The USMC Nationals at Fargo isn’t just a tournament; it’s a vital benchmark and an unparalleled learning experience. We leave Fargo more determined than ever. We’re incredibly proud of the effort and commitment shown by every member of Team North Carolina.
The future of NC Wrestling is bright, but it will be built on a foundation of greater intention, deeper experience, refined knowledge, and unwavering effort. We know what it takes, and we’re committed to putting in the work to ensure that next year, and in the years to come, Team North Carolina is even more prepared to contend for glory on the Fargodome’s grand stage.
Greco was the finale tournament of USMC Nationals in Fargo. After some inspiring words shared during the team meeting from one of the few marines who hands out “stop signs”, NC native Jamel Johnson, Team NC woke up the next morning and brought the energy.
Jamel Johnson is an American Greco-Roman wrestler, and North Carolina Native who has competed at the senior level for both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps. He is a member of the Greco-Roman National Team.
- Style: Greco-Roman wrestling
- Weight class: Primarily 72 kg, but has competed at 70 kg and 67 kg
- Affiliations: U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program, U.S. Marine Corps, NW Spartans Wrestling Club
- Achievements: Gold medal at the 2021 Pan American Championships (72 kg)
- Bronze medal at the Dave Schultz Memorial
- Winner of the 70 kg bracket at the 2023 Senior Beach Nationals
Johnson is known for his focused, 30-second interval approach to wrestling, emphasizing mental and emotional preparation alongside the physical aspects of the sport.
On the heels of a motivational speech centered around unwavering faith in oneself, team NC put together a string of runs throughout Junior and 16U divisions that showed promise and competitive fire. While some matches were dropped from lack of Greco technical acumen others were gutted out via relentless effort and sheer will to win. When it came time for the medal rounds, NC had 3 athletes prepping for the podium. While 16U Drew Teeter, and Junior Division Troy Shannon both had epic runs that ended in controversial heartbreak, Aaron Ellison 16U 150lbs emerged victorious in the blood round with All-American Honors.
Also highlight the fact that it is important to note that this year Aaron Ellison went to NHSCA US Open, Southeast Regionals, participated in 16U duals and Fargo last year. Faith Bane: Journeyman World Classic, Super 32, USMC Nationals in Spokane, as well as competing in the US Open in Vegas. It’s no surprise that each of these athletes made the podium and came home with a stop sign due to their consistent commitment to getting high level reps against high level competition.
