Kylie Welker, Adaugo Nwachukwu Make U23 World Team
Kylie Welker, Adaugo Nwachukwu Make U23 World Team
The U.S. U23 Women's Freestyle Team is complete after Kylie Welker and Adaugo Nwachukwu won special wrestle-offs in Colorado Springs.
The U.S. women’s freestyle U23 World Team is set after two special wrestle-offs at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs on June 27.
Kylie Welker downed Aspen Barber, 10-0, to make the team at 72 kg. Welker was a 2024 NCWWC (NCAA) champion at 170 for the University of Iowa. This is her fifth World team and her first since winning a bronze medal at the 2021 U23 Championships.
Adaugo Nwachukwu moved from 62 kg to compete for the 65 kg spot. She defeated Claire DiCugno in Round One for the right to face Aine Drury. Nwachukwu took the first match 10-0, lost the second 2-1, and secured a late fall in the third to make the team.
The San Jose, California, native is a three-time age-level World teamer and a 2022 U20 World bronze medalist. She won two NAIA Championships for Iowa Wesleyan and one for William Penn.
Watch all five matches below courtesy of USA Wrestling.
Round One
65 kg: Adaugo Nwachukwu over Claire DiCugno, 8-1
72 kg: Kylie Welker over Aspen Barber, 10-0
Best of Three Series - 65 kg
Match One: Adaugo Nwachukwu over Aine Drury, 10-0
Match Two: Aine Drury over Adaugo Nwachukwu, 2-1
Match Three: Adaugo Nwachukwu over Aine Druary, Fall
U23 World Team
50 kg: Audrey Jimenez
53 kg: Elena Ivaldi
55 kg: Amani Jones
57 kg: Sofia Macaluso
59 kg: Skye Realin
62 kg: Macey Kilty
65 kg: Adaugo Nwachukwu
68 kg: Brooklyn Hayes
72 kg: Kylie Welker
76 kg: Yelena Makoyed