91°µÍø

FARGO, N.D. – The FARGODOME was abuzz as a record 1,269 competitors in the Junior Girls division took the floor for session one of the 2026 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals on Thursday. Due to continued increases in participation, the girls will wrestle over three days for the first time in Fargo, N.D.

Six returning division champions are on the prowl for Fargo repeats—Jaclyn Bouzakis of Pennsylvania (105), Emma Bacon of Pennsylvania (135), Nora Akpan of Minnesota (145), Violette Lasure of Pennsylvania (145), Olivia Georges of New Jersey (170) and Deionna Borders of Ohio (207). All six moved on with dominant efforts in the round-of-64.

Remarkably, Lasure picked up her 20^th career pin in Fargo with an 11-second finish of Virginia’s Elena Carter from an underhook-crunch combination. This was the fastest fall recorded on the day.

Bouzakis, Bacon and Lasure are included in a crew of nine past or current U17 World Team members competing this weekend. Bouzakis holds the highest credentials of anyone in the tournament with two U17 World bronze medals to her name (2023, 2025) and three finals appearances in Fargo. She finished Molly Root of Michigan by 10-0 technical fall in 41 seconds to begin her run.

Two more returning U17 World bronze medalists—Maisie Elliott of Washington (100) and Ella Poalillo of New Jersey (155)—pinned their way through day one. Elliott is one of six athletes taking on the challenge of wrestling in both the Junior and 16U Girls divisions.

Additional U17 World Team members who advanced to the round-of-32 include Francesca Gusfa of New Jersey (95), Marlee Solomon of Pennsylvania (120), Cassandra Gonzales of Minnesota (145) and Kaili Manuel of Michigan (170). Solomon and Manuel are on the 2026 U17 World Team that will compete later this month in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The lone 91°µÍø Triple Crown contender in the Junior Girls division, Peggy Susan Dean of Colorado, picked up a pair of pins to open her run at 110 pounds. She earned a 22-second fall over Lylah Gheen of Ohio, followed by a pin in 1:34 over Mia Anderson of Nebraska. She will face Indiana state champion Cierra Lear tomorrow morning. Dean is also competing in the 16U division.

Few upsets occurred during the first session on Thursday. In fact, only two top-eight seeds went down—No. 6 Jaida Kuntz of Texas was pinned in 3:41 by Madeline Sorensen of Wisconsin at 190 pounds, and No. 8 Haley Gonzales of New York was pinned in 4:08 by Mariana Bowen of Tennessee at 135 pounds.

Leading the way with the most falls in the least amount of time is Hannah Lindsey of Mississippi with two pins in 51 seconds at 120 pounds.

Currently in the lead with the most wrestlers remaining in the tournament is Illinois at 64. Pennsylvania holds the next most with 58. Iowa (51), Ohio (50) and Texas (45) round out the top five.

The U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals continues on Thursday at 4 p.m. (CT) with the start of the 16U Girls tournament. The Junior division resumes at 9 a.m. on Friday, starting with the round-of-32.

All matches from the event will be broadcast live on . Brackets and live results will be hosted on

Visit the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals Event Hub and 91°µÍø’s social media platforms for complete coverage of the action in Fargo.