Lineups set for Wyoming Seminary vs. USA All-Stars high school girls dual at NCAA Fan Festival on March 23 in Pittsburgh
Share:
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Caitlyn Walker (left) and Mia Palumbo battle in the 2018 Junior National finals. They will wrestle each other again in the Wyoming Seminary vs. USA All-Star dual in Pittsburgh. Photo by Jim Thrall, Matfocus.com
The lineups have been announced for the Wyoming Seminary vs. USA All-Star Dual, which will be held
will be held as part of the NCAA Fan Festival between sessions at the 2019 NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships in Pittsburgh, Pa. on Saturday, March 23.
A special event, featuring many of the nation’s best high school girl wrestlers, will be hosted at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Hall A, which is the site of this year’s NCAA Fan Festival. This exciting freestyle wrestling event will begin at approximately 4:15 p.m. ET, at the conclusion of the USA Wrestling Freestyle Practice and Autograph Session. It is free to the general public.
There will be 10 bouts featuring nationally-respected athletes from across the nation, all who have compiled outstanding achievements in both freestyle and folkstyle wrestling. Of the 20 girls on the card, 17 are currently in the most recent National Girls High School Rankings, which was released on March 13. The other three athletes have been nationally ranked in the past.
All 10 of the athletes in the dual meet from the Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School women’s team are nationally ranked. This team, located in Kingston, Pa., is coached by former Women’s Team USA athlete and coach Erin Vandiver. The young women train and compete in freestyle, the international style. The program is supported by USA Wrestling as an accelerated elite girl’s developmental program.
All of the athletes on Wyoming Seminary’s team are ranked in the top 20 in the nation in their weight class. The 20 athletes on the card hail from 12 different states.
There are a pair of No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdowns in the lineup.
At 50kg/110 lbs., Mia Palumbo of Oak Lawn, Ill., who is No. 1 at 106 pounds, will battle Wyoming Seminary’s Caitlyn Walker of Hatboro, Pa. Palumbo was a 2018 Junior Nationals and Cadet Nationals freestyle champion. Walker was second in the 2018 Junior Nationals.
The other No. 1 vs. No. 2 are ranked at different weight classes. Holding down No. 1 at 122 pounds is Alexys Zepeda of Oregon, a 2018 Junior Nationals and Cadet Nationals champion. Her opponent is Wyoming Seminary’s Vayle-rae Baker of Benton, Pa., who won the 2018 Junior Nationals at a lower weight class than Zepeda.
Another featured battle will be at 72 kg/158.4 lbs. where freshman sensation Kennedy Blades of Wyoming Seminary, who is ranked No. 2 at 152 pounds will battle senior Alexis Gomez, who is ranked No. 4 at 152 pounds. Both are from Illinois, with Blades hailing from Broadview and Gomez from Carol Stream.
Another of the nation’s top freshman stars is Amit Elor of Concord, Calif., who has a No. 3 ranking at 152 pounds. She has drawn Wyoming Seminary’s Tiffani Baublitz of Stewartstown, Pa., with a No. 10 ranking at 144 pounds.
The lineup includes two young women who have represented the USA at age-group World Championships, Wyoming Seminary’s Vayle-rae Baker and Caitlyn Walker, plus a number who have been on U.S. Pan American age-group teams, including Kennedy Blades and Korina Blades of Wyoming Seminary, plus Alexis Zepeda and Amit Elor from the USA team.
There is little doubt that the results of this dual meet will affect the next National Girls High School rankings in a big way.
“Wyoming Seminary, together with SportsPITTSBURGH, the NCAA, and USA Wrestling, is excited to present this historic event showcasing top high school wrestlers. The amount of opportunities for girls are increasing exponentially at all levels - we believe it is important to keep a focus on Freestyle for young women. The dual will feature competitive match ups between girls from coast to coast with many USA World/National Team members and All Americans represented,” said Wyoming Seminary’s Women’s Head Wrestling Coach Erin Vandiver.
Girls high school wrestling is one of the fastest growing sports in the nation. There are 14 states which have official girls high school championships, with many more going through the process to receive official status. Women’s wrestling is also being considered as an NCAA Emerging Sport.
NCAA Fan Festival Dual
Wyoming Seminary vs. USA All-stars
Saturday, March 23 at PPG Paint Arena at 4:15 p.m.
