What: U.S. Olympic Trials
Weight: 57 kg (women’s freestyle)
When: April 19-20
Where: State College, Pennsylvania (Bryce Jordan Center)
How to watch: Peacock 

It’s unthinkable to pick anyone other than Helen Maroulis at this weight. She is already in the best of three finals thanks to a bronze medal performance at the 2023 World Championships.

Maroulis has owned this weight domestically, winning five World/Olympic medals since 2017. Her overall medal haul is even more impressive: 13 senior-level World teams, nine medals, three World golds, and one Olympic gold. 

The 32-year-old transcends wrestling.

Helen Maroulis At The Worlds And Olympics

Jenna Burkert took a match from Maroulis in the best-of-three series at the 2020 Olympic Trials, but she recently retired from active competition and is out of the mix. That leaves a handful of wrestlers who will attempt to make the team.

Jacarra Winchester is expected to compete at 53 kilograms but she has a semifinal spot at 57 if she’s unsuccessful. Her World silver medal at the 2023 World Championships ensures she’s two wins away from a match with Dom Parrish or Maroulis. 

The remaining field tries to do something no domestic wrestler other than Burkert has done: win a match over Maroulis at 57 kilograms.

Xochitl Mota-Pettis is the most dangerous wrestler in the field. She has a wide range of explosive attacks and can throw from anywhere. Mota-Pettis won the 2023 U.S. Open with a barrage of high-octane offense. Her finals match against Alex Hedrick ended when XMP hit a four-point throw followed by three turns. 

Maroulis delayed her Final X matches against Mota-Pettis last year but won 10-0 and by fall when they finally met. Hedrick is the most consistent wrestler at the weight but has lost by tech to Maroulis in four Final X matches (2018 and 2022). 

Abby Nette made the 2022 World Team at 59 kilograms but moved to 62 for the 2023 Senior Nationals, where she fell to Winchester, 6-4, in the quarterfinals before defaulting out of the tournament. Amanda Martinez had a breakthrough performance by winning Senior Nationals at 57 kilograms. 

Bridgette Duty reached the Olympic Trials through the last chance qualifier and will be a factor in making the challenge tournament finals. She is the strongest wrestler in the field and will look to impose her will against whoever she faces. 

Cam Geurin of McKendree recently won her fourth National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championship at 130 pounds and has a knack for coming up big in big moments. Can she make the magic happen at the Olympic Trials? Her unpredictably unique style makes her a fan favorite. 

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

Cam Guerin downed Lexi Janiak during the 2022 National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships finals

Her Bearcat teammate, Shelby Moore, bested Guerin at Senior Nationals but finished fourth at the college nationals (123 pounds) and third at the U20 World Team Trials (57 kg). 

Cristelle Rodriguez of Doane finished fourth at Senior Nationals but won the NAIA Championships at 123 pounds. She recently made the U20 World Team at 55 kilograms with straight falls in the best-of-three finals. 

Amani Jones (North Central) and Lexi Janiak (Aurora) each won a bronze medal at the 2023 U20 World Championships and both won their respective divisions Women’s Nationals over the weekend. Jones won a U23 National title and Janiak made her second U20 World team. 

Carolina Moreno (Southern Oregon) and Claire DiCugno (King) won college national titles but will likely be seeded low. 

Like always, it’s Helen versus everyone else. This is still her weight to win, and she’s the obvious choice to make her third Olympic Team.