The 2024 World Team Trials are September 14-15 at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Champions determine this year’s representatives at the World Championships in Tirana, Albania, on October 28-31. 

A challenge tournament determines who will wrestle in the best-of-three finals. Returning 2023 World medalists are eligible for an automatic spot in the best-of-three finals at the weight they won a medal. 

Below is a schedule and breakdown of the four women’s freestyle weights. This preview is based on the wrestlers who might be in attendance. All matches are streamed live on FloWrestling. 

Schedule

Saturday, September 14
10 AM — Session I: Prelims, Quarterfinals, and Consolations
5 PM — Session II: Semifinals and Consolations

Sunday, September 15

10 AM — Session III: Consolations, Consolation Semifinals, 3rd Place and Round 1 best-of-three finals
2 PM — Session IV: Round 2 best-of-three and Round 3 if necessary

55 Kilograms

Eligible for best-of-three finals: Jacarra Winchester (2023 World silver medalist)
Will Jacarra Winchester make it down to 55 kilograms? Winchester missed weight at the 2023 US Open and won the World Team Trials Challenge tournament and Final X at 55 kilograms a few weeks later. 

She won the 2023 U.S. Nationals in December at 62 kg, attempted to make 53 kg for the 2024 Olympic Trials, and fell to Helen Maroulis in the 57 kg best-of-three finals when she moved up. 

The 31-year-old is the overwhelming favorite if she gets down — a testament to her long and successful career. She won the 2019 World Championships and has been in a medal match at three World Championships and the 2020 Olympic Games, where she competed at 53 kilograms. 

Winchester has all the tools. Blast double. Sweep single. Straight single. Inside trip. Knee pick. Go-behind. Throw-by. Snap. Gut wrench. Bar arm. Leg lace. This is her weight to win. 

This weight is wide open after that. 

Alisha Howk, a 2022 U23 World bronze medalist, is among the favorites to reach the best-of-three finals. She won the 2023 US Open for a spot in Final X where she fell to Winchester in straight matches. 

Five-time national finalist Felicity Taylor is fresh off her college career where she won the 2024 NCWWC title for Iowa following four seasons at McKendree. This is two kilograms heavier than where she normally competes but she has experience at 123 pounds after starting her senior season there. 

Taylor reached 2022 Final X at 53 kg, falling to Dom Parrish in straight matches. Parrish eventually won the World Championship and made this year’s Olympic Team. 

Areana Villaescusa fell to Winchester in the 2023 World Team Trials Challenge tournament finals but looked good at the 2024 Olympic Trials. She defeated Howk, Taylor, and Vayle Baker and is on the National Team. Villaescusa dropped a 3-0 match to 2016 Olympian Haley Augello in the challenge tournament finals. 

Augello is sitting out the World Team Trials, so there’s every reason to believe that Villaescusa will be in the best-of-three finals. 

Amanda Martinez has consistently been in the mix at multiple weights. She went 2-2 at 57 kg during the 2024 Olympic Trials but is more effective at 55 kilograms. 

Katie Gomez is a 2023 U.S. Open champion who reached 2023 Final X at 53 kilograms. She will be a threat if she moves up and enters the field. 

59 Kilograms

Eligible for best-of-three finals: Jennifer Page (2023 World bronze medalist)
Page is entered at 65 kilograms so don’t expect her to compete here. Winchester is the favorite if she doesn’t make 55 kg and moves up. She had success at 57 and 62 kg so the jump in weight won’t affect her. 

The remaining field includes established stars who have had success at this weight. 

Xochitl Mota-Pettis is the most dynamic and unpredictable wrestler in the field. She has stated that she doesn’t game plan for opponents, making her a dangerous match-up. She dominated through the 2023 US Open but had a 12-10 match against Amanda Martinez in the semis. Mota-Pettis can light up the scoreboard.

She will need all the offense she can get against a seasoned and established field. 

Michaela Beck opted not to cut to 57 kilograms for the Olympic Trials to focus on this event. She had neck surgery earlier this year and continues to get into competitive form. Beck’s breakthrough came at the 2023 US Open where she defeated two past World Teamers: Abby Nette and Maya Nelson. She stays in solid position and has a good gut wrench.

Nette typically wrestles her best when the domestic stakes are high. She finished third in the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Trials mini-tournament, with a pin over Mota-Pettis, and was a 2022 World Teamer. 

There’s no indication if 2021 World Teamer Maya Nelson will compete. If she does, it will be a four-person race for the spot if Winchester isn’t in the field. Brenda Reyna will be a factor if she enters. 

65 Kilograms

Eligible for best-of-three finals: Macey Kilty (2023 World silver medalist)
Macey Kilty is entered for the World Team Trials. 

