World Team Trials preview at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. in women’s freestyle
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Victoria Anthony, shown at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, is seeking her second U.S. Senior World Team berth.
Will she or won’t she? 2016 Olympian Haley Augello has a choice, either to compete at 48 kg, where she made the Olympic team, or stay up at 53 kg, where she has wrestled this year. Augello was up in weight for her college season at King University, where she won her third WCWA College national title at 116 pounds. She was also up at 53 kg when she won a bronze medal on her only recent international tour at the Outstanding Ukrainian Memorial.
If Augello is down, she remains the athlete to beat. A talented age-group star who was a Cadet World champion and Junior World Team member, Augello made a huge leap last year during her Olympic redshirt year. But the odds are likely that Augello does not drop this year.
The 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials runner-up Victoria Anthony has been one of the most active and successful women wrestlers so far this season. Since the Olympic Trials, Anthony has won the U.S. Open, claimed the Bill Farrell International and the Outstanding Ukrainian Memorial gold medals, and taken a bronze medal at the UWW Golden Grand Prix Finals in Azerbaijan. Anthony has been explosive and confident in her wrestling. She is one of only two U.S. women to win two Junior World titles, along with Ali Bernard. Fifth at the 2013 World Championships, she seeks a return trip to the Worlds in pursuit of her first Senior World medal.
A pair of past medalists for the USA, World champion and Olympic medalist Clarissa Chun and two-time World medalist Alyssa Lampe, have not competed yet this Olympic cycle and are not expected to show up in Las Vegas.
The top challenger to Anthony this year, based upon recent results, is 2017 U.S. Open runner-up and three-time Junior World medalist Erin Golston. She has won a silver medal at the Dave Schultz Memorial and a bronze medal at the Bill Farrell International so far this season as well. Golston has been very consistent and continues to improve.
On a redshirt year from college is 2016 U.S. Open champion Cody Pfau, who won two WCWA national titles for Oklahoma City and has transferred to Emmanuel. Pfau showed that she is ready for action after winning the 2017 University Nationals title only a few weeks ago. She has a long rivalry with Golston, who Pfau pinned in 2016 U.S. Open finals after trailing big, but she has also lost to Golston a number of times.
The majority of the rest of the top challengers are coming out of the college ranks. Marina Doi, who won her second WCWA College national title this year for King University, was third at the U.S. Open. A past Cadet World champion and Junior World bronze medalist, Doi is a bit undersized still at this weight, but has made the transition to the Senior level successfully.
New to this weight class is Amy Fearnside, a four-time WCWA All-American for Jamestown, who was also very competitive while up at 53 kg. Most recently, Fearnside won the University Nationals at 53 kg, but indicated that she would drop down. A 2014 University World bronze medalist, Fearnside will be a tough draw, especially if she has become comfortable at her new weight class.
Among the college wrestlers who placed at the U.S. Open were Taylor Resuriz of McKendree, who was fourth, Marina Doi of King, who was sixth, and Vanessa Ramirez of McKendree, who was seventh at the Open. Both Resuriz and Ramirez also placed at this year’s University Nationals.
Also expected to excel are college stars Breonnah Neal of King and Sarah Allen of the Univ. of the Cumberlands. Neal, a three-time WCWA All-American, was the WCWA national champion this year at 109 pounds. Allen, who was third at 101 at the WCWAs this year, was second behind Pfau at the University Nationals in March. Both have an edge over many college wrestlers based upon their success at USA Wrestling national events.
Veteran Allene Somera was fifth at the U.S. Open and has been in the national mix in recent seasons. Other college competitors who have qualified for the World Team Trials are Aleeah Gould, Maria Vidales and Naomi Chavez. High school stars who look to make an impact include Cadet and Junior World Team member McKayla Campbell, along with Genae Sampract and Katlyn Pizzo. There are a lot of new names and faces at 48 kg for sure this year. However, the talent and experience level of veterans like Augello, Anthony, Golston and Pfau will make it difficult for any of the newcomers to have a serious chance to make the Women’s National Team.
