The U.S. Open is here. Senior National Team and World Team spots are on the line this weekend in Las Vegas as women seek to earn a spot at Final X.

Among the entries are plenty of high school and college wrestlers seeking to make their mark at the prestigious annual event, some seeking to make deep runs and hit the podium, others with their eyes on a World or National Team spot.

Here are some high school and college names to watch this weekend in Las Vegas:

High School 

50 kg — Audrey Jimenez (Arizona)

Only a high school junior, Jimenez has already made her mark on the world stage, winning a bronze at Cadet Worlds in 2021 and a silver at U20 Worlds last year. Just last week, she dominated the U20 division at Women’s Nationals, going unscored upon in the deepest weight of the tournament. We’re about to see what she can do at the Senior level. She’s also ranked #1 in the pound-for-pound Girls National High School Rankings.

50 kg — Anaya Falcon (California)

Ranked #15 in the high school P4P rankings and #2 behind Jimenez at 106, she recently won a California state title with an impressive victory over two-time Fargo champion Paige Morales in the state finals. She took third two weekends ago in the U23 division.

50 kg — Erica Pastoriza (Arizona)

Part of another tough 50-kilogram weight class — a theme over the last few USAW events at this weight — Pastoriza brings an impressive age-level resume to the Open, having won silver at U17 Worlds in 2022 and gold at Cadet Worlds in 2021. We’ll see if the Arizona high school senior can compete with the firepower of older opponents at this weight in an absolutely loaded group. 

53 kg — Kiely Tabaldo (California)

Another California product, ranked #17 in the P4P and #2 at 112 behind Alex Szkotnicki, she also won a state title in the Golden State. At Women’s Nationals, she took fourth in the U23 division. She’s earned a #9 seed at the Open.

53 kg — Virginia Foard (Wyoming Seminary)

High school senior Foard is ranked #4 at 117 in high school rankings and is coming off a runner-up finish in the U20 division at Women’s Nationals, where she lost in the best-of-three finals to college All-American Amani Jones. She’s had a stellar high school career at Wyoming Seminary and looks to make her mark in a Senior level tournament.

57 kg — Shelby Moore (Washington)

Ranked #2 overall in the national P4P rankings, she took fifth at U17 Worlds last year. Moore also took second in Spokane in the U20 division to Cristelle Rodriguez, a college All-American on the Doane roster. 

57 kg — Carissa Qureshi (California)

Qureshi went 37-0 in California this year on her way to her first CIF state title. She’s ranked #4 at 127 in the national rankings. She’ll have her hands full with the uber-talented seeds at this weight, but look for her to be a tough out, in spite of her youth.

59 kg — Piper Cadden (Arizona)

Another product of Arizona — a rising state in the women’s wrestling scene — Cadden is a high school senior ranked #6 in national rankings. She took fourth in U23 a few weekends ago, wrestling tough matches against college All-Americans. She’s in a tough group but could pull an upset, which would be an achievement against anyone seeded in the top eight at this weight.

72 kg — Haley Ward (Missouri)

Ranked #4 nationally at 152, the Missouri senior is committed to Iowa. She reached the U20 finals in Spokane, where she faced Amit Elor and lost the best-of-three series, landing at #2 on the U20 national team. She’s seeded #7 at the Open as a high school wrestler and looks like a legit threat to make the top eight.

72 kg — Rose Cassioppi (Colorado)

Another Iowa commit, the Colorado wrestler is ranked #5 in national high school rankings and is seeded #6 at the Open. She took third in the U20 division in Spokane, making the U20 national team.

College

50 kg — Emily Shilson (McKendree)

Shilson is no secret to Senior-level wrestling. She just wrapped up her college career by winning an unprecedented fifth national title in March and boasts three age-level World titles. Currently ranked #4 in FloWrestling’s Women’s Senior Freestyle Rankings, she’s seeded #3 at the U.S. Open and seeks her first bid to Final X where Olympic bronze medalist and three-time world medalist Sarah Hildebrandt awaits the Las Vegas winner.

50 kg — Sage Mortimer (King)

Mortimer is currently ranked #5 in our FloWrestling Senior rankings and is also seeded fifth heading into the U.S. Open. She was the national runner-up at both the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships this year and at U23 Nationals. She took second to the same person at both events, Emily Shilson. It’s possible they hit again in Las Vegas but a lot would have to happen if that were the case as the group is stacked. 