So is Jennifer Page.

So is Emma Bruntil. 

Expect fireworks with three past Senior World Teamers vying for one spot. Kilty is already in the best-of-three finals, but her opponent should be Page or Bruntil. The Stratford, Wisconsin, native reached the 62 kg 2024 Olympic Trials finals, falling to Kayla Miracle in straight matches. 

Page won a bronze medal at 59 kilograms during the 2023 World Championships but moved back to 62 kilograms — her preferred weight — for the 2024 Olympic Trials. She defeated two-time World bronze medalist Mallory Velte in the semis, 8-7, but fell to Kilty, 9-8, in the mini-tournament finals. 

Bruntil normally competes at 65 kilograms but moved up to 68 kilograms after falling to Kilty, 5-1, in the 2023 US Open finals. She won Final X and finished sixth at the 2023 World Championships. The Acme, Washington, native skipped the Olympic Trials due to issues with her vision. 

72 Kilograms

Amit Elor won the World Championships at this weight the past two years but dropped to 68 kg for the Olympics, where she won gold. Kennedy Blades won silver at 76 kg and both are ineligible for the World Team Trials since they competed in Paris. 

This should be the weight of the tournament with several of the 76-kilogram stars dropping to 72. Final Xers Adeline Gray, Skylar Grote, Dymond Guilford, Yelena Makoyed, Kylie Welker, and Precious Wieser will be part of a loaded field if they all compete. 

Gray is seeking her seventh World gold medal after falling to Blades in straight matches at the Olympic Trials. The 33-year-old fell to Blades in the Olympic Trials finals after winning bronze at the 2023 World Championships and qualifying the weight for the United States at the Olympic Games. 

Makoyed fell to Welker twice during the college season but secured a 6-4 win during the semifinals of the Olympic Trials. Welker fell to Guilford at the 2023 Missouri Valley Open but avenged the loss at the Olympic Trials. 

Welker (72 kg) and Makoyed (76 kg) qualified for the U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania from October 21-27 — a week before the Senior Worlds in the same location. This adds a twist if one of the two wins in Omaha (assuming both compete).

Below is the updated breakdown of how the seven 76 kg Final Xers have fared against each other since February 4, 2023. 

Adeline Gray (10x World/Olympic medalist, 6x World champion, 2x Olympian)
WON — Dymond Guilford, 3 cautions (US Open on April 29, 2023)
LOST — Kennedy Blades, 12-2 (US Open on April 30, 2023)
WON — Skylar Grote, Fall 4:43 (WTT on May 21, 2023)
WON — Kylie Welker, 14-3 (WTT on May 21, 2023)
WON — Dymond Guilford, 12-1 (WTT on May 21, 2023)
WON — Kennedy Blades, 7-5 (Final X on June 10, 2023)
WON — Kennedy Blades, Fall 4:38 (Final X on June 10, 2023)
LOST — Kennedy Blades, 11-6 (OTT on April 20, 2024)
LOST — Kennedy Blades, 8-3 (OTT on April 20, 2024)

Kennedy Blades (2020 Olympic Trials, 2023 Final X, 2024 Olympic silver)
WON — Kylie Welker, 8-6 (U20 WTT on April 18, 2023)
WON — Kylie Welker, Fall 2:22 (U20 WTT on April 18, 2023)
WON — Yelena Makoyed, Fall 3:57 (US Open on April 29, 2023)
WON — Adeline Gray, 12-2 (US Open on April 30, 2023)
LOST — Adeline Gray, 7-5 (Final X on June 10, 2023)
LOST — Adeline Gray, Fall 4:38 (Final X on June 10, 2023)
WON — Kylie Welker, Fall 4:26 (Zagreb Open on Jan. 13, 2024)
WON — Skylar Grote, 11-0 (OTT on April 19, 2024)
WON — Dymond Guilford, 11-1 (OTT on April 19, 2024)
WON — Yelena Makoyed, 11-0 (OTT on April 19, 2024)
WON — Adeline Gray, 11-6 (OTT on April 20, 2024)
WON — Adeline Gray, 8-3 (OTT on April 20, 2024)