2017 World Team Trials Qualifiers at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.
’16 Olympian – Haley Augello, Lockport, Ill. (New York AC)
’15 World Team member – Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
’13 World Team member – Victoria Anthony, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
’12 Olympian – Clarissa Chun, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids)
’16 Junior National team – Naomi Chavez, Amarillo, Texas (Maverick Elite)
’16 Junior National team – Genae Sampract, Danville, Ill. (Team Illinois)
’16 Junior National team – McKayla Campbell, Wauseon, Ohio (Ohio National Team)
’16 Junior National team – Aleeah Gould, Riverside, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
’16 Junior National team – Katlyn Pizzo, Madison Heights, Mich. (Michigan Women’s Wrestling)
’17 Senior Nationals runner-up – Erin Golston, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC/USOTC)
’17 Senior Nationals third place – Marina Doi, Kingsburg, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
’17 Senior Nationals fourth place – Taylor Resuriz, League City, Texas (Bearcat WC)
’17 Senior Nationals fifth place – Allene Somera, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
’17 Senior Nationals sixth place – Regina Doi, Kingsburg, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
’17 Senior Nationals seventh place – Vanessa Ramirez, Indianapolis, Ind. (Bearcat WC)
’17 WCWA Nationals third place (101 lbs.) – Sarah Allen, Huber Height, Ohio (Cumberlands)
’17 WCWA Nationals champion (109 lbs.) – Breonnah Neal, Winston Salem, N.C. (King Univ.)
’17 WCWA Nationals runner-up (109 lbs.) – Amy Fearnside, Jamestown, N.D. (Jamestown Univ.)
’17 WCWA Nationals third place (109 lbs.) – Maria Vidales, Dallas, Texas (Emmanuel College)
’17 University Nationals champion – Cody Pfau, Brush, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
2017 U.S. Open results at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.
1st – Victoria Anthony (Sunkist Kids) fall Erin Golston (New York AC), 4:52
3rd – Marina Doi (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Tayler Resuriz (Bearcat WC), 5-0
5th – Allene Somera (U.S. Army WCAP) tech. fall Regina Doi (Titan Mercury WC), 10-0
7th – Vanessa Ramirez (Bearcat WC) tech. fall Iesha Washington (Lions WC), 10-0
2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials results at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.
1st - Haley Augello (Lockport, Ill/New York AC) dec Victoria Anthony (Huntington Beach, Calif./Titan Mercury WC), two matches to one
Augello dec Anthony, 6-4
Anthony dec Augello, 11-6
Augello dec Anthony, 8-2
3rd – Clarissa Chun (Morgantown, W.Va./Sunkist Kids) tech. fall Nicole Woody, Odenton, Md. (Terrapin WC), 10-0
Will she or won’t she? 2016 Olympian Haley Augello has a choice, either to compete at 48 kg, where she made the Olympic team, or stay up at 53 kg, where she has wrestled this year. Augello was up in weight for her college season at King University, where she won her third WCWA College national title at 116 pounds. She was also up at 53 kg when she won a bronze medal on her only recent international tour at the Outstanding Ukrainian Memorial.
If Augello is down, she remains the athlete to beat. A talented age-group star who was a Cadet World champion and Junior World Team member, Augello made a huge leap last year during her Olympic redshirt year. But the odds are likely that Augello does not drop this year.
The 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials runner-up Victoria Anthony has been one of the most active and successful women wrestlers so far this season. Since the Olympic Trials, Anthony has won the U.S. Open, claimed the Bill Farrell International and the Outstanding Ukrainian Memorial gold medals, and taken a bronze medal at the UWW Golden Grand Prix Finals in Azerbaijan. Anthony has been explosive and confident in her wrestling. She is one of only two U.S. women to win two Junior World titles, along with Ali Bernard. Fifth at the 2013 World Championships, she seeks a return trip to the Worlds in pursuit of her first Senior World medal.
A pair of past medalists for the USA, World champion and Olympic medalist Clarissa Chun and two-time World medalist Alyssa Lampe, have not competed yet this Olympic cycle and are not expected to show up in Las Vegas.
The top challenger to Anthony this year, based upon recent results, is 2017 U.S. Open runner-up and three-time Junior World medalist Erin Golston. She has won a silver medal at the Dave Schultz Memorial and a bronze medal at the Bill Farrell International so far this season as well. Golston has been very consistent and continues to improve.
On a redshirt year from college is 2016 U.S. Open champion Cody Pfau, who won two WCWA national titles for Oklahoma City and has transferred to Emmanuel. Pfau showed that she is ready for action after winning the 2017 University Nationals title only a few weeks ago. She has a long rivalry with Golston, who Pfau pinned in 2016 U.S. Open finals after trailing big, but she has also lost to Golston a number of times.
