Why More of the Best High School Wrestlers Are Choosing FFB & Nidrogen Wrestling Shoes

Something is changing at the highest levels of high school wrestling. More of the best wrestlers in the country are stepping onto the mat in Funky Flickr Boyz and Nidrogen wrestling shoes, and the September 26, 2026 weekend offered a strong example of that growing presence.

In Stillwater, Oklahoma, FFB Next Up athletes competed inside Gallagher-Iba Arena at FloWrestling's Who's Number One. At the same time, another group of Next Up athletes was competing in the Elite division of the Grappler Fall Classic at Cedar Point Sports Center in Sandusky, Ohio.

Different events. Different wrestlers. Different shoe models.

The underlying story was the same: FFB and Nidrogen footwear was showing up on the feet of nationally elite high school wrestlers when the competition was at its highest.

Who's Number One: A Stage Built for the Country's Best

The 2026 edition marked the 14th Who's Number One. FloWrestling describes WNO as its premier high school showcase, bringing together some of the country's highest-ranked wrestlers.

The 2026 field included 46 nationally ranked wrestlers, with 22 ranked No. 1 and another 22 ranked No. 2 in their respective weight classes. The boys competed under NCAA folkstyle rules, while the girls competed in freestyle.

Nine FFB Next Up athletes competed at WNO in FFB or Nidrogen footwear, with five earning wins.

Here's how the weekend unfolded.

Abigail Gonzalez | 115 Pounds | Nidrogen Aero "Bubble"

Florida's Abigail Gonzalez entered Who's Number One ranked No. 1 at 115 pounds and defeated No. 2 Aubree Gutierrez of California, 8-1.

Gonzalez competed in the Nidrogen Aero "Bubble." Her appearance at WNO added another major stage to a 2026 season that included an impressive progression at Fargo, where she finished fourth, then third, before winning the title.

It was a clear example of what the FFB Next Up program represents: young wrestlers competing against the best in the country while wearing FFB and Nidrogen footwear on the biggest stages.

Maddie Marsh | 140 Pounds | FFB Postlude "Burst"

Indiana's Maddie Marsh faced No. 1 Landri Von Gonten at 140 pounds.

Marsh dropped an 11-6 decision while competing in the FFB Postlude "Burst", but the result does not tell the full story of her résumé.

She arrived at WNO ranked No. 2 nationally after winning the 2026 Junior Fargo title, reaching the Fargo finals twice and collecting three Indiana state championships.

For a high school wrestler, simply earning a place on the Who's Number One stage is a significant accomplishment.

Madison Healey | 100 Pounds | Nidrogen GenOne "Platinum"

Pennsylvania's Madison Healey entered WNO ranked No. 1 at 100 pounds and competed in the Nidrogen GenOne "Platinum."

Healey brought an accomplished résumé to Stillwater, including two U17 World bronze medals and two National Prep titles.

Abigail Peterson won their WNO bout by fall, but Healey's selection for the event reflects the level of competition represented within the FFB Next Up program.

Jimmy Mastny | 215 Pounds | FFB Postlude "Valor"

Illinois standout Jimmy Mastny defeated Mick Moylan 9-0 at 215 pounds while wearing the FFB Postlude "Valor."

Mastny entered the event as a U20 World bronze medalist and had already won Super 32, the U20 U.S. Open and the U20 World Team Trials.

He is also committed to Iowa State, making his appearance another example of the level of athlete represented within Next Up.

Brayden Wenrich vs. Michael "Mikey" Batista | 120 Pounds | Nidrogen Aero

The 120-pound matchup brought two FFB Next Up athletes directly across the mat from each other.

Brayden Wenrich, the reigning Pennsylvania state champion and Fargo champion, defeated Maryland commit Michael "Mikey" Batista 4-2.

Wenrich wore the Nidrogen Aero "Slime", while Batista competed in the Nidrogen Aero "Void."

The match was particularly interesting because it served as a rubber match between the two wrestlers. They had split their first two meetings, with the No. 1 ranking on the line in Stillwater.

Having two Next Up athletes competing against one another in a nationally significant matchup also says something about the depth of the program.

