Another year of Fargo is in the books and although the miracles of the internet allow you to watch around the world and with real-time updates, there's nothing quite like being at an event in person.

A record number of entries (4,999) wrestled on 24 mats and it seemed the number of coaches, parents, and fans were as well. More than just a wrestling tournament, Fargo is a festival and a chance to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. Part of that is getting the good scoops on known recruits, and more importantly, getting the jump on emerging ones. I get it. Saying "I'm going to Fargo, North Dakota, for ten days," doesn't have quite have a ring to in under normal circumstances, but we're wrestling people; we aren't normal. 

Give Fargo a try some year.

Below I'll reflect on my favorite moments or aspects from 2018, some of which you caught on Flo Pro, and some that you needed to be there for.

Flo Cameras > Sandy Stevens > Thieves

If you wrestle at major, national events, you've heard Sandy Stevens yell about people stealing things. "We don't need you in our sport," she often quips. And I agree; stealing things while someone is wrestling is scumbag status. But whereas Sandy can only scold thieves, the recordings on Flo can catch them.

Twice during Fargo, gear went missing. When the kids reported the bout number, we looked up the vid and tracked the kids down. NOT ON OUR WATCH! 

What the Heck is Going on with Florida?

Remember the days when David Craig, Joey Cozart, Kevin Norstrem and Rossi Bruno racked up stop signs? Florida used to bring loads of talent.

This year? 37 kids. And, frankly, not their best. One AA in Cadet FS, two in JR FS. Those are the same as 2017.

An Education in Officiating

Listen, sometimes we/I get in trouble with the officials for bringing to light 'bad' calls. At the same time, I'm certainly not an authority on the international styles rule book. 

So I went to the Coaches' Clinic, which was helpful. But what was unforeseen is that I spent the week next to some of the top officials in the U.S.

USA Wrestling always puts the Flo guys at their own table next to the stage. This year it just so happened that Danny Blackshear (of Oklahoma) was right beside me all week evaluating others. In an impromptu manner, I got an education in officiating and scoring. All week. Every couple matches, Danny and I discussed what we saw and certain situations. It was incredibly helpful. I learned more about their perspectives and interpretations in a week than I have in my whole life.

Danny also saw first hand the pressure Flo receives from coaches when a few of them came up to me and said, 'hey, you gotta put this official on blast.'

We're in a tough position that way sometimes. But ultimately the week with Danny, and Sammy Julian (PA), who is typically my go-to source, will help serve to build the understanding between media, coaches, and officials. 

Next year I think I'd like to do some behind the scenes type stuff with the officials in Fargo to show their process and mechanizations. 

Illinois Games the System - And It’s a Good Thing

So Nomad caused a stir when he said that Illinois wins at Fargo 'because they bring more kids.'

On one hand, he's right (it's math. They bring more kids and that's undeniable.). But missing in that equation is two important things. 1) It doesn't hurt that they bring more, but you have to be some degree of 'good'. They don't win with 100 scrubs.

2) Illinois 'extra' kids EARNED the right to be there with placings. If you don't know how it works...it's like this...

Every state gets 3 entries per weight. Typically those three are decided by their placing at the state FS/GR tournament. However you can get more than 3 per weight if you place at Akron, or at a Regional. And Illinois kids do that.

So, no, it's not that they simply bring more kids. It's that they earned it. It's that they (the kids, their parents, and the coaches) are committed to the process. Frankly, every state should be. 

Best Moment

Sage Mortimer placing in Greco. For the first time ever, a girl earned a medal in Greco. And she did it in Juniors, when she's Cadet age. 

There are rumblings of a movement to proliferate women's Greco. I'm not sure I can totally wrap my head around that right now. There are a myriad of considerations. However, I'll always remember that moment, and what it means for women's wrestling. Make no mistake about it, Sage is damn good.

Worst Moment(s)

I hadn't been to Herd & Horns, a newish, popular Fargo haunt. But everyone had good things to say and they were having wrestling trivia! Jason Bryant, Spey, and I went all LeBron-D.Wade-Bosh and formed a super team and won. NBD.

The place was great. Flo's streams playing on the tv's. Good atmosphere. Lots of wrestling folk. Jason was eating what looked like awesome wings, so later, I ordered some to go.

When I got back to my dorm room (yes, a dorm room) there was a cute note from our awesome waitress, Madysin Claire, 'Was fun meeting you. Hope you enjoy your food.'

And they were boneless! Boneless wings are for cowards! Gross.

That was the worst moment. And also the dorms. For anyone that says Flo is 'about the money' I have a sheetless twin bed in a 1960's-constructed AC-less dorm room with horrible wi-fi and a shower with the water pressure of a leaky faucet to show you.

 And also the thermostat in the Fargodome was set at 55˚.

The International Styles Season High School is Too Congested

With the exception of Junior (and typically, Cadet) Worlds, Fargo represents the end of the FS/GR season for high schoolers.

While Junior and Cadet Duals, in relation to Fargo, is at a duration that is sensible, the beginning of the USA Wrestling FS/GR season could use retooling.

