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The women's freestyle US Open will be in December for the second consecutive year. The four heavier weights (60kg, 63kg, 69kg and 75kg) go on Saturday, which starts at 9 a.m. pacific time. Every mat can be seen LIVE on Flo, and matches will be archived on FloArena.

The three lighter weights (48kg, 53kg, 55kg and 58kg) start on Sunday. The top 7 wrestlers at all eight weights will qualify to compete
in the World Team Trials April 27-29.

48kg

It is unquestionably Vicki Anthony's time. She dominated at the Bill Farrell, and lost to the Olympic bronze medalist at the Golden Grand Prix when she got the score mixed up. None of the typical hammers will be there, so we should get to see Vicki's full offensive arsenal on display.

Her main weapon is an inside trip, a lefty headlock, and a powerful double leg from space that often gets her opponents off their feet. With a #1 seed at World Team Trials on the line, as well as a likely trip to the World Cup, Anthony is setting herself up to dominate 2017 at this weight.

53kg

Based on pre-entries, the heavy favorites are Whitney Conder and Deanna Betterman. Conder's defense is far too strong for almost any American she wrestles, and has the ability to open up offensively when she chooses to. Betterman's lankiness can create issues.

Conder appears to be setting up for another full quad. She was the 53kg rep in 2014 and 2015, and the runner-up in both the Olympic Trials and non-Olympic WTT so far this year.

Conder in the Farrell semis

55kg

Kelsey Campbell should walk in as the favorite, but is coming off only a 1-1 performance at the Open Cup of Russia. Given that there is a lack of well known 55s there, Campbell may be able to open up some offensively.

Rachel Archer is also entered, she is 13-3 on the year for Oklahoma City at 123 pounds and was runner-up at the Farrell.

58kg

This looks to be the most interesting weight based on the registration list. Junior world medalists Kayla Miracle and Becka Leathers are staples at these events, with Leathers having just won the Farrell at this weight.

Leather dominates in Farrell finals


It seems likely they will be on opposite sides of the bracket, with semis against Lauren Louive and Randi Beltz. Louive lost to Leathers in the Farrell finals, while Beltz's hot streak this year was stalled by going 0-2 at 60kg world team trials.

60kg

Jenna Burkert was surprisingly not at 60kg WTT and has not been in action since the Olympic Trials, but the 2014 world team member received the top seed here. She has had an up and down 2016 and is looking to dominate her way to three wins today and a top seed at the Trials come April.

63kg

The world appears to finally be aware that Mallory Velte is a problem at this weight. She was runner-up to Alli Ragan at last month's WTT and third at the Olympic Trials. She excels from both her feet and in par terre, and might have the best hair of anyone in the gym this weekend. Velte's energy and physicality are typically hard to match for domestic opponents.

Beyond that, she is in a weight full of girls still figuring themselves out on the senior level. Junior world medalists Maya Nelson and Alexis Porter met in New York, with Porter coming out on top. They are set to meet again in the semis here.

Kayla Marano, a 2015 junior world bronze medalist, will start off with Velte. WCWA All Americans Jessi Kee and Maggie Douma square off in round one. Jenn Page lands the four seed, with the goal of avenging her 9-6 loss to Velte from New York.

Porter is big for the weight after winning her junior medal at 67kg and has excellent shot defense. She is adept at squaring up, hitting a hard sprawl and paying for her opponents not driving through. To her credit, Nelson also has great counter defense with her whizzer kickover, the same that helped win her bronze medal match in France.

69kg

There are four big names entered here. Olympian Elena Pirozhkova is on that list, hoping to regain her world championship form. Though she did not qualify for the Olympics, the US coaching staff is very high on the future of Tamyra Mensah, particularly after her in over an Olympic bronze medalist at the Golden Grand Prix. Lastly is WCWA champ Forrest Molinari.

Pirozhkova is in her first competition since Rio, her fifth overall of the year. She won the Pan Am championships and Olmypic Trials, and placed fifth at the Poland Open and Olympics. Mensah has been very active, in her ninth event of the year. Aside from the Pan Am qualifier, she has placed top three in every other 2016 tournament so far.

A late entry is junior world teamer Rachel Watters, a freshman starting for Oklahoma City at 155. She is 13-3 this season, to go along with her second place finish at the Farrell. There is back and forth rivalry between her and Molinari, with Watters taking the most recent one 3-2 at the Olympic Trials. Molinari won their third place match at last year's Open.

75kg

Erin Clodgo is up a few weights and coming off a fifth place finish at the Open Cup of Russia. She was ultimately responsible for qualifying America at 63kg for Rio, and has been first or second on the national team ladder at that weight every year since 2012. Opposite her on the bottom side of the bracket is King University assistant Julia Salata, who is typically down at 69kg.

McKendree University teammates Brandy Lowe and Nahiela Magee are entered, they just met in the finals of the Missouri Valley Open, with Lowe winning. Lowe was third at the Emmanuel Open in October. Brittany Marshall of Wayland Baptist is also registered, she beat Lowe in the semis of the OCU Open. Sincere there are only six girls in this weight, all will have qualified for the 2017 WTT.