53 kg — Felicity Taylor (Iowa)

The one-time national champ, four-time national finalist for McKendree is now on the Iowa roster awaiting the official launch of their program next fall. Ranked #2 in Senior rankings, she’s the returning U.S. Open champ and was Final X finalist last year. She’s seeded #2 behind veteran Amy Fearnside this weekend in Las Vegas.

53 kg — Jaslynn Gallegos (North Central)

The two-time college national champion is seeded #5 at the Open, and looks to return to the world stage after making the Junior World team in 2021. 

53 kg — Samara Chavez (King)

An NCWWC finalist this year for King. A U23 finalist at Women’s Nationals. Chavez is ranked #7 and seeded #6 at 53 kg.

53 kg — Sydney Petzinger (North Central)

Petzinger was ranked #1 in college at one point this past season, though she eventually fell out of that spot. She was first at the Midlands this year and a national NCWWC runner-up in 2022. The multiple-time college All-American is in a tough group but will be competitive against anyone. 

53 kg — Danielle Garcia (King)

Ranked #8 in Senior rankings, Garcia was fourth this year at the NCWWC and comes into the Open seeded #8.

55 kg — Marissa Gallegos (Colorado Mesa)

Marissa (no relation to Jaslynn) won her first national title in March with a finals victory over North Central’s Amani Jones, who is also registered at this weight. Gallegos is ranked #5 at 55 kg and is seeded #3 behind #2 Lauren Mason and #1 Jacarra Winchester.

55 kg — Amani Jones (North Central)

A must-mention after winning a U20 World team spot two weekend ago, she’s seeded #6 at this weight.

55 kg — Payton Stroud (McKendree)

Stroud is a three-time All-American for the Bearcats. She was also a 2021 Junior world teamer. She made the U23 finals at Women’s Nationals and earned a #7 seed at the Open this weekend.

57 kg — Cameron Guerin (McKendree)

The three-time national champion was second at the U.S. Open last year and comes into this year seeded #3 behind #2 Amanda Martinez and #1 Alex Hedrick. Guerin has wins over both of them, though it was Hedrick who got the upper hand over Guerin at Final X last year. 

57 kg — Carolina Moreno (Southern Oregon)

Moreno is a two-time NAIA champ that, though currently not seeded, could do some damage at this weight with her tough, stingy style and solid offensive attacks. Though some new names have dropped into this weight, she’s currently ranked #3 at 57 kg.

57 kg — Montana Delawder (King)

Hard to ignore what she did in Spokane, winning a U23 national title. She’s seeded #7 and this weight. She’ll be tough against a field she can compete with from top to bottom.

57 kg — Nichole Moore (Baker)

Moore was a 2022 U23 national champ, was a U23 finalist this year, and is an NAIA All-American for the Baker program. She’s earned a #6 seed heading into the Open.

59 kg — Lexie Basham (Texas Wesleyan)

Basham won her second straight NAIA national title last month. She’s ranked #4 at this weight and seeded #5 as this group sees the return of 2017 Junior world champ Maya Nelson. Basham competed at Final X last year and gave World teamer Abby Nette all she could handle.

59 kg — Sarah Savidge (Life University)

The coolest name in college wrestling is entered at the U.S. Open and she’s seeded #6 as a college freshman. After making the NAIA finals and giving national champion Lexie Basham a battle, Savidge made the U20 finals at Women’s Nationals and fell to Alexis Janiak. Savidge has quickly emerged as one of the top young talents in women’s wrestling. 

62 kg — Adaugo Nwachukwu (William Penn)

Nwachukwu recently announced she will wrestle next year at William Penn after Iowa Wesleyan announced it’s closing its doors. She has quickly become a top college and Senior-level talent. She’s seeded #2 and ranked #4, a weight that has two-time world medalist Kayla Miracle ranked #1 and waiting at Final X.

62 kg — Ashlynn Ortega (King)

The 2022 NCWWC & U23 national champion was an NCWWC finalist again this year. She’s one of the most accomplished college wrestlers in the field, not only her considering her college resume, but also what she’s done at the Senior level, earning her a #6 ranking and #7 seed.

62 kg — Claire DiCugno (Colorado Mesa)

DiCugno was a 2021 world teamer and is an All-American for the Colorado Mesa program. She heads into the U.S. Open seeded #5 even though she’s only a college sophomore.