Jason Dube | 150 Pounds | FFB Postlude "Obsidian"

Jason Dube of Pennsylvania defended the top spot at 150 pounds with a 4-3 victory over Penn State commit Clinton Shepherd.

Dube competed in the FFB Postlude "Obsidian."

Before WNO, FloWrestling highlighted his NHSCA title along with finals appearances at Fargo, Powerade and the U17 World Team Trials.

Another No. 1 wrestler. Another close national-level matchup. Another FFB shoe on the mat.

Mac Crosson vs. Michael Romero | 157 Pounds | FFB Postlude

At 157 pounds, another pair of Next Up athletes met with the No. 1 ranking on the line.

Nebraska commit Mac Crosson defeated Oklahoma State commit Michael Romero 2-1 in sudden victory.

Crosson wore the FFB Postlude "Blush", while Romero competed in the FFB Postlude "Static."

Both wrestlers came into the matchup with Fargo championship credentials. Romero was coming off a Doc Buchanan title and California state championship, while Crosson entered after a Fargo finals run and other major national-level victories.

It was another example of the depth of talent competing in FFB footwear at WNO.

More Than One in Four Boys at WNO Wore FFB or Nidrogen

The individual results were only part of the story.

WNO scheduled 13 boys matches, putting 26 wrestlers on the mat during the boys session. Six of those wrestlers competed in FFB or Nidrogen wrestling shoes: Jimmy Mastny, Brayden Wenrich, Michael "Mikey" Batista, Jason Dube, Mac Crosson and Michael Romero.

That represents 27.3%, or more than one in four, of the analyzed boys field.

For FFB and Nidrogen, that is an important data point because Who's Number One is specifically built around the nation's top high school talent.

It is also worth being precise about what the number means. It does not mean that every elite wrestler wears FFB or Nidrogen. It shows that the brands had a significant presence within this particular WNO boys field.

Grappler Fall Classic: Elite Depth in Sandusky, Ohio

While WNO was unfolding in Stillwater, the 17th annual Grappler Fall Classic was underway at Cedar Point Sports Center in Sandusky, Ohio.

The GFC Elite division is the event's premier high school bracket, with the top eight finishers earning GFC All-American status.

The 2026 High School Elite boys field included 442 state placers and 113 state champions, according to Grappler Gold. That provides useful context for the performances from FFB Next Up athletes.

Six Next Up athletes finished inside the top five.

Traevon Ducking | Champion | 120 Pounds | Nidrogen Aero "Bubble"

Traevon Ducking won the 120-pound Elite title while wearing the Nidrogen Aero "Bubble."

The result added another championship performance to a weekend in which the Aero appeared repeatedly across elite high school competition.

Lucas Boe | Champion | 175 Pounds | FFB Postlude "Static"

Lucas Boe won the 175-pound Elite title while competing in the FFB Postlude "Static."

His championship was the second GFC title for a Next Up athlete during the event.

Braeden Simoneaux | Runner-Up | 190 Pounds | Nidrogen Aero "Slime"

Braeden Simoneaux finished runner-up at 190 pounds while wearing the Nidrogen Aero "Slime."

That meant the same Aero "Slime" colorway seen on Brayden Wenrich at WNO also appeared on the GFC podium.

Carter Smith | Third Place | 113 Pounds | FFB Postlude "Burst"

Carter Smith finished third at 113 pounds in the FFB Postlude "Burst."

The result added another top-five finish to the Next Up group at GFC.

Urijah Lopez | Fourth Place | 144 Pounds | Nidrogen Ravage "Ink"

Urijah Lopez placed fourth at 144 pounds while competing in the Nidrogen Ravage "Ink."

The performance also gave the Nidrogen Ravage platform representation among the top finishers in the GFC Elite field.

Jake Hughes | Fifth Place | 157 Pounds | FFB Postlude "Blush"

Jake Hughes finished fifth at 157 pounds while wearing the FFB Postlude "Blush."

The result completed six top-five finishes for FFB Next Up athletes at the Grappler Fall Classic.

Together, those performances produced two GFC champions, one runner-up and four additional top-five finishes for Next Up athletes.

Athlete and Footwear Snapshot

The athlete and footwear pairings above come from the FFB event-day records included in the supplied content package.

