The Bill Farrell Memorial Invitational has extra importance this year. One spot at the Olympic Team Trials is up for grabs. The highest medaling American that has not already qualified will earn a berth in the trials. If no American is in the top 3 at a weight class a berth will not be earned. This qualifying spot is awarded in each weight class in all three styles.

The heightened importance of the event is reflected in the entries. The Bill Farrell has attracted deep fields of the top US wrestlers. 

There will be some international competitors, but most of them outside of the Canadians are not registered on track wrestling at press time. Catch all the action Live on FloWrestling.



48kg:
Allene Somera
Allyssa Cleaves
Breonnah Neal
Candace Workman
Clarissa Chun
Cody Pfau
Erin Golston
Haley Augello
Natasha Kramble
Victoria Anthony

Alyssa Lampe, Victoria Anthony, and Clarissa Chun have controlled 48kg for a long time. They have all qualified for the Olympic Team Trials already, but all three will compete this Friday.

Cody Pfau, Erin Golston, and Haley Augello figure to be in the mix for the qualifying spot at stake.

Pick: Victoria Anthony over Alyssa Lampe

53kg:
Amy Fearnside
Areana Villaescusea
Carlene Sluberski
Deanna Betterman
Farah Taj
Jessica Medina
Laura Anderson
Madison Parks
Michaela Hutchinson
Rachel Archer
Sarah Hildebrandt
Whitney Conder

53kg is a new Olympic weight class for the women, but it only has one weight class (55kg) feeding extra competitors into the field. Whitney Conder was the 2015 World Team member and is already qualified for the World Team Trials. Jessica Medina is also qualified from being a past World Team member.

Conder was dominant at the World Team Trials after beating Hutchinson in a close match at the US Open. Sluberski was a finalist at the open before falling short of making the National Team with a fourth place finish at the World Team Trials. Sarah Hildebrandt was a National Team member, but up at the aforementioned 55kg weight class. This weight class has plenty of contenders fighting for the qualifying spot.

Pick: Whitney Conder over Michaela Hutchinson



58kg:
Becka Leathers
Carla Ponce
Casey Moulton
Jenna Burkert Nowry
Jennifer Page
Kathleen Kent
Kayla Miracle
Kelsey Campbell
Krystin Paquette
Maya Nelson
Megan Black
Natalia Hinojo
Randy Beltz

58kg was an interesting weight class in the United States last year because Helen Maroulis wrestled the US Open at 58kg before departing to 55kg at the World Team Trials. We all know how well the move worked out for her. She has planned to continue the drop and wrestle at 53kg this year.

Kelsey Campbell was defeated by Alli Ragan at the World Team Trials in 2015, but she has a spot in the 2016 trials from being a past World Team member. Jenna Burkert Nowry also lands in that category. Jennifer Page, Becka Leathers, and Kayla Miracle seem to be the frontrunners to secure the spot at the trials.

Pick: Jennifer Page over Jenna Burkert

63kg:
Alexis Porter
Amanda Hendey
Arian Carpio
Breanne Graham
Danielle Lappage
Jessica Kee
Mallory Velte
Margaret Douma
Rachel Young
Sally Roberts
Stacie Anaka

Alexis Porter, Amanda Hendey and Mallory Velte look to be the front runners to earn the trials berth that is up for grabs. The biggest credentials in the field are being brought across the border by Stacie Anaka and Danielle Lappage. I expect them to battle for the title if they are on opposite sides of the bracket.

Pick: Stacie Anaka over Danielle Lappage

69kg:
Alison Carrow
Dorothy Yeats
Forrest Molinari
Ilania Keju
Julia Salata
Rachel Butler
Randi Miller
Tamyra Mensah
Yvonne Galindo

With Elena Pirozhkova headed back to 63kg the field has to feel like there is an opening to take advantage of at 69kg. Tamyra Mensah and Randi Miller figure to be two of the front runners to fill the spot at the 2016 Olympic Games. Miller is already qualified for the trials, while Mensah is part of the pack chasing the spot this Friday.

Dorothy Yeats adds some international experience to the field. Yeats is a former junior world champion and also has a senior world silver on her resume.

Pick: Dorothy Yeats over Tamyra Mensah



75kg:
Erica Wiebe
Gracelynn Doogan
Iris Smith
Jackie Surber
Jacky Quinones
Justina DiStasio

This is a qualifier for US Olympic Team Trials, but our friends to the north are the story here at 75kg. Erica Wiebe and Justina DiStasio are legitimate threats to Adeline Gray’s reign over the 75kg weight class. DiStasio lost a heartbreaker to Gray at the Pan Am Games in July, but was unable to set up the rematch when she was upset first round of the World Championships. This is a big showdown for the Canadians.

Pick: Erica Wiebe over Justina DiStasio