U23 Women’s Freestyle World Team Selection: Final Wrestle-Offs Determine Remaining Spots

The U23 Women’s Freestyle World Team is almost set, with eight of the 10 members ready to compete at the U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania. However, there are still two spots that need to be determined through special wrestle-offs.

Making the U23 team is not a straightforward process, and the entire selection process can be read about here. The determined U23 spots are as follows: Audrey Jimenez (Sage Mortimer) at 50 kg, Elena Ivaldi (Jaslynn Gallegos) at 53 kg, Amani Jones (Montana DeLawder) at 55 kg, Sofia Macaluso (Carissa Qureshi) at 57 kg, Skye Realin (Yele Aycock) at 59 kg, Macey Kilty (Adaugo Nwachukwu) at 62 kg, Brooklyn Hayes (Nina Makem) at 68 kg, and Yelena Makoyed (Kylie Welker) at 76 kg.

There are two remaining spots up for grabs: one at 65 kg between Aine Drury and Claire DiCugno and one at 72 kg between Jasmine Robinson and Kylie Welker. Both Drury and Robinson won the U23 Nationals but Nwachukwu, DiCugno and Welker are challenging for these spots.

The wrestle-offs will take place on Thursday, June 27th at the Olympic Team Camp in Colorado Springs. The event schedule includes a morning session featuring a preliminary match for the 65kg weight class followed by an evening session with best of three series matches for both weight classes. If necessary there will be additional bouts for both weight classes.