It was an impressive showing for the Hawkeye Wrestling Club at the Women’s U.S. Open in Las Vegas this weekend. Alli Ragan, Kayla Miracle, and Forrest Molinari of the HWC won U.S. Open titles. Ragan and Miracle did not go a full match in dominating their competition. Ragan has made six straight World teams and won a World Silver in 2016 and 2017. After making the World team last year, Ragan was unable to compete in the World Championships due to injury. I have never seen Ragan look better than she did this weekend. Her footwork and offense were both improved from last year. Ragan has now qualified for the 59 kg Final X in Lincoln, NE on June 15.
Miracle was never challenged in her four bouts that all ended in a fall or tech fall to win a U.S. Open title at 62 kg. Currently ranked #1 by USA Wrestling, Miracle will now be the #1 seed at the World Team Trials in Raleigh, NC on May 18-19. The winner of the WTT will meet Mallory Velte at Final X in Lincoln, NE on June 15.
Forrest Molinari won three matches with a fall and two decisions to capture the title at 65 kg. Molinari was down 1-0 in the second period and scored 5 unanswered points in the finals to win 5-1. Molinari was a World team member in 2018 and represented Team USA at the Senior and U23 World Championships. Molinari has now qualified for the 65 kg Final X in Piscataway, NJ on June 8.
Lauren Louive placed fourth at 59 kg. Lauren has now qualified for the World Team Trials in Raleigh, NC on May 18-19.
This was a great showing by the HWC at the Women’s U.S. Open. All four of the wrestlers that competed are better now that they were a year ago. Going through an entire training cycle over the last year in the Iowa Wrestling room to prepare for the Open and World Team qualifying tournaments is definitely paying off. I will keep you up to date on their upcoming competitions.
59 kg
Rd of 16 Alli Ragan (HWC) over Daishea Jaime (Aries WC) 10-0 0:42
Quarters: Alli Ragan HWC) over Maya Porter (Journeyman WC) VFA 0:20 3-0
Semifinals: Alli Ragan (HWC) over Lauren Mason (MWC) VSU1 12-2 1:43
Finals: Alli Ragan (HWC) over Abby Nette (LWC) VSU 10-0
59 kg
Rd of 16: Lauren Louive HWC) – Bye
Quarterfinals: Lauren Louive HWC) over Jen Pitassi (U.S. Army) VSU 10-0 1:28
Semifinals: Abby Nette (LWC) over Lauren Louive (HWC) VSU 10-0
Cons Semis: Lauren Louive (HWC) over Megan Black (TMWC) VSU1 14-4
3rd Place: Lauren Mason over Lauren Louive (HWC) VPO1 2-2
62 kg
Rd of 16: Kayla Miracle (HWC) over Amber Strong (CMUWW) VSU 10-0 1:01
Quarters: Kayla Miracle (HWC) over Eve Berrington (Unattached) VFA 0:38 4-0
Semifinals: Kayla Miracle (HWC) over Alexandria Liles (Army/WCAP) VSU 10-0 2:00
Finals: Kayla Miracle (HWC) over Desiree Zavala (TT) VSU 10-0
65kg
Quarters: Forrest Molinari (HWC) over Melissa Jacobs (MN Storm) VFA 1:47 6-0
Semifinals: Forrest Molinari (HWC) over Macey Kitty (Sunkist) VPO1 7-3
Finals: Forrest Molinari (HWC) over Maya Nelson (Sunkist) VPO1 5-1
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