Different Elite Wrestlers Are Choosing Different FFB and Nidrogen Models

One of the more interesting takeaways from the weekend is that there was no single wrestling shoe across the entire Next Up group.

Elite wrestlers have different preferences for fit, feel, weight, traction, flexibility, support and outsole construction. The current FFB and Nidrogen lineup gives athletes multiple performance platforms rather than assuming everyone wants the exact same shoe.

Nidrogen Aero

The Nidrogen Aero appeared on Gonzalez, Wenrich, Batista, Ducking and Simoneaux across WNO and GFC. It was one of the most visible Nidrogen models across the weekend.

FFB Postlude

The FFB Postlude was worn by Marsh, Mastny, Dube, Crosson, Romero, Boe, Smith and Hughes across the two events.

Nidrogen GenOne

Madison Healey competed in the Nidrogen GenOne "Platinum", representing another platform within the Nidrogen lineup.

Nidrogen Ravage

Urijah Lopez competed in the Nidrogen Ravage "Ink", giving the Ravage platform a top-five finish at GFC.

What Is FFB Next Up?

FFB Next Up is an invite-only athlete program built by Funky Flickr Boyz and Nidrogen to support the next generation of elite wrestlers.

The program goes beyond a traditional ambassador model. Selected athletes receive footwear and gear support, early access, athlete spotlights and opportunities to grow alongside the brands.

The relationship is also designed to create an ongoing feedback loop with high-level wrestlers competing under real pressure. That gives FFB and Nidrogen direct insight into what athletes need while allowing the brands to support wrestlers through important stages of their careers.

Do Top High School Wrestlers Wear Funky Flickr Boyz and Nidrogen Wrestling Shoes?

Yes.

The 2026 Who's Number One and Grappler Fall Classic provide a clear example.

FFB Next Up athletes wearing FFB or Nidrogen footwear included nationally ranked wrestlers, Fargo champions, state champions, World medalists and major NCAA Division I commits.

Five Next Up athletes won at WNO, while six Next Up athletes finished in the top five at GFC.

The important distinction is that this is not a claim that every elite wrestler wears FFB or Nidrogen.

The stronger story is that more nationally elite wrestlers are choosing these brands and doing so on highly visible stages where the level of competition is among the highest in high school wrestling.

The Best Wrestlers Are Starting to Look Different

Funky Flickr Boyz grew from the belief that wrestling footwear could have more personality.
Nidrogen extended that vision with a heavier focus on engineering, refinement, and building multiple performance options for different kinds of wrestlers.

Now those ideas are showing up on the feet of wrestlers competing for No. 1 national rankings, major tournament titles, state championships, college opportunities, and international teams. 

We do not want to make shoes that only look good on a product page. We want to make
wrestling shoes the best wrestlers in the country trust when the match matters. This weekend was another step in that direction

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FFB Next Up?

FFB Next Up is an invite-only athlete program from Funky Flickr Boyz and Nidrogen that supports high-level wrestlers with footwear, gear, exposure, athlete features, early access and future collaboration opportunities.

Do nationally ranked wrestlers wear Funky Flickr Boyz and Nidrogen wrestling shoes?

Yes. FFB and Nidrogen footwear was worn by nationally ranked athletes at the 2026 Who's Number One and Grappler Fall Classic, including WNO winners, Fargo champions, state champions, World medalists and Division I college commits.

How many wrestlers wore FFB or Nidrogen shoes at the 2026 Who's Number One?

Nine FFB Next Up athletes competed at WNO in FFB or Nidrogen footwear. In the analyzed boys field, six of 22 wrestlers wore FFB or Nidrogen shoes, representing 27.3%, or more than one in four.

Which FFB and Nidrogen wrestling shoe models were worn at WNO and GFC?

Next Up athletes competed in FFB Postlude, Nidrogen Aero, Nidrogen GenOne and Nidrogen Ravage models across colorways including Bubble, Slime, Void, Platinum, Valor, Burst, Obsidian, Blush, Static and Ink.

Where was the 2026 Grappler Fall Classic held?

The 17th annual Grappler Fall Classic was held at Cedar Point Sports Center in Sandusky, Ohio. The High School Elite division competed on September 26, 2026.