Six returning champions open with wins at USMC Girls Junior Folkstyle Nationals in Oklahoma City
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Returning Junior Folkstyle Nationals champion Katlyn Pizzo of Michigan hits a headlock against Olivia Shore of Ohio on the way to an opening win at 97 pounds.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Six returning Junior Folkstyle National champions all advanced on the first night of the 2017 U.S. Marines Corps Girls Junior Folkstyle National Championships at the Cox Convention Center on Friday night.
Winning their bouts on Friday are returning champions Katlyn Pizzo of Michigan at 100 pounds, Macey Kilty of Wisconsin at 117 pounds, Gracie Figueroa of California at 122 pounds, Emma Bruntil of Washington at 132 pounds, Alexandria Liles of Texas at 138 pounds and Marissa Patterson of Kansas at 180 pounds.
Pizzo, the 97 pound champion, won her only bout of the day, with an 11-6 win over Cadet Folkstyle All-American Olivia Shore of Ohio.
Kilty opened with a pin in 1:49 over Natalia Urbas of California. Kilty was a double champion at the Girls Folkstyle Nationals in 2016, winning both the Cadet and Junior divisions. She is attempting a second straight double title, after winning the 2017 Girls Folkstyle title as a Cadet earlier today. Kilty has moved up in weight, after winning at 112 pounds last year. She was a Cadet World freestyle bronze medalist last summer in freestyle.
California star Gracie Figueroa is seeking to defend her title, competing this year at 122 pounds after winning this event last season at 121 pounds. She opened with a 59 second fall over Angel Schauer of Michigan. Figueroa was a Cadet World freestyle bronze medalist last summer.
Emma Bruntil of Washington, last year’s 139 pound champion, has dropped to 132 pounds this year. Her first match was a pin over Katelynn Vasquez of Texas in 1:28.
Alexandria Liles of Texas, a 130-pound champion, has moved to 138 pounds and is seeking to win this event again. She opened with a pin of Rachel Mitchell of Missouri in 4:41.
Also seeking a second title in a row is Marissa Patterson of Kansas, who was a 172-pound champion last year and has moved up to 180 pounds this year. She had a bye in the first session, and opens up with a match against Gabriella Neal of Tennessee on Saturday morning.
Another top women’s age-group star in the field is Alleida Martinez of California at 112 pounds, who opened with a pin in her first match over Savannah West of Texas in 1:03. Martinez was a Cadet World freestyle bronze medalist in 2016, and has won numerous age-group titles within USA Wrestling.
Six of last year’s runners-up have returned this year: McKayla Campbell of Ohio at 106, Autumn Gordon of Ohio at 112, Logan Mize of Texas at 127, Allicyn Schuster of Nebraska at 132, Alyvia Fiske of California at 164 and Corey Burton of California at 200. Burton did not compete in the first session. The other returning runners-up won their opening bouts, except for Schuster, who was beaten in her first match by Serena Cervantes of Texas, 7-3.
Kilty, Figueroa, Liles and Burton are among eight 2016 Cadet National folkstyle champions who are seeking Junior titles this year. They are joined by Caitlyn Walker of Pennsylvania at 100, Vayle Baker of Pennsylvania at 112, Alisha Howk of Missouri at 112 and Jayden Laurent of Wisconsin at 144. All won their first-session bouts.
Joining Kilty as 2017 Cadet National folkstyle champions who are looking to double up this year are Emily Shilson of Minnesota at 100, Jessica Sanchez of California at 127, Tiyahna Askew of Georgia,at 144, Kiana Pugh of Wisconsin at 152, Folashade Akinola of California at 164 and Natalie Kemp of Wisconsin at 180. All remain unbeaten after day one.
The Junior Folkstyle Nationals continue at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, and will run to completion on Saturday. Also being contested on Saturday is the University Women’s Freestyle National Championships, which will begin and be completed on Saturday.
