Four Iowa wrestlers and two incoming recruits placed at the 2023 Women’s U.S. Open in Las Vegas. Felicity Taylor placed third at 53 kg, Kylie Welker was fifth at 76 kg, Bella Mir was sixth at 68 kg, and Ava Bayless was seventh at 50 kg.
Nyla Valencia (50 kg), Reese Larramendy (65 kg), and Ella Schmit (65 kg) did not place.
We also had two incoming recruits that placed at the U.S. Open. Rose Cassioppi placed second and Haley Ward was seventh at 72 kg. Cassioppi defeated Ward 8-7 in the quarterfinals. That is impressive to have two high school wrestlers place that high against elite national level competition. Cassioppi and Ward are members of the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2023.
The next step in the process to decide our Senior World Team is the 2023 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Colorado Springs on Sunday, May 21 at Discovery Canyon High School.
Four weights are being contested at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament. These are weights that Team USA did not place at during the 2022 World Freestyle Championships or the defending World medalist declined the offer to Final X: 55 kg, 59 kg, 68 kg and 76 kg.
With the criteria that I see from USA Wrestling that would mean Bella Mir (68 kg) and Kylie Welker (76 kg) qualified for the World Team Challenge Tournament.
The winner of the World Team Challenge Tournament will face the U.S. Open champion at Final X in the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday, June 10. The winner of Final X will represent Team USA at the 2023 World Freestyle Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.
I will keep you posted as we get closer to the World Team Challenge Tournament.
2023 U.S. Open
50 kg – Ava Bayless, 7th place
WIN Emma Heslin (KT Kidz), Tech. Fall 10-0
WIN Aleeah Gould (WCAP), Dec. 7-6
LOSS Audrey Jimenez (SKWC), Tech. Fall 10-0
WIN Charlotte Fowler (BRTC), Tech. Fall 12-2
LOSS Kendra Ryan (CWC), Dec. 9-7
WIN Natalie Reyna-Rodriguez, Tech. Fall 11-0
50 kg – Nyla Valencia, Medical Forfeit
WIN Emily Mendez (BWC), Tech. Fall 10-0
LOSS Sage Mortimer (TMWC), Inj. Default
53 kg – Felicity Taylor, 3rd place
WIN Avery Ashley (FWC), Tech. Fall 11-0
WIN Sydney Petzinger (CWC), Fall 1:15
LOSS Katie Gomez (SKWC), Dec. 7-2
WIN Melanie Mendoza (TTWC), Tech. Fall 10-0
WIN Sydney Petzinger (CWC), Tech. Fall 11-1
65kg – Reese Larramendy, Medical Forfeit
LOSS Aine Drury (Cali), Inj. Default
65 kg – Ella Schmit, DNP
WIN Anna Stephens (Miss), Fall 0:33
LOSS Emily Bruntil (TMWC), Tech. Fall 11-0
LOSS Destiny Lyng (Cali), Dec. 6-2
68 kg – Bella Mir, 6th place
WIN Emily Se (SORTC), Fall 4:08
LOSS Katerina Lange (MG), Dec. 3-2
WIN Olivia Pizano (SORTC), Fall 2:48
WIN Nina Makem (MG), Fall 0:16
LOSS Solin Piearcy (MWC), Dec. 12-5
LOSS Chloe Ogden (NC), Dec. 10-10
72 kg – Rose Cassioppi, 2nd place
WIN Cara Broadus (Conn) Tech Fall 10-0
WIN Haley Ward (MO West WC) Dec. 8-7
WIN Kaylynn Albrecht (Wildcat Elite Dec. 6-0
LOSS Joy Levendusky (NYAC) Tech Fall 10-0
72 kg – Haley Ward, 7th place
WIN India Page (BWWC) Dec. 8-1
LOSS Rosse Cassioppi (NYAC) Dec. 8-7
WIN Tiffani Baublitz (Team PA) Tech Fall 12-2
LOSS Marilyn Garcia (Birmingham) Dec. 2-0
WIN India Page (BWWC) Fall 3:31
76 kg – Kylie Welker, 5th place
WIN Alyssa Arana (Cali), Tech. Fall 10-0
LOSS Dymond Guilford (TMWC), Fall 2:32
WIN Skylar Grote (TMWC), Tech. Fall 10-0
WIN Sydnee Kimber (BWC), Forfeit
LOSS Yelena Makoyed (TMWC), Dec. 11-6
WIN Tristan Kelly (WCAP), Tech. Fall 10-0
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
