UPDATE: Burkert and Parrish advance to best-of-three finals at women’s freestyle World Team Trials in Rochester

ROCHESTER, Minn.– Eight of the 10 best-of-three finals for the Senior women’s freestyle World Team Trials Challenge Tournament are set and scheduled for Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. CT.

With Forrest Molinari earning a bye to the finals at 65 kg, Jayden Laurent took on 2016 Junior World bronze medalist Alexis Porter in the semifinals. A tight bout, Laurent came out on top 2-1.

Laurent, fresh off winning the 2018 Junior World Team Trials last weekend in Irving, Texas, is set to face U23 World Team member Molinari in Saturday’s best-of-three finals. Winner faces U.S. Open champion Julia Salata at Final X in Bethlehem, Pa., June 23.

At 57 kg, we’ll see parts four, five and possibly six of the Alex Hedrick and Michaela Beck saga. Hedrick and Beck met up in the U.S. Open finals in Las Vegas last month with Hedrick taking a win by pin in 2:41.

Last weekend, the two went head-to-head in a best-of-three series for the 57 kg spot on the Junior World Team. Beck closed in, but it was Hedrick who took the series in two matches with a second-period fall and a 6-1 decision.

The winner of tomorrow’s finals will advance to Final X in Bethlehem, Pa., June 23 to face two-time World champion and 2016 Olympic champion Helen Maroulis.

Three 2017 Senior World Teamers have advanced to tomorrow’s best-of-three finals, including Victoria Anthony, Haley Augello and Mallory Velte.

At 50 kg, Anthony will go up against Erin Golston tomorrow. The last time these two met was in the U.S. Open semifinals, where Anthony pulled out a 5-2 decision over Golston.

The winner of the 50 kg finals will head to Final X in Bethlehem to challenge U.S. Open winner and past Senior World Teamer Whitney Conder.

Augello, also a 2016 Olympian, will see two-time U23 World Team member Cody Pfau tomorrow to battle for the Final X spot at 53 kg. The winner will also head to Bethlehem, where U.S. Open winner and 2016 World Team member Sarah Hildebrandt will be waiting.

Taking on three-time WCWA champion Velte in the 62 kg finals series is two-time Junior World Team member Brenda Reyna, who punched her ticket to the 2018 Junior World Championships last weekend, winning the 201 Women’s Nationals. Winner of this weight goes to Final X on June 16 in State College, Pa., to take on U.S. Open winner and multiple-time age-group World Team member Kayla Miracle.

At 72 kg, three-time Junior World Team member and two-time U23 World Team member Rachel Watters will face 2018 Pan American bronze medalist Hannah Gladden for a chance to compete at Final X in State College against U.S. Open champion and past Senior World Teamer Erin Clodgo.

U.S. Open runner-up Randyll Beltz moved onto the best-of-three finals at 68 kg, where she will take on Open fourth-place finisher Yvonne Galindo tomorrow afternoon. The winner moves onto Final X in Lincoln, Neb., on June 9 to challenge 2017 World Team member and 2016 Olympic Team Trials champion Tamyra Stock for the World Team spot.

There were only two entrants at 76 kg, so WCWA All-American Mariah Harris and 2018 U23 World Team member Korinahe Bullock automatically advanced to tomorrow’s finals. Whoever emerges from the series earns a bid to Final X in State College to go toe-to-toe with three-time World champion and 2016 Olympian Adeline Gray.

At 55 kg, the winner of U23 World Team member Dominique Parrish will see U.S. Open winner Jacarra Winchester in the best-of-three finals tomorrow after a dominant 10-0 tech fall over Samantha Klingel on Friday night. The winner of that series will advance to Final X in Lincoln, where she will go against 2017 World bronze medalist Becka Leathers.

After a 10-0 tech fall over U.S. Open runner-up Lauren Louive, 2015 World Team member Jenna Burkert will head to tomorrow’s best-of-three series to battle U.S. Open winner Kelsey Campbell for the last Final X spot at 59 kg. Waiting for the finals series winner at Final X in Lincoln is two-time World silver medalist Alli Ragan.

The second session is set for Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. CT with the best-of-three finals series ready for Sunday at 2 p.m. CT.

Brackets and live stream are available on Flowrestlling.org.

2018 FREESTYLE WORLD TEAM TRIALS

at Rochester, Minn., May 18-20

Senior women’s freestyle

Best-of-three finals matchups
50 kg: Victoria Anthony (Sunkist Kids) vs. Erin Golston (New York AC)
53 kg: Haley Augello (New York AC) vs. Cody Pfau (Titan Mercury)
55 kg: Jacarra Winchester (Sunkist Kids) vs. Dominique Parrish (Sunkist Kids)
57 kg: Alex Hedrick (Titan Mercury) vs. Michaela Beck (New York AC)
59 kg: Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids) vs. Jenna Burkert (Army WCAP)
62 kg: Mallory Velte (Titan Mercury) vs. Brenda Reyna (Bearcat WC)
65 kg: Forrest Molinari (Titan Mercury) vs. Jayden Laurent (Musky WC)
68 kg: Yvonne Galindo (Aries WC) vs. Randyll Beltz (Army WCAP)
72 kg: Rachel Watters (New York AC) vs. Hannah Gladden (Lions WC)
76 kg: Mariah Harris (Campbellsville)vs. Korinahe Bullock (Bearcat WC)