Dymond Guilford (2022 World team)
WON — Precious Wieser, 13-0 (Henri Deglane on Feb. 4, 2023)
LOST — Yelena Makoyed, 12-2 (Henri Deglane on Feb. 4, 2023)
WON — Kylie Welker, Fall 2:32 (US Open on April 29, 2023)
LOST — Adeline Gray, 3 cautions (US Open on April 29, 2023)
WON — Precious Wieser, 3-1 (WTT on May 21, 2023)
WON — Yelena Makoyed, 9-6 (WTT on May 21, 2023)
LOST — Adeline Gray, 12-1 (WTT on May 21, 2023)
LOST — Kylie Welker, 8-5 (Final X on June 10, 2023)
WON — Kylie Welker, 4-2 (Missouri Valley Open on Nov. 18, 2023)
LOST — Yelena Makoyed, 7-4 (Henri Deglane on Jan. 19, 2024)
LOST — Kennedy Blades, 11-1 (OTT on April 19, 2024)
WON — Precious Wieser, 10-0 (OTT on April 19, 2024)
LOST — Kylie Welker, 5-4 (OTT on April 19, 2024)

Kylie Welker (2020 Olympic Trials, 2021 World Team Trials)
LOST — Kennedy Blades, 8-6 (U20 WTT on April 18, 2023)
LOST — Kennedy Blades, Fall 2:22 (U20 WTT on April 18, 2023)
LOST — Dymond Guilford, Fall 2:32 (US Open on April 29, 2023)
WON — Skylar Grote, 10-0 (US Open on April 30, 2023)
LOST — Yelena Makoyed, 11-6 (US Open on April 30, 2023)
LOST — Adeline Gray, 14-3 (WTT on May 21, 2023)
WON — Precious Wieser, Fall 1:43 (WTT on May 21, 2023)
WON — Yelena Makoyed, 12-2 (WTT on May 21, 2023)
WON — Dymond Guilford, 8-5 (Final X on June 10, 2023)
LOST — Dymond Guilford, 4-2 (Missouri Valley Open on Nov. 18, 2023)
WON — Yelena Makoyed, 11-3 (NWCA National Duals on Jan. 6, 2024)
LOST — Kennedy Blades, Fall 4:26 (Zagreb Open on Jan. 13, 2024)
WON — Yelena Makoyed, 11-0 (National Collegiate Championships on March 9, 2024)
LOST — Yelena Makoyed, 6-4 (OTT on April 19, 2024)
WON — Skylar Grote, 6-0 (OTT on April 19, 2024)
WON — Dymond Guilford, 5-4 (OTT on April 19, 2024)

Yelena Makoyed (2022 Final X)
WON — Precious Wieser, 12-2 (Henri Deglane on Feb. 4, 2023)
WON — Dymond Guilford, 12-2 (Henri Deglane on Feb. 4, 2023)
WON — Precious Wieser, Fall 1:25 (US Open on April 29, 2023)
LOST — Kennedy Blades, Fall 3:57 (US Open April 29, 2023)
WON — Kylie Welker, 11-6 (US Open on April 30, 2023)
LOST — Dymond Guilford 9-6 (WTT on May 21, 2023)
LOST — Kylie Welker, 12-2 (WTT on May 21, 2023)
WON — Precious Wieser, 11-7 (Bill Farrell International on Nov. 17, 2023)
WON — Skylar Grote, 9-5 (Bill Farrell International on Nov. 17, 2023)
LOST — Kylie Welker, 11-3 (NWCA National Duals on Jan. 6, 2024)
WON — Dymond Guilford, 7-4 (Henri Deglane on Jan. 19, 2024)
WON — Skylar Grote, 11-1 (Henri Deglane on Jan. 19, 2024)
LOST — Kylie Welker, 11-0 (National Collegiate Championships on March 9, 2024)
WON — Precious Weiser, 12-2 (OTT on April 19, 2024)
WON — Kylie Welker, 6-4 (OTT on April 19, 2024)
LOST — Kennedy Blades, 11-0 (OTT on April 19, 2024)

Precious Wieser (2019 Final X)
LOST — Yelena Makoyed, Fall 1:25 (US Open on April 29, 2023)
LOST — Dymond Guilford, 3-1 (WTT on May 21, 2023)
LOST — Kylie Welker, Fall 1:43 (WTT on May 21, 2023)
LOST — Yelena Makoyed, 11-7 (Bill Farrell International on Nov. 17, 2023)
LOST — Yelena Makoyed, 12-2 (OTT on April 19, 2024)
LOST — Dymond Guilford, 10-0 (OTT on April 19, 2024)

Skylar Grote (2022 Final X)
LOST — Kylie Welker, 10-0 (US Open on April 30, 2023)
LOST — Adeline Gray, Fall 4:43 (WTT on May 21, 2023)
LOST — Yelena Makoyed, 9-5 (Bill Farrell International on Nov. 17, 2023)
LOST — Yelena Makoyed, 11-1 (Henri Deglane on Jan. 19, 2024)
LOST — Kennedy Blades, 11-0 (OTT on April 19, 2024)
LOST — Kylie Welker, 6-0 (OTT on April 19, 2024)