65 kg — Reese Larremendy (Iowa)

The Iowa-rostered Larramendy performed well against college competition this year in college Opens, winning the Missouri Valley Open and the Soldier Salute. Ranked #5 at 65 kg, she’ll have her hands full at this weight that’s loaded with all-stars, though she did earn a #5 seed.

65 kg — Emily Se (Southern Oregon)

Probably has to be considered a dark horse, though what she did in the NAIA this year was downright special, winning her first national title. She’s seeded #7 and ranked #8 at this weight.

65 kg — Ana Luciano (King)

So tough at any level. She won a U23 national title last year and her first college title this year. She comes into the Open as a #3 seed and will be fun to watch as the tournament gets into deeper rounds.

68 kg — Kaylynn Albrecht (Baker)

Albrecht is coming in hot at a wide-open weight after three-time World and Olympic champion Tamyra Mensah Stock declined her invitation to Final X. Albrecht won her first college national title this season and followed it up with a U23 national title in Spokane. Now she’s seeded #4 and will have a tough field to get through, a weight that includes #2-ranked Forrest Molinari, #4-ranked Solin Piearcy, and #5-ranked Alex Glaude. Albrecht is seeded #4.

68 kg — Katie Lange (Augsburg)

The same weight as Albrecht, she had a similar season in the NCAA that Albrecht had in the NAIA, winning her first national title and following it up with a U23 title. Lange is seeded #6.

68 kg — Isabella Mir (Iowa)

Mir won the U20 World Team spot in Spokane a few weekends ago and beat Lange, Makem, and Houston along the way, all impressive wins. She’s seeded #5.

68 kg — London Houston (North Central)

Other than falling in the finals to Mir, Houston looked dominant at Women’s Nationals in the U20 division. Placing third at the NCAA Invite this year, the NCWWC, she’s ranked #10 in our Senior rankings and is seeded #7 coming into the Open.

72 kg — Joye Levendusky (Southern Oregon)

Levendusky has made herself into a college- and Senior-level contender over the last few years. She was the NAIA runner-up this season for SOU and was a U23 finalist in Spokane a few weekends ago up a weight at 76 kg, where she had a win over NCWWC national champ Marlynne Deede. She’s ranked #4 at this weight and seeded #2.

72 kg — Marlynne Deede (Augsburg)

Deede won her first NCWWC title this year and is seeded #3 at 72 kg. She’s been consistent over the last year, near the top of every tournament she’s entered.  She was runner-up at the U.S. Open in 2022 and 4th at the 2022 WTT Challenge Tournament.

72 kg — Cheyenne Bowman (King)

Another tough King name. Bowman was a runner-up to college star Yelena Makoyed at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships this year. She also made the finals in the U23 division at Women’s Nationals. She’s seeded #5 at 72 kg this weekend.

76 kg — Sydnee Kimber (McKendree)

A four-time collegiate national champion, Kimber had to cut to this weight since UWW doesn’t offer anything above 76 kg. Still, expect Kimber to be tough in a weight class that is absolutely loaded. She’s seeded #9, which tells you how deep the weight is.

76 kg — Ashley Lekas (Augsburg)

Lekas had an injury-shortened college season but obviously leveled up in her sophomore season. She won a U23 national title in Spokane with a finals victory over Joye Levendusky. At this deep weight, she’s seeded #10 but will be a tough opponent no matter who she draws.

76 kg — Yelena Makoyed (North Central)

The USA Wrestling Women’s College Wrestler of the Year. She’s won every international ranking tournament she’s entered over the last year. Ranked #1 in the college P4P. Enough said. Makoyed is one of the most talented wrestlers we’ve seen in a while. Seeded #3 in this shark tank. Everyone will want to see the semi against Kennedy Blades if it happens.

76 kg — Dymond Guilford (Cumberlands)

Another four-time national champion. She just wrapped up her college career last month and is now dialed into her Senior-level career. The current World teamer has her hands full to keep her spot as Adeline Gray is back and this group is the deepest weight of the U.S. Open. It will be fun to watch her scrap against this field.

76 kg — Kylie Welker (Iowa)

Hard to remember she’s in college wrestling, isn’t it? Yep, the Iowa team member and 2021 World teamer was ranked #2 at this weight before her loss to Blades in Spokane. She’s seeded #5 at the Open, which feels crazy considering her resume, but when you’re talking Gray, Blades, Makoyed, and Guilford, it is what it is. Keep your eyes locked on this weight class.