River Valley Freestyle Academy sending 6 wrestlers to USMC Junior Nationals
The River Valley Freestyle Academy will be well represented at the 2025 United States Marine Corps Junior Nationals, which will begin Thursday and will end July 19 at the FargoDome in Fargo, N.D.
Two members, Sallisaw Black Diamonds wrestler Bodie Adams and Stilwell Lady Indian and Murray State College committed wrestler Adriana Chronister, will be making their third appearance at the big yearly tournament.
“I’m pretty excited,” said Adams, who will be at 175 pounds in the junior division. “It’s a good experience, and it’s fun to have a chance to do something big.”
“I’m super excited,” said Chronister, who will be at 145 pounds in the junior women’s division. “I’m really hoping I can place and get a stop sign (awarded to the first champion of each night). I think that would be awesome. I think it’s cool to get up there and wrestle. I’m excited for it.”
Sallisaw Black Diamonds wrestler Briar James will be one of two members making their first-ever trip to the USMC Junior Nationals.
“I feel like this year I’m just going up for the experience,” said James, who will be at 150 pounds in the age 16-andyounger division. “I’m going to try my hardest and see how it goes.”
The other first-time qualifier for the RVFA is Drew Simpson, who was a member of the firstever varsity wrestling program for the Roland Rangers this past season.
“I’m super excited,” said Simpson, who will be at 215 pounds in the junior division. “I’m ready to prove something to myself.”
The other two members going are Sallisaw Black Diamonds wrestler Morgan Duke, who will be at 126 pounds in the junior division, and Greenwood (Ark.) Lady Bulldogs wrestler Farah Crossno, who will be at 100 pounds in the junior women’s division.
While the top objective for the “Super Six” is to win their respective weight class national championship, there are other goals they would like to achieve.
“It’s all about the experience and getting to go up there and wrestle,” said Chronister, who finished third at 140 pounds in the Class 5A State Tournament last February. “I would like to go up there and make some friends. Just being able to see all the amazing things we will get to do at a giant tournament like that is awesome. I’m glad that we get this opportunity to just learn, grow and experience awesome things.”
“I would like to make All-American,” said Adams, who was the 175-pound state champion at the Class 4A State Tournament in February. “I would have to place in the top eight for that, but I would preferably want to place in the top four.”
“I just want to get the experience,” James said. “I’m looking to be better when it’s all over.”
“I just want to get experience and to know how the game works more,” Simpson said.
