Kellen Downing wrestles to 4th at Jr. Nationals
Flathead's Kellen Downing wrestles Helena Capital's Wyatt Shull in the 118 lb. final at the AA Western Divisional at Flathead High School on Saturday, Feb. 8. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead High School wrestler Kellen Downing earned his third straight All-American honors at USA Wrestling’s USMC Junior Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota this past weekend.
Dubbed “The Fargo,” the Junior Nationals drew some 8,500 entries, boys and girls, with 1,339 competing in the Junior Greco-Roman brackets. There, Downing placed fourth at 126 pounds — out of 95 wrestlers.
According to the July TKDNW Media/Rokfin ratings, 12 of the top 25 nationally-ranked 126-pounders competed in Fargo. Notably, Downing defeated No. 4-ranked Saxton Scott of Idaho and No. 10 Czar Quintanilla out of Washington. In the bout to decide third and fourth he fell to two-time Fargo All-American Boden Banta of Idaho, 13-5.
Downing’s Fargo run is the best by a Brave Brawler since Dan Troupe picked up a fourth All-America placing in 1989. Downing, who will be a junior at Flathead this season, was fifth at at 118 pounds at the most recent State AA tournament in February.
Montana’s other wrestler to place in Greco-Roman was Hardin’s Bruno Palone at 215 for 16U; he placed fourth. Palone was also third in 16U Freestyle at 215.
Two more Montanans placed in freestyle: Ronan standout Tirza Two Teeth was fifth for Junior Girls at 207; and Laurel’s Holden Hoiness was seventh in the Boys 16U at 175.
Leading up to the Junior Nationals, Downing trained at Doane University in Nebraska with the Greco-Roman World Team Developmental staff. Montana sent 67 wrestlers to Fargo; coaches included Ryan Henry and Amber Downing.