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FARGO, N.D. – Autumn Elsbury made a statement on the national stage this week, wrestling her way to a silver medal finish in the Junior Women’s 170-pound division at the USA Wrestling Junior & 16U National Championships in Fargo, North Dakota.

Ranked No. 13 nationally coming into the tournament, Elsbury stormed through the bracket with poise and power, earning her place in the finals after a string of dominant performances.

Elsbury received a first-round bye before opening her tournament in the Round of 64 with a 3:12 injury default victory over Texas’s Allyson Alaniz. She followed that up in the Round of 32 with a commanding 10-0 technical fall against Anyia Roberts of Nebraska, sealing the win in just 2 minutes and 53 seconds.

Her momentum continued into the Round of 16, where she pinned Tennessee’s Irelynn Laurin at the 4:09 mark. Elsbury kept her foot on the gas in the quarterfinals, notching another fall, this time over Riley Lancaster of Florida, at 5:32 to punch her ticket to the semis.

Facing No. 6-ranked Makayla Vasser of Nebraska, Elsbury delivered a strong, composed performance. She earned an 8-3 decision victory to secure her spot in the championship match.

In the finals, Elsbury squared off against Pennsylvania’s Jael Miller, the No. 2 ranked wrestler in the nation. Despite a gritty effort, Elsbury was defeated by technical fall, 15-2, in 2 minutes and 36 seconds.

“My experience at Fargo was something not many people get to experience and it was amazing, especially as far as I made it in the tournament,” Elsbury said. “I felt really good about how I performed and had a lot of fun too. It was an amazing experience I will never forget.”

Her runner-up finish marks one of the most impressive national performances by an Iowa wrestler at this year’s Fargo tournament and solidifies Elsbury as one of the country’s top competitors in her weight class.

“My main goal was to just get on the podium, and to make it to the finals exceeded my expectations for sure,” she said. “I can’t wait to go back again next year to see what I can do.”

Elsbury also reflected on her full junior season, describing it as a rewarding stretch filled with progress and growth. I am very happy with my junior year run. It has been amazing seeing all my hard work and training pay off.”

She also expressed gratitude for the support around her: “I am proud to represent my community and school and the state of Iowa at the national level. I can’t thank my coaches Casey Kohls and Theran Gooddale enough for being there for me through the whole tournament.”

With several ranked opponents left behind in her wake, Elsbury’s performance in Fargo sets the stage for another historic and dominant senior year back home in Iowa.