Contributed Photo: Safford wrestlers, front, from left, Alex Chacon, Anthony Garrobo, Kaleb Cordova; back, from left, Gary Smith, and Micah Chaplin will represent Safford for Team Arizona at the 2023 U.S. Marine Corps Junior & 16U Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota.
Staff Reports
FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA – Five wrestlers from Safford will represent the city on their quest for glory wrestling for Team Arizona at the USA Wrestling Nationals 16U/Junior in Fargo, North Dakota.
The contest takes place at the Fargodome from July 15 – 22 and includes freestyle and Greco-Roman styles for both girls and boys. Listed as the 2023 U.S. Marine Corps Junior & 16U Nationals, the event is also known around the country simply as the “Fargo” and is one of if not the biggest.
Five Safford wrestlers punched their ticket to Nationals by wrestling the entire off-season since their own state tournament in February. On March 11, Alex Chacon (16U: 100 lbs.), Anthony Garrobo (Junior: 132 lbs.), Kaleb Cordova (Junior: 160 lbs.), Micah Chaplin (16U: 170 lbs.), and Gary Smith (Junior: 182 lbs.) each earned their spots by finishing in the top three in their weight classes at the AZ-USAW National Qualifier at Red Mountain High School.
The five wrestlers will now battle for the top spot in the nation in their weight classes at the tournament in Fargo.