From Akron, to Regionals, to State Tournaments and then Duals - it's stressful on the coaches, athletes, and officials. The Regionals are most problematic.

Stretch out the season. Have Fargo in August. Have Duals in July. Shave down the number of weekends that Regionals occur on.

Half a Million Text Alerts

The number of text messages sent those who signed up for text alerts when their wrestlers were assigned to a mat in Fargo were up from 330,000 in 2017 to 550,000 this year.

East Coast Women

A few people asked me on twitter why the Western states have dominated women's competition over the years. The answer is I don't know. Why is the East better in men's high school? The Midwest better in men's college? The South better in football?

The West, thankfully, was the first to get the ball rolling. They have longer established programs, systems, and for young girls - a sense of normalcy. (I assume it's less of an oddity to see a girl wrestler in Cali than in New York).

Now, don't get it twisted. I'm not saying that's the only reason the West is superior. For all we know, they might spend the rest of eternity being the best.

What I do know is that the numbers and the talent coming from PA, NY, Iowa, and Illinois is trending the right way.

Top Five Girls Revelations

5. Abnelis Yambo, FL 

Aint' gonna lie, I didn't know anything about this girl, but she showed out. She beat #1 ranked Alex Liles to win the title. Later I found out she had moved to the States when Hurricane Maria ripped up Puerto Rico. Sad story. Happy Ending.

4. Mia Palumbo, IL 

Mia just looks like a talent. Her motion and fluidity belies her young age. She won both Cadets and Juniors and made a fan of me. 

3. Kennedy Blades, IL 

Talk about 'looks the part,' Blades is long and moves very well. She has future star written all over her. But she didn't win Juniors. Oh, only because she's in 8th grade and not old enough! She gave Macey Kilty, a Cadet World Champ, her toughest match of the year at the trials. I hope we can see that match up again. I don't know. Maybe on like October 7th or something. Wink.

2. Alexys Zepeda, OR

Unlike Yambo, I was very aware of Zepeda. In fact, she placed 3rd in the Oregon State tournament (folkstyle, boys). But she also took 3rd at Cadet Women's Nationals in the spring, so I certainly didn't see this coming. For many, she was the most outstanding wrestler in Fargo. First she won Cadets, outscoring opponents 53-4 with all techs. Then in Juniors she beat not one, but two World Team Members by a combined 18-0!

1. The Unnamed Phenom 

Alright. Here's one maybe you, the people, can help me with. When talking about the up-and-coming talent someone mentioned that there is a girl in California that routinely goes toe-to-toe with World Teamer and 2x Yarygin Champ, Tamyra Menseh. 

Yeah. Sure.

Then I was talking to someone else. Similar story.

Then I was talking to Fargo Champ Emma Bruntil. "Yeah, she beats Tamyra at the OTC sometimes."

What? Then why isn't she here?

"She's only in 7th grade."

Yikes! Someone get me her name, STAT!

***Update: Her name is Amit Elor of Walnut Creek California. Nomad sent me screenshots of him telling me about her last November, proving he is the smartest man alive.***

Top Five Boys Revelations

5. Freshmen Big Boarders

I'll have an article later in the week detailing the success of the incoming freshmen that competed in Fargo. For those grumpy fuddy duddies that say 'you can't predict success in 8th grade,' I'll have proof we can.

4. Jakason Burks, NE & Josh Edmond, MI

Burks has been good. Really good. Last year at Fargo. Last fall at Super 32. But he didn't compete much nationally in Free or Folk. After he won Greco in Akron he (justifiably) passed on the freestyle portion. So when I saw him in Fargo doing the things he's doing in freestyle, I was super impressed. He's jumped levels. To a lesser extent, but still significant, Josh Edmond was just...too good for the Cadet field. Whatever happened between Akron, where he placed 7th, and Fargo, it was a good thing.

3. Carson Kharchla, OH

It might be a surprise to see Kharchla as just #3 on this list. I mean he destroyed the field including a past World Teamer and then the #1 guy.  But he's been known for quite a while. A lot of people, myself included, had been waiting for him to break through. His Fargo was more an 'arrival' than a revelation.

2. Ridge Lovett, ID

If you told me Lovett would place 4th or 5th in Juniors while upsetting a guy or two it wouldn't have been that surprising. He has a good track record, came in ranked 7th, and is only 'under the radar' based on geography. But beat Beau Bartlett, the #1 at 126, and make the finals. Lovett's stock jumped immensely. Like Kharchla, the recruiting chase is officially on for him.

1. Parker Keckeisen, WI

I was very interested in Keckeisen after he beat a good-not-great field at Folk Nationals. Ben Askren had been telling me about him in the run up to FloNationals but he had to pull out do to injury. So I was pumped he entered Fargo. At the same time, he didn't have a whole lot of FS success. He went 1-2 in Fargo last year and even DNP'd at a regional. So my expectations were tempered. He would go on to take 3rd, losing only to Kharchla and beating four Top 11 guys in succession: Foca, Cramer, Wittlake, and Starocci. By far, the biggest surprise to me in Fargo.