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The 2025 USMC Nationals in Fargo served as both a benchmark and a learning experience for Team North Carolina. The state left the FargoDome proud of its athletes and more determined to build with greater intention, experience, knowledge and effort.
The future was bright, but continued progress required year-round work and more high-level competitive repetitions.
Jamel Johnson challenged Team NC
Greco-Roman closed the week in Fargo. Before the final tournament, North Carolina native and U.S. Greco-Roman National Team member Jamel Johnson addressed the team with a message centered on unwavering belief.
Jamel Johnson
- Style
- Greco-Roman
- Primary weight
- 72 kg, with competition at 70 kg and 67 kg
- Affiliations
- U.S. Army WCAP, U.S. Marine Corps and NW Spartans
- Selected achievement
- 2021 Pan American champion at 72 kg
Johnson was known for breaking matches into focused 30-second intervals and emphasizing mental and emotional preparation alongside physical training.
Competitive fire in Greco-Roman
Team NC responded the next morning with energy across the Junior and 16U divisions. Technical gaps cost some matches, while relentless effort carried other wrestlers through difficult positions.
Drew Teeter in 16U and Troy Shannon in the Junior division made deep runs that ended just short of the podium. Aaron Ellison broke through in the 16U 150-pound blood round to earn All-America honors and bring home a Fargo stop sign.
High-level repetitions mattered
Ellison's podium finish followed a demanding competitive schedule that included NHSCA Nationals, the U.S. Open, Southeast Regionals, 16U Duals and a previous Fargo appearance.
Faith Bane's own Fargo success came after competition at Journeymen World Classic, Super 32, USMC Women's Nationals in Spokane and the U.S. Open in Las Vegas.
Consistent exposure to elite opponents prepared athletes for the pressure, pace and adjustments required to reach national podiums.
Moving forward
Team North Carolina's next step was not simply to work harder, but to train with greater purpose: develop international-style technique, compete more frequently against elite opponents and build the mental habits required for Fargo's biggest moments.
The foundation had been established. Sustained national progress would come from intention, discipline and year-round high-level experience.