Sunday will feature the youth divisions of the Girls Folkstyle Nationals, as well as the Junior National Folkstyle Duals.
All of the action is being broadcast LIVE by Flowrestling.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Six returning Junior Folkstyle National champions all advanced on the first night of the 2017 U.S. Marines Corps Girls Junior Folkstyle National Championships at the Cox Convention Center on Friday night.
Winning their bouts on Friday are returning champions Katlyn Pizzo of Michigan at 100 pounds, Macey Kilty of Wisconsin at 117 pounds, Gracie Figueroa of California at 122 pounds, Emma Bruntil of Washington at 132 pounds, Alexandria Liles of Texas at 138 pounds and Marissa Patterson of Kansas at 180 pounds.
Pizzo, the 97 pound champion, won her only bout of the day, with an 11-6 win over Cadet Folkstyle All-American Olivia Shore of Ohio.
Kilty opened with a pin in 1:49 over Natalia Urbas of California. Kilty was a double champion at the Girls Folkstyle Nationals in 2016, winning both the Cadet and Junior divisions. She is attempting a second straight double title, after winning the 2017 Girls Folkstyle title as a Cadet earlier today. Kilty has moved up in weight, after winning at 112 pounds last year. She was a Cadet World freestyle bronze medalist last summer in freestyle.
California star Gracie Figueroa is seeking to defend her title, competing this year at 122 pounds after winning this event last season at 121 pounds. She opened with a 59 second fall over Angel Schauer of Michigan. Figueroa was a Cadet World freestyle bronze medalist last summer.
Emma Bruntil of Washington, last year’s 139 pound champion, has dropped to 132 pounds this year. Her first match was a pin over Katelynn Vasquez of Texas in 1:28.
Alexandria Liles of Texas, a 130-pound champion, has moved to 138 pounds and is seeking to win this event again. She opened with a pin of Rachel Mitchell of Missouri in 4:41.
Also seeking a second title in a row is Marissa Patterson of Kansas, who was a 172-pound champion last year and has moved up to 180 pounds this year. She had a bye in the first session, and opens up with a match against Gabriella Neal of Tennessee on Saturday morning.
Another top women’s age-group star in the field is Alleida Martinez of California at 112 pounds, who opened with a pin in her first match over Savannah West of Texas in 1:03. Martinez was a Cadet World freestyle bronze medalist in 2016, and has won numerous age-group titles within USA Wrestling.
Six of last year’s runners-up have returned this year: McKayla Campbell of Ohio at 106, Autumn Gordon of Ohio at 112, Logan Mize of Texas at 127, Allicyn Schuster of Nebraska at 132, Alyvia Fiske of California at 164 and Corey Burton of California at 200. Burton did not compete in the first session. The other returning runners-up won their opening bouts, except for Schuster, who was beaten in her first match by Serena Cervantes of Texas, 7-3.
Kilty, Figueroa, Liles and Burton are among eight 2016 Cadet National folkstyle champions who are seeking Junior titles this year. They are joined by Caitlyn Walker of Pennsylvania at 100, Vayle Baker of Pennsylvania at 112, Alisha Howk of Missouri at 112 and Jayden Laurent of Wisconsin at 144. All won their first-session bouts.
Joining Kilty as 2017 Cadet National folkstyle champions who are looking to double up this year are Emily Shilson of Minnesota at 100, Jessica Sanchez of California at 127, Tiyahna Askew of Georgia,at 144, Kiana Pugh of Wisconsin at 152, Folashade Akinola of California at 164 and Natalie Kemp of Wisconsin at 180. All remain unbeaten after day one.
The Junior Folkstyle Nationals continue at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, and will run to completion on Saturday. Also being contested on Saturday is the University Women’s Freestyle National Championships, which will begin and be completed on Saturday.
Sunday will feature the youth divisions of the Girls Folkstyle Nationals, as well as the Junior National Folkstyle Duals.
All of the action is being broadcast LIVE by Flowrestling.
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