Montgomery Central, Kirkwood wrestlers take national honors at USA Wrestling’s National Freestyle Championships

Team Tennessee took 27 of their best female high school wrestlers to USA Wrestling’s National Freestyle Championships in Fargo, North Dakota July 13-14, also called the 2024 U.S. Marine Corps Junior & 16U Nationals.

By Derek Levendusky

Contributed

July 15, 2024 4:09 pm

CLARKSVILLE, TN – Team Tennessee took 27 of their best female high school wrestlers to USA Wrestling’s National Freestyle Championships in Fargo, North Dakota July 13-14, also called the 2024 U.S. Marine Corps Junior and 16U Nationals. The event had over 8,000 entries this year, competing in Fargodome on the campus of North Dakota State University.

In the end, two local high school stars earned All-American honors, with Kirkwood High School’s Janiya Johnson winning a national title and Montgomery Central’s two-time TSSAA state champion Audrey Levendusky placing 6th. The top 8 in each weight class earn All-American honors.

To earn her national title, Johnson had to get through a bracket of the top 64 girls in the country in the 16U division at 155 pounds. Seeded No. 3, Johnson took out the No. 11 seed Rhaigyn Trenary of Indiana in the quarters, the No. 2 seeded Sarah Pulk of Minnesota in the semis, and the No. 1 seeded Jayci Shelton of Missouri in the finals by a score of 8-4. In all, Johnson went 6-0 at the event, including two pins and two technical falls.

“Janiya is just one of those special athletes that puts in the time and effort. She’s not going to sit back but she’s going to go after it and set big goals,” said Kirkwood coach Brad Warren. “In my years of coaching girls, she’s got all those special qualities that make a champion. She sets high goals, and they are attainable. She trusts her coaches. Kirk (Landon) has provided her with the technique to achieve a high level of wrestling. Her family is also awesome to be around and incredibly supportive. Kirkwood girls wrestling is probably on the map now, not to mention Clarksville, Tennessee – if it’s not already.”

Levendusky made the podium competing out of the No. 16 seed spot, also in the 16U division at 155 pounds, wrestling nine matches over the two days of competition. After winning her first two matches over opponents from North Dakota and California, she faced the No. 1 seeded Shelton in the Round of 16. She lost that match and needed three wins to make the medal rounds in the consolation bracket. She won the next four before losing in the consolation semis to fall to the 5th place match. She ended the tournament in 6th place, going 6-3 with three pins and two technical falls, earning the coveted All-American honor.

With their performances, Johnson and Levendusky also helped Team Tennessee break a state record with five total All-Americans and three national finalists.

Several other local girls also won matches at the event and contributed to team points, including: