The United States determined its four-member women’s freestyle team for the 2024 World Championships on October 28-31 in Tirana, Albania. Here are takeaways from the World Team Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, on September 14-15. 

Playing The Weight-ing Game

Jacarra Winchester had a bye to the 55 kg best-of-three finals if she wanted. Winchester earned that right by winning a silver medal at that weight during the 2023 World Championships. 

Instead, she moved to 59 kg and won four matches by a 42-0 count to make her sixth World/Olympic Team. 

Over the past four years, the 31-year-old continues to find high-level success at multiple weights, wrestling from 53 kg to 62 kg. Here is her best finish at five different weights.

53 kg: Fifth at the 2020 Olympics
55 kg: Gold at the 2019 World Championships
57 kg: First in the 2024 Olympic Trials Challenge tournament
59 kg: First at the 2024 World Team Trials
62 kg: First at the 2023 US Nationals

Winchester has been in a medal match in five previous Worlds/Olympics. Her performance in Omaha proved she could do it again at another weight. 

Jacarra Winchester At the Worlds and Olympics

College Finals Preview?

King’s Aine Drury reached the 65 kg best-of-three finals where she faced Iowa’s Macey Kilty who earned a bye after winning silver at the 2023 World Championships. Drury pinned Alara Boyd, teched Skylar Hattendorf 11-0, and defeated 2023 World bronze medalist Jennifer Page, 4-0, during the challenge tournament. 

Kilty won 10-0 and 12-1 in potential 2025 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championship finals since both are expected to compete at 145 pounds this season. Iowa’s Reese Larramendy pinned Drury in the 143-pound college national finals earlier this year but the addition of Kilty this season may force Larramendy down to 138. 

NCAA college teams can send a maximum of 15 wrestlers to the national tournament so there’s still a chance that Larramendy will compete at 145. King and Iowa could see each other three times this season (dual, National Duals, NCWWC) so Iowa could play a game of musical chairs with its line-up. 

Kylie Welker vs Yelena Makoyed, Part 13 & 14

Welker and Makoyed are used to facing each other when the stakes are high. Welker took an 11-3 edge in the series with a fall and 5-2 win to take the 72 kg spot at the World Championships. 

Welker is 4-1 against Makoyed this year but Makoyed is still one spot higher on the U.S. National Team. The University of Iowa star won matches at the National Duals and college national championships against her North Central counterpart before dropping a 6-4 match at the Olympic Trials. 

That win gave Makoyed the 76 kg spot on the U23 World Team, forcing Welker to make the U23 team at 72 kg. Both tried for the 72 kg spot at the Senior World Team Trials, with Welker making the team.

Therefore, Welker (72 kg) and Makoyed (76 kg) will be teammates at the U23 World Championships and Welker will compete at the U23 World Championships (October 21-27) followed by the Senior World Championships (October 28-31).

It's a good thing both competitions are in Tirana, Albania. 

Kylie Welker vs Yelena Makoyed Match History

Busted Bracket

Winchester’s late entry into the 59 kg field threw the bracket into a tailspin. Expected quarterfinal and semifinal matches shifted when Winchester took the top seed. 

Most surprising was Zoe Nowicki’s fall over 2022 World teamer Abby Nette and Bridgette Duty’s 14-10 win over 2023 US Open champion Xochitl Mota-Pettis. Nette defeated her WCAP teammate Duty, 9-2, in the consolation semis, and XMP teched Nowicki, 13-2.

Mota-Pettis finished third with a 9-3 win over Nette.

Match of the Tournament?

Areana Villaescusa made her first Senior World team with straight wins over Amanda Martinez in the 55 kg finals. She won 4-3 before an 11-8 shootout. Judge for yourself below if this was the best match of the weekend. 

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