Studer, Gayheart to represent area at Fargo Nationals

Two local boys will be taking to the national stage this month in one of the nation's largest wrestling tournaments: The U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals, also known as Fargo Nationals amongst the wrestlers that compete. The USA Wrestling National sponsored event will be held at Fargo, North Dakota, at the Fargodome, which is located on the campus of North Dakota State University. The week-long event from July 10th-July 19th brings thousands of the nation's best high school wrestlers together for a bracket-style double-elimination competition, where only the top eight can call themselves the All-American wrestler.Answering the call of the mat are incoming juniors Jackson Gayheart of Seneca East and Braydon Studer of Columbian.Representing the Ohio National 16U men's wrestling team for both freestyle and Greco Roman is Gayheart, while Studer will be representing the Ohio National Junior Men's Wrestling Team in both freestyle and Greco as well.For Studer, this is his second year going to Fargo; Gayheart is participating for the first time."I'm excited to be competing," Gayheart said. "I'm glad for the opportunity. You are able to represent Ohio and where you are from. Not many kids get the opportunity to compete."Gayheart qualified for Fargo either through his regional or state placement to be placed on the team. Studer qualified for Fargo this season by placing fourth in both freestyle and Greco at the central regional tournament that was held in Louisville, Kentucky.Studer only competed in Greco last season, where he went 3-2, and it happens to be his favorite category."I get to throw people," Studer said. "Or as we say, 'hand out some frequent flyer miles.'"Studer will be competing in the 113-pound weight class, while Gayheart will be in the 190-pound weight class."I feel it's the peak performance weight for me," Studer said. "I'm at about seven percent body fat and not dropping muscle."With the style of tournament that Fargo is, Studer and other competitors have a minimum of four matches with a possibility of up to 20 over the entire week, so athletes usually qualify for either a weight class above, or they cut weight to qualify for the ones they wrestled during the high school season.The training though doesn't just take place when the summer rolls in; both Studer and Gayheart have been training since the regular season ended in March. Both have been lifting weights and getting in cardio, but for Studer, he goes to a multitude of clubs twice a day to train.In addition to whatever training they pursued in the offseason, the Fargo qualifiers that are on Team Ohio must attend a mandatory camp that is held at Ohio Northern University from today to Monday, before leaving to go to Fargo on Thursday.What impresses seasoned veterans like Studer and newcomers like Gayheart the most is the atmosphere that happens when they get to the Fargodome and realize it's nothing like they have experienced before and where their hard work gets them."We train as a team and travel as a team," Studer said. "It's impressive to see 30 wrestling mats all in one gym and most of the brackets are 256-man brackets. It's so much fun competing against kids from other states that have worked just as hard."Making friends from all over and being around like-minded athletes has fueled the fire inside of Studer, whose passion and love for the sport hasn't stopped growing. One of Studer's goals is to be able to wrestle at World's and or in the Olympics, but to also be in the top eight and bring back an All-American medal to Tiffin.For Gayheart, he is just thankful to be able to compete at the event, and has a goal of his own."I hope to learn a lot," Gayheart said. "Meet new people, and be able to overcome anything that sets me back."Getting to compete at a national level though doesn't come with a cost. That's where the wrestlers have relied on the communities to come out and support the local athletes.It's $1,500-$1,800 per wrestler, according to USA Wrestling Ohio, and that includes training, travel, room, board, meals and gear."The tournament is being organized by USA Wrestling," Studer said. "It allows us athletes to fundraise to cover the costs."USA Wrestling is a non-profit organization.It's why athletes like Studer have hosted wrestling camps at Ohio Cyclones Wrestling Club and Gayheart to be at the Republic Street Fair to raise money.If it wasn't for the communities coming out to support them both in fundraising and with words of encouragement, the wrestlers wouldn't have the opportunity to go."The community support has helped me a lot to raise the money to go and compete at Fargo," Gayheart said. "I've had a lot of support from people in my community and others. I would like to thank everyone who is supporting me through my journey."For Studer, the support he has received from not only the community but his family has made it all the more possible for him to continue on in his wrestling career.