High School Wrestling: Journeyman Classic Recap - Title Matches Featured USA vs. Canada Battles
New York’s Sofia Macaluso scores against Jolie Brisco of Canada in title match. Photo provided courtesy of Nikki Macaluso.
by Derek Levendusky, AWW staff writer
SCHENECTADY, NY - The inaugural girls division at the Journeymen Classic was marked by great battles all day between elite wrestlers from 10 states and two countries. The freestyle event featured 18 total All-Americans, three national champions, and three Pan Am medalists. As if poetic destiny, four of the six weight classes came down to title matches between top-tier wrestlers from USA and Canada.
At 125, Fargo National Champion Sofia Macaluso faced off with Pan Am bronze winner Jolie Brisco. Both hammers were not only undefeated on the day, but neither had given up a single point. That would change in the finals. When the whistle blew, New York’s Sofia Macaluso did Sofia Macaluso things, throwing Brisco for 4 early in the first period, eventually scoring her way to a 10-0 tech fall and the Journeymen title. Macaluso also faced NY teammate, All-American Riley Dalrymple, earlier in the tournament. Dalrymple was able to get to her legs, but was unable to finish, eventually falling 10-0. Dalrymple eventually earned a 3rd place finish.
At 134, Avia Bibeau of Pennsylvania dominated her way to the finals, even though one of those wins was a forfeit, as 2018 Fargo runner-up Naomi Henry bowed out of the tournament after three matches. Bibeau would face 2018 Canadian National Champion Savana Pinsent. Points flew up on the board as both wrestlers kept attacking, Bibeau eventually prevailing with a 12-8 win and the Journeymen Classic crown.
143, 2017 Canadian Pan Am bronze winner Nyla Burgess looked the part, handling the competition as if she were the class of her bracket until she faced All-American Marisol Nugent of Massachusetts. Nugent took her to the edge in a tight match, eventually falling to the Canadian 8-5.
172 was a tangle as the top three finishers all went 2-1 on the day. In the end, Canadian Amelia Frisbee took the title by criteria over New York’s Nigar Mirzazada (2nd place) and All-American Kai Poux (3rd).
In the end, the USA vs. Canada battles in the title matches went 2-2.
All results:
108*
1st place (5-0) Krinon Moccia (MD)
2nd place (3-2) Logan Farnsworth (RI) "head to head"
3rd place (3-2) Carina Giangeruso (NJ)
4th place (2-3) Hannah Simoes (NY) "head to head"
5th place (2-3) Jasintai Mallqui (NJ)
6th place (0-5) Brooke Tarshis (NY)
*National Champion Caitlyn Walker, originally registered at this weight class, was a scratch.
116
1st place (5-0) Samantha Larsen (NJ)
2nd place (4-1) Alisia Scipioni (NY)
3rd place (3-2) May Prado (GA)
4th place (2-3) Elleny Seda (NY)
5th place (1-4) Sarah Henckel (CT)
6th place (0-5) Emily Frost (NY)
125
1st place (5-0) Sofia Macaluso (NY)
2nd place (4-1) Jolie Brisco (CAN)
3rd place (3-2) Riley Dalrymple (NY)
4th place (2-3) Nia Perez (RI)
5th place (1-4) Selina Moore (NY)
6th place (0-5) Nathaly Pichardo (NY)
134*
1st place (5-0) Avia Bibeau (PA)
2nd place (4-1) Savana Pinsent (CAN)
3rd place (3-2) Grace Stem (PA)
4th place (2-3) Naomi Henry (NY)
5th place (1-4) Jade Eldridge (NY)
6th place (0-5) Piper Staniford (PA)
* All-American Grace Pauls, originally registered at this weight class, was a scratch.
143 (two pool structure)
1st place Nyla Burgess (CAN)
2nd place Marisol Nugent (MA)
3rd place Skylah Chakouian (RI)
4th place Chloe Ogden (FL)
5th place Jessica Johnson (NJ)
6th place Veronica Whitacre (PA)
7th place Alessandra Elliot (NY)
8th place Gabby Miller (NJ)
9th place Maricruz Flores (RI)
152/172
1st place (2-1) Amelia Frisbee (CAN) "quality wins"
2nd place (2-1) Nigar Mirzazada (NY) "head to head"
3rd place (2-1) Kai Poux (NY)
4th place (0-3) Jessica Kemgne (NY)