Following the 16U and Junior Freestyle portion of the Fargo National Championships, we have put together a comprehensive report for you on the performance of Nebraska’s new signing Cade Ziola, some of the potential candidates for Nebraska, and some of the state’s talents that caught the eye.

In both age divisions for freestyle, Team Nebraska had a total of seven All-Americans (top 8), with Ziola leading the way, reaching the finals in the 190-pound class, and Abdi Unle placing third in the 113-pound class. Nebraska finished twelfth in the team race in the junior division and eighteenth as a team in the 16U division.

The Greco-Roman portion of the tournament took place this weekend, with Team Nebraska finishing in 9th place in the 16U division and 30th place in the Junior division. A total of seven more Nebraska wrestlers finished as All-Americans in the upper body only event.

Team Nebraska’s phenomenal performance in 16U was led by the upcoming junior Zaiyahn OrnelasA phenomenal high school wrestler who is a two-time undefeated state champion for Wilber-Clatonia in Nebraska’s Class C, Ornelas is highly qualified at Greco. This summer he won Greco titles at both the USA Wrestling Northern Plains Regional and Southern Plains Regional.

Seeded No. 1 at 113 pounds this weekend, Ornelas advanced to the finals by outscoring his first five opponents 34-1. However, Ornelas lost his last fight 14-5. This impressive finish combined with his folkstyle success should earn him a lot more attention from college coaches in the future.

The Huskers have big needs at 141 and 149. I don’t know what weight class Ornelas will end up in college, but I think he’ll be in Nebraska’s plans.

Three Nebraska wrestlers earned double All-American status this weekend by reaching the podium in both styles: Preston Wagner, Riley Johnson And Cruiser Dominguez.

Out of Fremont, Wagner really impressed in the 16U division wrestling at 285 pounds. After going 5-2 and finishing fourth in freestyle, he delivered another impressive tournament in Greco, going 6-1 while finishing third.

With his 11-3 record against national competition and two podium finishes, Wagner has certainly put himself in the spotlight of recruiting. He finished sixth at the state level in Class A as a sophomore with a 32-9 record.

Nebraska has a trio of heavyweights on its roster, but not many with much experience at the Division I level. Wagner could very well be a target for Nebraska in the 2026 class after his performance in Fargo.

Out of Omaha Skutt, Johnson went 5-3 in both freestyle and Greco, finishing in 6th place in both styles. In Greco, he defeated 2-seed JayDen Williams in the quarterfinals.

Dominguez, a rising freshman, had a great weekend at his first Fargo, placing 7th twice in the 106-pound 16U division. In freestyle, he went 7-2. In Greco, he finished with a 5-2 record.

Dominguez played against the best students in the country before he even entered high school, and will therefore be a sought-after talent for the class of 2028.

Team Nebraska’s other All-American in the 16U division was JT Smith out of Creighton Prep. A Class A state finalist at 175 pounds as a freshman, Smith was 190 at Fargo. In freestyle, he went 4-2 and came up one win shy of All-American status. At Greco, he was fairly dominant, going 6-1 for third place. His only loss was a 9-0 defeat to the 1-seed in the semifinals. In the six matches he won, he outscored his opponents 55-0.

In the Junior division in Greco, Team Nebraska had two All-Americans in Logan Glynn from Millard South and Brayden Cannon from Waverly.

Glynn is entering his final season and is uncommitted and could be an option for the Huskers. Glynn, a two-time Class A champion, went 3-2 in the freestyle but finished 7-3 in Greco to finish sixth in the 157-pound division.

Another senior in the making, Canoyer is a Class B state champion for Waverly. In the freestyle at Fargo, Canoyer went 4-2. At Greco, he finished with a 6-3 record and an 8th place finish.