Mizzouri Girls Make History at the 2026 FREECO National Duals

2026 Freeco Elementary Duals *results at the bottom

The 2026 FREECO National Duals will be remembered as the weekend the Mizzouri Girls announced themselves on the national stage.

Led by Coaches Casper Sherow and Isaiah Gutierrez, a freestyle-heavy roster loaded with talent arrived in Omaha with a mission. While many of these athletes were stepping into Greco-Roman competition for the first time, they never backed down from the challenge.

Instead, they embraced it.

What unfolded over two days wasn’t just a successful tournament. It was a statement about the direction of girls wrestling in Missouri and what can happen when athletes, coaches, and families come together behind a common goal.

Day One: Greco-Roman

Pool Play

The tournament opened against Nebraska Girls 1, and the Mizzouri Girls wasted no time making their presence known.

Davi Williams ignited the bench with a massive throw and a 14-second fall to start the dual. While it took a few matches for the team to settle into the unique demands of Greco, once Aryana Talato hit the mat the momentum shifted completely. From that point forward, the lineup rolled through Nebraska with a series of tech falls and pins, highlighted by Abigail Montgomery’s incredible 8-second Greco debut.

After a bye in Round 2, Mizzouri faced a dangerous Washington squad.

Again, Davi set the tone early. Washington managed to keep things competitive through the opening weights, but once Charity Sperry stepped onto the mat and secured a key victory, the floodgates opened. Mizzouri pulled away and earned another impressive dual win.

The next challenge came against Minnesota 2, one of two talented Minnesota teams entered in the event.

Davi Williams and Blakely Reed opened the dual with quick falls. While Minnesota found success in a few early bouts, Aryana Talato’s 17-second pin sparked another dominant stretch for the Mizzouri Girls. Elizabeth Smith followed with a 17-second fall of her own, and Marley Plymell added a lightning-fast tech fall as Mizzouri cruised to victory.

The final pool match brought the toughest test of the day: defending champions Ohio.

Ohio stormed out to a commanding early lead and showcased why they remain one of the premier Greco programs in the country. But the Mizzouri Girls refused to fold.

Elizabeth Smith delivered a huge momentum swing with a fall after building an early lead. Crickett Arnold, Marley Plymell, Miley Oberg, and Mahlea Talato followed with a string of victories that breathed life back into the dual. While Ohio secured the win, Mizzouri had done enough to earn a spot in the Gold Bracket and keep their championship hopes alive.

Gold Bracket

New York stood in the way of a semifinal berth.

Blakely Reed opened the dual with a first-period tech fall, and Mizzouri never looked back. Their depth proved too much, and the girls powered their way into the semifinals.

Waiting for them was Minnesota’s top squad.

The semifinal was everything fans hoped it would be.

Davi Williams and Blakely Reed gave Mizzouri an early advantage, but Minnesota answered. The two teams traded momentum throughout the dual, exchanging big wins and critical bonus points. Every match felt significant.

When the dust settled, Minnesota escaped with a narrow 37-32 victory. Mahlea Talato’s 27-second fall in the final match gave Mizzouri one last push, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap.

The loss set up a third-place showdown against Washington.

Third Place Match

The Mizzouri Girls entered the dual knowing they were already guaranteed their best Greco finish ever, but they weren’t satisfied.

Davi Williams wasted little time, securing a 40-second fall to start the dual. Calliope Coon followed with a 56-second pin that energized the bench.

After weathering a few mid-lineup losses, Mizzouri responded with authority.

Charity Sperry delivered a pivotal fall that ignited another run, and the team never slowed down. The Mizzouri Girls lost just one match after Sperry’s victory and closed the tournament with a dominant win over Washington.

When the final whistle sounded, history had been made. Third Place. The highest Greco finish ever for a Missouri girls team at the FREECO National Duals.

Day Two: Freestyle

If Greco was about proving they belonged, freestyle was about proving they could contend with anyone.

Pool Play

The Mizzouri Girls opened freestyle competition against Kansas Girls 2 and immediately showed why freestyle is their strength.

Every match ended with bonus points as Mizzouri rolled to a dominant victory. Marley Plymell’s 13-second fall highlighted a complete team performance.

Next came Oklahoma.

Despite Oklahoma bringing a talented roster, Mizzouri came out firing.

Davi Williams, Blakely Reed, and Trinh Tse opened the dual with bonus-point victories and quickly put Oklahoma on their heels. Aryana Talato once again provided a spark midway through the dual, and from there Mizzouri accelerated away from the competition.

Their toughest pool challenge arrived against Iowa.

An early upset helped Iowa seize momentum, and a seven-match winning streak ultimately proved too much to overcome. The Mizzouri Girls battled late, but Iowa secured the victory.

With Gold Bracket aspirations still intact, Mizzouri regrouped after a bye and prepared for Nebraska.

The response was exactly what great teams do.

Davi Williams scored a 21-second technical fall to start the dual. Calliope Coon earned a hard-fought redemption victory, and Aryana Talato’s fall shifted momentum back to the Mizzouri side. Elizabeth Smith added a 30-second pin before Marley Plymell, Miley Oberg, Abigail Montgomery, and Mahlea Talato slammed the door shut.

Gold Bracket secured!

Gold Bracket

Quarterfinals: Mizzouri vs Minnesota

This dual had everything.

