WHO’S NEXT? USAW STAR OF THE FUTURE Stroker aces Fargo test
The University of Minnesota recruit is among a growing list of graduated high school seniors who have earned titles at Junior Nationals
By Craig Sesker FARGO, N.D. – Fredy Stroker didn’t have anything left to prove to college recruiters. He won three state high school titles in Iowa. And landed a wrestling scholarship to the University of Minnesota.
But he did have one last thing left to prove to himself before he headed off to college. That’s why Stroker showed up at the Fargo Dome this past summer to compete in the Junior Nationals freestyle competition in Fargo, N.D. The decision paid off. And in a big way. Wrestling less than a four-hour drive from where he will com- pete in college, Stroker delivered by winning the 145-pound title. He topped Florida’s Patricio Lugo 4-3 in the finals. Stroker had placed fourth, fourth and fifth in three previous
trips to Fargo.
“It was good to cash in with all of the hard work,” Stroker said. “I came up short of my goals the past three years here. It was good to get up on that big stage for the first time and win my first-place stop sign.” Stroker is among a growing list of graduated high school sen- iors who have chosen to compete in Fargo despite already securing an offer for college.
In recent years, numerous graduated high school seniors have bypassed the competition in Fargo.
Another recent example of a top wrestler competing in Fargo
after completing high school is Nathan Tomasello. Two years after Tomasello won his third straight Junior Nationals title in Fargo in 2013, he captured an NCAA title as an Ohio State freshman in 2015. Tomasello’s reasons for coming to Fargo in 2013 were simple. “It’s a great event with tough competition,” Tomasello said.
“It’s another chance to test yourself against some of the best kids in the country. Why not wrestle there?” Oklahoma’s Joe Smith followed the same blueprint as Stroker
and Tomasello by coming to Fargo during the summer between completing high school and starting college. Smith decimated the field this year at 160 pounds, outscoring his opponents 72-0 en route to being named Outstanding Wrestler of the Junior Nationals freestyle event. Smith had finished second, third and fourth in three previous
trips to Fargo.
“I finished second up here as a freshman in Cadets,” Smith said. “Then I finished third the next year and fourth the next year after that. Finishing second, third and fourth, I felt like I was
30 USA Wrestler
Iowa’s Fredy Stroker captured his first Fargo title after win- ning a Junior Nationals freestyle crown. John Sachs photo.
going downhill. I needed to change some things up. “I put a lot of time in over the summer and worked out with a lot of college guys and guys that are out of college like Chris Perry and Tyler Caldwell. That helped me tremendously. It helped me open up my offense and improve my defense.” Like many top young wrestlers, Stroker has spent significant time training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
This summer, Stroker had a chance to train with four-time
World Team member Brent Metcalf along with Junior World sil- ver medalist Aaron Pico and Cadet World champion Mark Hall during a trip to Colorado. “It was an outstanding experience being out at the OTC,”
Stroker said. “I learned a lot, working with great coaches and world-class athletes. I had some great workout partners, and I had a chance to really improve and continue to develop.”
Continued on page 31
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44