Fargo, North Dakota – The Fargodome has seen its fair share of wrestling history, but 2026 belongs undeniably to the Golden State. In a spectacular showcase of grit, technique, and sheer willpower, Team California captured its first official Junior Boys Freestyle championship at the U.S. Marine Corps Nationals.

Erasing the asterisk of their unofficial titles from 1994, 1996, and 2000, this year’s squad didn’t just win—they conquered. California crowned three individual champions and produced a staggering 11 All-Americans, cementing a legacy that will be remembered for years to come.

A Runaway on the Scoreboard

California left absolutely no room for doubt in the team standings. Racking up a massive 197 points, they comfortably distanced themselves from a powerhouse Midwest and East Coast contingent. Team Iowa secured second place with 158 points, narrowly edging out Pennsylvania’s 157. Florida (119 points) and Illinois (105 points) rounded out the top five, but the weekend was defined by West Coast dominance.

The Champions: Bringing Home the Stop Signs

California’s run to the top of the podium was fueled by three spectacular championship performances:

Luke Loren (106 lbs): Loren ignited the spark for the Golden State. Showcasing elite, razor-sharp technique, he outdueled Oklahoma’s Cache Williams in a thrilling, high-paced 12-8 shootout to claim California’s first title of the tournament.

Sammy Sanchez (126 lbs): The two-time World Champion wrestled exactly like a man with a target on his back—completely unfazed. Sanchez made incredibly quick work of Iowa’s Hayden Schwab, dismantling him with a dominant 11-1 technical fall.

Jesse Grajeda (144 lbs): Grajeda brought glory to St. John Bosco, becoming the second wrestler from the Braves to win an individual title on the night. He was virtually untouchable in the finals, absolutely blanking his opponent from Indiana with a flawless 11-0 tech fall.

Heartbreak and Heroics

A championship team is built on the backs of every point scorer, and California’s runners-up delivered valiant, edge-of-your-seat battles that kept the team safely in the lead.

At 113 pounds, Thales Silva put on a stellar tournament run before finishing in second place. He was pinned at 3:15 by Hawaii’s Analu Woode, who made his own history by becoming only the second grappler from Hawaii to win a Freestyle title (joining Travis Lee in 2001).

The heavier weights brought pure, heart-stopping drama. Mario Carini, the 2026 CIF state champion, left everything on the mat at 175 pounds, ultimately falling in a heartbreakingly close 9-8 war to Ohio’s Zack Aquila.

Poway High standout Daniel Moylan was the final Californian to take the big stage. Mirroring Carini’s razor-thin margin, Moylan battled to the bitter end but dropped an 11-10 nail-biter to his Indiana rival, proudly walking away with a hard-earned silver medal.

It was a weekend of high drama, breathtaking offense, and undeniable California pride. With a commanding point spread and a roster brimming with elite, world-class talent, Team California has officially cemented its place at the absolute pinnacle of junior freestyle wrestling.

Photos Courtesy of CAUSAW