Strategy. Emotion. Pressure.

And it came down to the final match.

Minnesota, fresh off a Greco finals appearance, entered with confidence. Davi Williams and Blakely Reed helped Mizzouri build an early lead, but Minnesota responded.

Gabby Blackson delivered one of the biggest moments of the dual, scoring quickly before securing a fall and swinging momentum back toward Mizzouri.

As the dual unfolded, bonus points became critical.

Entering the final two matches, the score sat deadlocked.

Abigail Montgomery drew one of the toughest assignments of the day. Her job was simple: stay off her back and keep the dual within reach. She battled through a difficult match and did exactly what her team needed, surrendering only a decision.

That left everything in the hands of Mahlea Talato.

With Mizzouri needing a big finish, Mahlea delivered.

Seventeen seconds. One fall. One unforgettable moment.

The Mizzouri Girls shocked Minnesota and advanced to the semifinals.

Semifinals: Mizzouri vs Ohio

Ohio once again stood between Mizzouri and the championship finals.

The dual looked like it might slip away early as Ohio built momentum through the opening weights. Then Elizabeth Smith stepped onto the mat and reignited the Mizzouri bench.

What followed was a furious comeback attempt.

Every remaining Mizzouri wrestler found a way to contribute, including a remarkable comeback victory by Abigail Montgomery after trailing 8-0.

Despite the late surge, Ohio narrowly escaped with the win.

Third Place Match

One final opportunity remained.

Washington. Again.

This time, Mizzouri left no doubt.

Davi Williams and Blakely Reed opened with back-to-back victories. Calliope Coon and Myka Morrill added crucial wins as the dual progressed.

Washington hung around early, but once Charity Sperry delivered another key performance, the Mizzouri Girls took complete control.

The result was another convincing victory and another trip to the podium. Third Place. Back-to-back third-place finishes in Greco and Freestyle.

More Than Medals

The numbers tell part of the story. In 2025, Missouri finished sixth in Greco and twelfth overall after competing in the Silver Bracket during freestyle. One year later, the Mizzouri Girls stood on the podium twice. But this weekend was about more than results.

It was about growth.

It was about belief.

It was about a coaching staff that created an environment where every athlete mattered.

Whether it was a national-level standout chasing a championship or an athlete stepping onto the mat for her very first Greco match, every wrestler was supported from the opening whistle to the final handshake.

Maggie Branson may not have found the win column this weekend, but she gained something equally important. Experience. Confidence. Knowledge. The foundation for future success.

That speaks directly to the culture Casper Sherow and Isaiah Gutierrez have built.

They coach with energy. They coach with passion. Most importantly, they coach with belief.

Every athlete on this roster felt it.

Looking Ahead

If this weekend taught us anything, it’s that the Mizzouri Girls are no longer happy simply being part of the conversation. They’re chasing championships.

The talent is here. The coaches are here. The work ethic is here. Now the next step belongs to all of us.

Missouri needs more summer opportunities. More open rooms. More Greco exposure. More national-level competition. More collaboration.

The talent gap isn’t what’s holding Missouri back. The opportunity gap is.

If Missouri wants to continue climbing, clubs must work together. Coaches must work together. Wrestlers must train together.

The future of girls wrestling in Missouri isn’t owned by one club, one coach, or one organization. It belongs to the athletes.

The Mizzouri Girls proved that this weekend. And after watching them battle their way to two historic third-place finishes, one thing is crystal clear:

They’re not coming back next year for bronze.

They’re coming back for gold.

RESULTS

Saturday May 6, 2026 - Girls Greco

Pool B

Round 1 - Mizzouri Girls (45) vs. Nebraska Girls 1 (26)

Round 2 - BYE

Round 3 - Mizzouri Girls (40) vs. Washington Girls (27)

Round 4 - Mizzouri Girls (53) vs. Minnesota 2 (14)

Round 5 - Mizzouri Girls (25) vs. Ohio Girls (43)

Gold Bracket

Quarter-Finals - Mizzouri Girls (48) vs. New York Girls (23)

Semi-Finals Mizzouri Girls (32) vs. Minnesota Girls (37)

3rd Place Match - Mizzouri Girls (43) vs Washington Girls (25)

Sunday May 7, 2026 - Girls Freestyle

Pool C

Round 1 - Mizzouri Girls (61) vs. Kansas Girls 2 (12)

Round 2 - Mizzouri Girls (57) vs. Oklahoma Girls (15)

Round 3 - Mizzouri Girls (25) vs. Iowa Girls (43)

Round 4 - Bye

Round 5 - Mizzouri Girls (43) vs. Nebraska Girls 1 (28)

Gold Bracket

Quarter-Finals - Mizzouri Girls (36) vs. Minnesota Girls 1 (33)

Semi-Finals Mizzouri Girls (33) vs. Ohio Girls (37)

3rd Place Match - Mizzouri Girls (48) vs Washington Girls (24)

Roster:

50 - Davi Williams 55 - Blakely Reed

60 - Trinh Tse

65 - Maggie Branson

70 - Calliope Coon

75 - Myka Morrill

80 - Gabby Blackson

85 - Aryana Talato

90 - Charity Sperry

95 - Elizabeth Smith

100 - Crickett Arnold

110 - Marley Plymell

120 - Miley Oberg

130 - Abigail Montgomery

145 - Mahlea Talato