger (Arizona), 7-7
5. Cael Leisgang (Wisconsin) tech. fall Kaz Morosetti (Rhode Island), 10-0 (5:44)
7. Kade West (Washington) fall William Glesing (Indiana), 5:12