Molinari scores pin in Senior Nationals women’s freestyle finals; Bell and Bruntil also win national titles
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by Taylor Miller, USA Wrestling
Forrest Molinari puts Victoria Francis on her back on the way to a fall at 68 kg. Photo by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors
FORT WORTH, Texas – Senior Nationals wrapped up with the final three women’s freestyle gold-medal matches on Sunday afternoon at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
In a battle of 2019 World Team members, Forrest Molinari, who moved up a weight, and Victoria Francis, who moved down a weight, met up in the 68 kg finals. Both Francis and Molinari have collected fifth-place finishes at the Senior World Championships.
Early in the bout, Molinari used a big snap down to put Francis to her back to score a pin in 1:08 for the national title.
FORREST MOLINARI INTERVIEW
For the crown at 76 kg, sisters and past U23 World Team members Precious Bell and Dymond Guilford went head-to-head.
A slow start put Bell on the shot clock but she was able to force a step out to get on the board first. With less than 20 seconds left in the first period, Bell blocked a throw attempt from Guilford, resulting in four points.
The second period saw Bell score two more on a go-behind for an eventual 7-0 victory.
PRECIOUS BELL INTERVIEW
The 62 kg title was awarded to Emma Bruntil after the other finalist, Maya Nelson, pulled herself from the tournament with an injury.
Bruntil, a 2017 Junior Pan American champion, recently transferred from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Center to McKendree University in the fall.
EMMA BRUNTIL INTERVIEW
The Outstanding Wrestler for the women’s division was Alyssa Lampe, who won the 50 kg bracket on Saturday. Taking the team title was Titan Mercury Wrestling Club.
Others winning national titles last night were Dominique Parrish at 53 kg and Abby Nette at 57 kg.
Overall, the top-five athletes in each weight class earned bids to the Olympic Team Trials, set for April 4-5 at Penn State.
The next major Olympic Trials qualifier will be the Last Chance Qualifier in Millersville, Pa., on March 26-28.
Titan Mercury WC won the team title, with the Sunkist Kids in second place.
SENIOR NATIONALS
at Fort Worth, Texas
Women’s freestyle medal bouts
62 kg
1st - Emma Bruntil (McKendree Bearcat WC) df. Maya Nelson (Sunkist Kids), injury default
3rd - Macey Kilty (Sunkist Kids) tech. fall Julia Salata (New York AC), 10-0, 1:41
5th - Jennifer Page (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Alara Boyd (McKendree Bearcat WC), 12-2. 5:07
7th - Desiree Zavala (Unattached) inj. dft Michaela Beck (New York AC)
68 kg
1st - Forrest Molinari (Titan Mercury WC) df. Victoria Francis (Titan Mercury WC), pin 1:08
3rd - Ashlynn Ortega (New York AC) dec. Alexandria Glaude (Titan Mercury WC), 2-1
5th - Nahiela Magee (Army WCAP) pin Iman Kazem (Menlo WC), 2:31
7th - Skylar Grote (New York AC) inj. dft Myranda Velazquez (Unattached)
76 kg
1st - Precious Bell (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Dymond Guilford (Titan Mercury WC), 7-0
3rd - Randi Beltz (Army WCAP) pin Jessika Rottier (Rabid Dawg WC), 1:48
5th - Yelena Makoyed (Cardinal WC) dec. Alyvia Fiske (Titan Mercury WC), 8-7
7th - Andrea Sennett (McKendree Bearcat WC) forfeit Korinahe Bullock (Titan Mercury WC)
Team Standings - 1. Titan Mercury, 2. Sunkist Kids
Outstanding Wrestler - Alyssa Lampe (Sunkist Kids), 50 kg
FORT WORTH, Texas – Senior Nationals wrapped up with the final three women’s freestyle gold-medal matches on Sunday afternoon at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
In a battle of 2019 World Team members, Forrest Molinari, who moved up a weight, and Victoria Francis, who moved down a weight, met up in the 68 kg finals. Both Francis and Molinari have collected fifth-place finishes at the Senior World Championships.
Early in the bout, Molinari used a big snap down to put Francis to her back to score a pin in 1:08 for the national title.
FORREST MOLINARI INTERVIEW
For the crown at 76 kg, sisters and past U23 World Team members Precious Bell and Dymond Guilford went head-to-head.
A slow start put Bell on the shot clock but she was able to force a step out to get on the board first. With less than 20 seconds left in the first period, Bell blocked a throw attempt from Guilford, resulting in four points.
The second period saw Bell score two more on a go-behind for an eventual 7-0 victory.
PRECIOUS BELL INTERVIEW
The 62 kg title was awarded to Emma Bruntil after the other finalist, Maya Nelson, pulled herself from the tournament with an injury.
Bruntil, a 2017 Junior Pan American champion, recently transferred from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Center to McKendree University in the fall.
EMMA BRUNTIL INTERVIEW
The Outstanding Wrestler for the women’s division was Alyssa Lampe, who won the 50 kg bracket on Saturday. Taking the team title was Titan Mercury Wrestling Club.
Others winning national titles last night were Dominique Parrish at 53 kg and Abby Nette at 57 kg.
Overall, the top-five athletes in each weight class earned bids to the Olympic Team Trials, set for April 4-5 at Penn State.
The next major Olympic Trials qualifier will be the Last Chance Qualifier in Millersville, Pa., on March 26-28.
Titan Mercury WC won the team title, with the Sunkist Kids in second place.
SENIOR NATIONALS
at Fort Worth, Texas
Women’s freestyle medal bouts
62 kg
1st - Emma Bruntil (McKendree Bearcat WC) df. Maya Nelson (Sunkist Kids), injury default
3rd - Macey Kilty (Sunkist Kids) tech. fall Julia Salata (New York AC), 10-0, 1:41
5th - Jennifer Page (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Alara Boyd (McKendree Bearcat WC), 12-2. 5:07
7th - Desiree Zavala (Unattached) inj. dft Michaela Beck (New York AC)
68 kg
1st - Forrest Molinari (Titan Mercury WC) df. Victoria Francis (Titan Mercury WC), pin 1:08
3rd - Ashlynn Ortega (New York AC) dec. Alexandria Glaude (Titan Mercury WC), 2-1
5th - Nahiela Magee (Army WCAP) pin Iman Kazem (Menlo WC), 2:31
7th - Skylar Grote (New York AC) inj. dft Myranda Velazquez (Unattached)
76 kg
1st - Precious Bell (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Dymond Guilford (Titan Mercury WC), 7-0
3rd - Randi Beltz (Army WCAP) pin Jessika Rottier (Rabid Dawg WC), 1:48
5th - Yelena Makoyed (Cardinal WC) dec. Alyvia Fiske (Titan Mercury WC), 8-7
7th - Andrea Sennett (McKendree Bearcat WC) forfeit Korinahe Bullock (Titan Mercury WC)
Team Standings - 1. Titan Mercury, 2. Sunkist Kids
Outstanding Wrestler - Alyssa Lampe (Sunkist Kids), 50 kg
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