The majority of the rest of the top challengers are coming out of the college ranks. Marina Doi, who won her second WCWA College national title this year for King University, was third at the U.S. Open. A past Cadet World champion and Junior World bronze medalist, Doi is a bit undersized still at this weight, but has made the transition to the Senior level successfully.
New to this weight class is Amy Fearnside, a four-time WCWA All-American for Jamestown, who was also very competitive while up at 53 kg. Most recently, Fearnside won the University Nationals at 53 kg, but indicated that she would drop down. A 2014 University World bronze medalist, Fearnside will be a tough draw, especially if she has become comfortable at her new weight class.
Among the college wrestlers who placed at the U.S. Open were Taylor Resuriz of McKendree, who was fourth, Marina Doi of King, who was sixth, and Vanessa Ramirez of McKendree, who was seventh at the Open. Both Resuriz and Ramirez also placed at this year’s University Nationals.
Also expected to excel are college stars Breonnah Neal of King and Sarah Allen of the Univ. of the Cumberlands. Neal, a three-time WCWA All-American, was the WCWA national champion this year at 109 pounds. Allen, who was third at 101 at the WCWAs this year, was second behind Pfau at the University Nationals in March. Both have an edge over many college wrestlers based upon their success at USA Wrestling national events.
Veteran Allene Somera was fifth at the U.S. Open and has been in the national mix in recent seasons. Other college competitors who have qualified for the World Team Trials are Aleeah Gould, Maria Vidales and Naomi Chavez. High school stars who look to make an impact include Cadet and Junior World Team member McKayla Campbell, along with Genae Sampract and Katlyn Pizzo. There are a lot of new names and faces at 48 kg for sure this year. However, the talent and experience level of veterans like Augello, Anthony, Golston and Pfau will make it difficult for any of the newcomers to have a serious chance to make the Women’s National Team.
2017 World Team Trials Qualifiers at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.
’16 Olympian – Haley Augello, Lockport, Ill. (New York AC)
’15 World Team member – Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
’13 World Team member – Victoria Anthony, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
’12 Olympian – Clarissa Chun, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids)
’16 Junior National team – Naomi Chavez, Amarillo, Texas (Maverick Elite)
’16 Junior National team – Genae Sampract, Danville, Ill. (Team Illinois)
’16 Junior National team – McKayla Campbell, Wauseon, Ohio (Ohio National Team)
’16 Junior National team – Aleeah Gould, Riverside, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
’16 Junior National team – Katlyn Pizzo, Madison Heights, Mich. (Michigan Women’s Wrestling)
’17 Senior Nationals runner-up – Erin Golston, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC/USOTC)
’17 Senior Nationals third place – Marina Doi, Kingsburg, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
’17 Senior Nationals fourth place – Taylor Resuriz, League City, Texas (Bearcat WC)
’17 Senior Nationals fifth place – Allene Somera, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
’17 Senior Nationals sixth place – Regina Doi, Kingsburg, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
’17 Senior Nationals seventh place – Vanessa Ramirez, Indianapolis, Ind. (Bearcat WC)
’17 WCWA Nationals third place (101 lbs.) – Sarah Allen, Huber Height, Ohio (Cumberlands)
’17 WCWA Nationals champion (109 lbs.) – Breonnah Neal, Winston Salem, N.C. (King Univ.)
’17 WCWA Nationals runner-up (109 lbs.) – Amy Fearnside, Jamestown, N.D. (Jamestown Univ.)
’17 WCWA Nationals third place (109 lbs.) – Maria Vidales, Dallas, Texas (Emmanuel College)
’17 University Nationals champion – Cody Pfau, Brush, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
2017 U.S. Open results at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.
1st – Victoria Anthony (Sunkist Kids) fall Erin Golston (New York AC), 4:52
3rd – Marina Doi (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Tayler Resuriz (Bearcat WC), 5-0
5th – Allene Somera (U.S. Army WCAP) tech. fall Regina Doi (Titan Mercury WC), 10-0
7th – Vanessa Ramirez (Bearcat WC) tech. fall Iesha Washington (Lions WC), 10-0
2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials results at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.
1st - Haley Augello (Lockport, Ill/New York AC) dec Victoria Anthony (Huntington Beach, Calif./Titan Mercury WC), two matches to one
Augello dec Anthony, 6-4
Anthony dec Augello, 11-6
Augello dec Anthony, 8-2
3rd – Clarissa Chun (Morgantown, W.Va./Sunkist Kids) tech. fall Nicole Woody, Odenton, Md. (Terrapin WC), 10-0
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