The Captains' Cup, an event featuring many of the best women in the United States, is right around the corner. Teams for the event will be decided by a draft, and USA Wrestling has just released the athletes who are eligible to be drafted at 53 kg.

Watch the Captains' Cup LIVE on FloWrestling

Friday-Saturday, February 13-14, 2021

Original Release by Taylor Miller of USA Wrestling

Next week, six team captains will draft their teams for the Captains’ Cup presented by Titan Mercury Wrestling Club, a dual event that will showcase the top women’s freestyle athletes in the United States competing for $50,000. The draft is set for January 23 live on FloWrestling.org.

The plan is to have the women who qualified the USA for the Olympic Games serve as the captains: Sarah Hildebrandt (50 kg), Jacarra Winchester (53 kg), Helen Maroulis (57 kg), Kayla Miracle (62 kg), Tamyra Mensah-Stock (68 kg) and Adeline Gray (75 kg), pending confirmation of their participation.

The competition will take place February 13-14, broadcasted by FloWrestling.

As the draft date approaches, USA Wrestling will periodically release draft eligible athletes by weight.

Today, we take a look at draft eligible athletes at 53 kg/117 lbs.

Marissa Gallegos

• Student at Colorado Mesa University
• Second at 2020 U23 Nationals
• Fourth at 2020 Junior Nationals
• Third at 2020 Women’s College National Championships
• Sixth at 2019 Senior Nationals

Ronna Heaton

• 2020 U23 Nationals champion
• Second at 2020 Senior Nationals
• Five-time age-group World Team member
• Silver at 2016 Cadet World Championships
• 2015 Cadet World champion

Alex Hedrick

• 2020 Women’s College Nationals champion
• 2019 Pan American champion
• Fifth at 2019 Senior Nationals
• Two-time Junior World Team member (2018, 2019)
• 2018 U.S. Open champion

Tiare Ikei

• EAP athlete at the USOPTC
• 2020 Junior Nationals champion
• Third at 2020 U23 Nationals
• 2019 U.S. Open champion
• Silver at 2019 Junior Pan Ams
• Bronze at 2018 Cadet World Championships

Peyton Prussin

• Student at Life University
• Fifth at 2019 U.S. Open
• 2019 Junior Fargo champion
• 2018 Junior Fargo runner-up
• Second at 2018 Cadet World Team Trials

Katherine Shai

• Six-time National Team member
• Bronze at 2020 Matteo Pellicone International
• 2019 Final X runner-up
• Four-time U.S. Open runner-up (2009, 2013, 2014, 2019)
• 2008 University World champion

Felicity Taylor

• Student at McKendree University
• Second at 2020 Junior Nationals
• Fourth at 2020 U23 Nationals
• Second at 2020 Women’s College National Championship
• 2019 U23 World Team member
• Second at 2019 WCWA Nationals

Areana Villaescusa

• 2019 National Team member
• Second at 2019 Senior Nationals
• Seventh at 2019 World Military Games
• Second at 2018 U.S. Open

Also to be featured at 53 kg is 2019 World champion Jacarra Winchester, who will be a team captain.

Keep an eye for more Captains’ Cup news coming soon!