Despite New Jersey being one of the premier wrestling states in the country, you don’t tend to see the full representation of that talent at Fargo. Still, Team New Jersey is bringing a team with some experience to the FargoDome, with eight All-Americans from last year returning in 2023. Look for some of these unranked guys and girls to be in the national rankings in a couple weeks. 

Before we get to the New Jersey breakdown, here are some additional links to prepare you for Fargo: 

2023 Fargo User Guide

Every Wrestler Registered For Fargo 

All The Ranked Wrestlers Competing in Fargo

Every State's Most Decorated Fargo Champion

2022 New Jersey Team Finishes

Junior Men’s Freestyle – sixth

16U Men’s Freestyle – fourth

Junior Women’s Freestyle — 35th

16U Women’s Freestyle — 18th

Junior Greco-Roman — 25th

16U Greco-Roman — 28th

2022 All-Americans 

Junior Men’s Freestyle

Luke Stanich — second at 126 

Ty Whalen — second at 152 

William Henckel — fourth at 152

Jasiah Queen – eighth at 160

Lorenzo Norman – third at 170

Simon Ruiz – seventh at 170

Max Acciardi – sixth at 285

16U Men’s Freestyle

Charles Esposito — fifth at 88 

Anthony Knox — second at 120 

Alessio Perentin – second at 152

Max Nevlin – third at 160

Jordan Chapman – fourth at 160

Ryan Burton – third at 170

Rocco Dellagatta- fifth at 182

Vincenzo Lavalle – second at 195

16U Women’s Freestyle

Carina Gianruso – champion at 132

Junior Greco Roman

Tyler Sagi – third at 152

Raymond Weed – seventh at 182

16U Greco Roman

Aidan Squier – third at 160

Nationally Ranked Wrestlers

Men 

#3 at 120 — Leo DeLuca

#15 at 138 — Matty Lopes 

#2 at 160 — William Henckel

#17 at 160 — Jasiah Queen

#9 at 182 — George Rhodes

Women 

#12 at 100 — Charlie Wylie

#23 at 100 Leanna Mercado

#11 at 112 — Ava Rose

#8 at 127 — Taina McGowan

#21 at 127 —  Kira Pipkins

Wrestlers To Watch

Ryan Burton (Junior MFS, 170 pounds) — With third-place finishes at Fargo and states in the last year, Burton could have a moment this week in the FargoDome. He’s part of a really deep bracket, but no matter who steps on the line with him, Burton doesn’t back down. A high seed doesn’t want to see him early.

Joey Canova (16U MFS, 152 pounds) — Canova’s coming out party happened this March in Atlantic City when he placed seventh at New Jersey states after winning the starting spot in a loaded Bergen Catholic lineup only weeks before the postseason. His tiebreaker match in the quarters with two-time Jersey state champ Tyler Vazquez was one of the best of the weekend. With only one ranked wrestler at a wide-open 152 pounds, Canova could seriously contend for a 16U title this week at Fargo.

Yannis Charles (Junior MFS, 145 pounds) *Team South Carolina* — Charles may not be wrestling for Team New Jersey — he’s competing for his home state of South Carolina — although he wrestles for St Joe’s in Montvale, New Jersey, and he’s sure to be lighting up scoreboards this week at Fargo, so it felt necessary to include him. He has yet to claim that elusive state title, and it’s his first trip to Fargo but he’s known to attack relentlessly and is a rapid quick finisher when he gets to legs. He’s part of a star-studded 145-pound weight class, so you better make sure you tune in when Charles is on the mat.

Adrian DeJesus (Junior MFS, 126 pounds) — The 2022 New Jersey state champ is looking to get back on radars after climbing inside the top 10 of the national rankings in his freshman season. In his sophomore season, DeJesus placed third in the state in a bracket where he was one of three former state champs. DeJesus has proven folkstyle chops but has stayed active in the freestyle circuit this summer. Most recently, while representing Team Puerto Rico, he fell to Luke Lilledahl in the finals of the U20 Pan Am Games.

Rocco Dellagatta (Junior MFS, 285 pounds) — Despite losing the most decorated heavyweight in New Jersey history, St Joseph’s Regional looks to be in pretty good shape at heavyweight with Rocco Dellagatta apparently taking over. Dellagatta has a knack for putting his opponents in funky, compromising situations that often get rewarded in freestyle. We’ll see how he adjusts to the weight after wrestling at 175 pounds this winter, but there’s one thing you can count on: the heavyweights in Fargo won’t be prepared for a lot of what Dellagatta brings. Get ready for another Garden State heavyweight to start making some noise.

Leo DeLuca (Junior MFS, 120 pounds) — DeLuca returns to defend a Fargo title from two summers ago, after not making the trip in 2022. In his first two seasons, he’s been one of the standouts of a Blair team that’s been the best in the nation. He’s a part of one of the weekend’s deepest brackets that features the #1, #3 and #4-ranked wrestlers in the country where a Golden Ticket to Who’s #1 could be on the line. He’s featured in one of Flo’s Fire Matchups we could see this week. 

William Henckel (Junior MFS, 160 pounds) — One of the fastest-rising wrestlers in the country, Henckel enters Fargo ranked #2 in the country. After falling to fellow sophomore Claudio Torres in the National Prep semis, Henckel beat U17 World champion Joe Sealey at U20 Trials along with a fourth-place finish at Fargo last year. Could he earn a Golden Ticket this week, too?

Kira Pipkins (Junior WFS, 122 pounds) — Pipkins made history as the first four-time state champ from New Jersey. Now she hopes to get on the Fargo podium for the first time after going 4-2 at last year’s tournament. A young lady with a bright future, Pipkins is headed to Columbia University next year, but before then, look out for her to be picking up some big 4s off her blast double this weekend in the Fargo Dome. Kyle Klingman interviewed Pipkins on Flo earlier this week to discuss Fargo and her future. Check it out!

Jasiah Queen (Junior MFS, 170 pounds) — Headed to Drexel this fall, Queen can go on his feet with just about anyone in the country. He can switch gears in an instant, keeping opponents on their heels before exploding through his attacks. The state runner-up placed eighth at Fargo last year but in his return could be one of the surprise standouts of the tournament.