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Fargo is the place where Greater Akron/Canton legacies begin. Will it continue in 2023?

brad bournival, akron beacon journal
·3 min read
Five-time state champion David Carr of Perry, top, is one of 13 national champions to have won titles at Fargo from the Greater Akron/Canton area in the last 11 years.
Five-time state champion David Carr of Perry, top, is one of 13 national champions to have won titles at Fargo from the Greater Akron/Canton area in the last 11 years.

National championships and Greater Akron/Canton have become a right of passage in the area.

Especially when it comes to the 16U and Junior Freestyle and Greco-Roman National Championships.

The girls freestyle tournaments run Saturday and Sunday with the boys freestyle tourneys to follow Monday through Wednesday.

After a one-day break, the boys Greco tournaments run the next two days.

“It's definitely just the amount of kids that go to it every year,” Wadsworth two-time state champ Jaxon Joy said. “Every ranked guy is going to it and it's just the place where you get the best competition, and for me, I just want seek out the best competition.

“That's ultimately what it is. What's going to make me a better wrestler? I think everyone that goes to Fargo ends up becoming a much better wrestler no matter how they perform.”

Greater Akron/Canton area owns the 16U and Junior national championships in Fargo, N.D.

Brecksville's Brock Herman is one of three area state champions hoping to add a national title to his resume next week at Fargo, N.D.
Brecksville's Brock Herman is one of three area state champions hoping to add a national title to his resume next week at Fargo, N.D.

The tournament might as well make its stop sign shaped trophies in Summit, Portage, Summit, Wayne and Ashland counties.

The area has won 13 national titles in the past 11 years and 23 crowns in the past 31.

Fargo has been a place to cement your legacy. CVCA’s Jordan Decatur (2015, 2016, 2018) and Nathan Tomasello (2011-2012) won multiple titles there, as did Brecksville’s Austin Assad (2014, 2015) and Copley’s Javaan Yarbrough (2021-2022).

Wadsworth’s Aaron Ries added to that area legacy as well with a 16U freestyle title last year at heavyweight for Team Ohio.

Fargo national championships: Five Greater Akron/Canton national champions reflect on importance of wrestling in Fargo

Here’s where it gets interesting for the area.

Ries can’t defend his title due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Yarbrough can’t go because of a broken arm that could impact his growth plate.

Three state champs — Joy, Buckeye’s Colyn Limbert and Brecksville’s Brock Herman — come from the area and have aspirations next week among the 61 Greater Akron/Canton area.

Herman finished third two seasons ago. Joy was seventh last season. Limbert lost in the round to place in 2022.

Not a single one of them think of performing at Fargo as pressure.

“It's one of the biggest freestyle tournaments in the country,” Herman said. “I like the big tournaments. I'm a big name and I like the tough competition, so wherever the tough competition is, I'll be there.”

Pressure is only what you make it a star-studded field like Fargo

Buckeye's Colyn Limbert just missed being an All-American last year. This year, his heights are higher.
Buckeye's Colyn Limbert just missed being an All-American last year. This year, his heights are higher.

Herman will wrestle for Ohio State this fall.

Joy is headed to Cornell in 2024.

Limbert has official visits to Pitt and Virginia on his plate.

None of the three need to add Fargo to their resume. None would miss the tournament.

“I don't feel like there's that much more pressure,” Limbert said. “I still have to go out and compete against the best in the country and I don't have anything to lose. My goal is to obviously win the tournament and I feel like I have a really good chance of that. The bracket is wide open.”

Team Ohio wrestling always brings the best of the best

There’s no pressure because the level of competition on Team Ohio is ridiculous.

As many as 18 state champions could be practicing at one time.

If it’s not Joy, Herman or Limbert, it could be Dublin Coffman’s Omar Ayoub and Ethan Birden or maybe it’s Dublin Scioto’s Ty Wilson.

At the girls level, it might by Harrison’s Chloe Dearwester, Marysville’s Cali Leng or Toledo Whitmer’s Savannah Isaac.

That’s what makes Fargo special. That’s what makes Team Ohio elite.

“We’re constantly wrestling with great wrestlers, so when we hit Fargo it's not anything too crazy cause we train with the best," Joy said.

“I think just the level of talent we have, not just at a certain weight, but at a stretch of weight classes. At every single weight, you have multiple guys who are contending for a national title.”

Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Greater Akron/Canton area wrestlers look to continue Fargo tradition