Rankings from March 13 National Girls High School Rankings
46 kg/101.2 lbs
No. 12 - Ava Bayless, freshman, Greenville, Pa. Wyoming Seminary (PA)
Second in 2018 Cadet Nationals… Fourth in 2018 Super 32… 2019 Pennsylvania state champion…
No. 7 - Estrella Dorado Marin, junior, Denver, Colo., Springs Studio for Academic Excellence/Betterman Elite
Fifth in 2018 Junior Nationals… Second in 2018 Western Regionals… Fourth in 2017 USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals… Third in 2018 Conflict for Charity…
48 kg/105.6 lbs
No. 15 at 100 - Abbygale Duke, freshman, Patterson, N.Y., Wyoming Seminary (PA)
Fourth in 2018 Cadet Nationals… Fifth in 2018 UWW Cadet Nationals…. Fifth in 2018 Super 32… Third in 2017 Schoolgirl Nationals…
Tatyana Ortiz, senior, Philadelphia Pa. Mariana Bracetti Academy
Sixth in 2018 Super 32… Second in 2019 Pennsylvania state championships…
50kg/110 lbs
No. 2 at 106 - Caitlyn Walker, junior, Hatboro, Pa., Wyoming Seminary (PA)
Second in 2018 Junior Nationals… 2018 Super 32 champion… Second in 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial International… 2019 Pennsylvania state champion… 2018 Northeast Regional champion… Fifth in 2017 Cadet World Championships… Sixth in 2017 Junior Nationals… Fourth in 2017 Cadet Nationals… Seventh in 2016 Cadet World Championships… Second in 2016 Pan American Cadet Championships…
No. 1 at 106 Mia Palumbo, sophomore, Oak Lawn, Ill., Richards High School
2018 Junior Nationals champion… 2018 Cadet Nationals champion… 2018 Girls National Duals All-Tournament Team… 2017 USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals champion… First girl to win a match at the Illinois high school boys state championships…
55kg/116.6 lbs
No. 2 at 117 - Vayle-rae Baker, senior, Benton, Pa., Wyoming Seminary (PA)
2016, 2017 and 2018 Junior Nationals champion… Second in 2018 UWW Junior Nationals… Third in 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial International… Second in 2018 Pan American Junior Championships… Seventh in 2017 Cadet World Championships… 2018 Northeast Regionals champion… Third in 2018 U23 Team Trials… Second in 2017 Flatz Open (Austria)… Second in 2017 Super 32… Eighth in 2015 Cadet World Championships… 2015 Pan American Cadet champion…
No. 1 at 122 - Alexys Zepeda, sophomore, Gervais, Ore., Gervais High School
2018 Junior Nationals champion… 2018 Cadet Nationals champion… 2019 Oregon state champion… Second in 2018 Super 32… Third in 2018 UWW Cadet Nationals… 3rd in 2018 Oregon boys high school state championships… 2017 Pan American Schoolgirl champion and Outstanding Wrestler… 2017 Schoolgirl Nationals champion…
57kg/125.5 lbs.
No. 7 at 122 - Korina Blades, freshman, Broadview, Ill., Wyoming Seminary (PA)
2018 U15 Pan American champion… Fourth in 2019 U15 Klippan Lady Open (Sweden)… Third in 2018 Super 32… 2017 Conflict in Carver champion… Third in 2017 Schoolgirl Nationals…
No. 5 at 127 - Skylar Hattendorf, freshman, Hookset, N.H., Bow High School
2018 USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals champion… 2019 Shogun champion… Second in 2018 Schoolgirl Nationals…
57kg/125.5 lbs.
No. 13 at 122 - Sophia Smith, junior, Bismarck, N.D., Wyoming Seminary (PA)
Fourth in 2018 UWW Cadet Nationals… Second in 2017 Cadet Nationals… Sixth in 2017 Junior Nationals… Fifth in the 2017 Cadet Folkstyle Nationals…
Lily Sherer, sophomore, Shohola, Pa., Delaware Valley High School
Second in 2018 Cadet Nationals… Second in 2018 Super 32… Second in 2019 Pennsylvania state championships…
59kg/129.8 lbs
No. 7 at 132 - Shaina Murray, senior, Watchung, N.J., Wyoming Seminary, PA
Fifth in 2018 UWW Junior Nationals… Second in 2018 Northeast Regionals… Second in 2018 Flatz Open (Austria)… 2018 New Jersey state champion… Fifth in 2017 Super 32… Eighth in 2017 Junior Nationals… Fifth in 2016 Junior Nationals…
Naomi Henry, junior, Brooklyn, N.Y., Wingate Educational Campus
Second in 2018 Cadet Nationals… Third in 2019 New York state championships…
65kg/143lbs
No. 12 at 138 - Reese Larramendy, freshman, Reno, Nev., Wyoming Seminary (PA)
Fourth in 2018 Super 32… Second in 2018 Schoolgirl Nationals… 2017 USA Wrestling Schoolgirl Nationals champion…
No. 13 at 144 - Seda Tsarni, sophomore, Montgomery County, Md., Watkins Mill High School
Fourth in 2018 Cadet Nationals… Fourth in 2018 Super 32…
67kg/147.4 lbs
No. 10 at 144 - Tiffani Baublitz, sophomore, Stewartstown, Pa., Wyoming Seminary (PA)
Third in 2018 Cadet Nationals… 2019 Pennsylvania state champion… Fifth in 2018 Super 32… 2017 Flatz Open Cadet champion (Austria)… Fourth in 2017 Super 32… Sixth in 2017 USA Wrestling Folkstyle Cadet Nationals… Firth in 2016 Pan American Schoolgirl Championships… Second in 2015 Schoolgirl Folkstyle Nationals…
No. 3 at 152 - Amit Elor, Concord, Calif., freshman, College Park High School
2018 Pan American U15 champion… 2019 California state champion… 2018 Schoolgirl Nationals champion… 2016 USA Wrestling Schoolgirl Folkstyle Nationals champion…
72kg/158.4 lbs.
No. 2 at 152 - Kennedy Blades, freshman, Broadview, Ill., Wyoming Seminary (PA)
2018 Cadet Nationals champion… Second in 2018 UWW Cadet Nationals… 2018 Pan American Cadet champion… 2018 Super 32 champion… 2019 Klippan Lady Open U17 champion… 2017 Conflict in Carver champion… 2017 Pan American Schoolgirl champion…
No. 4 at 152 - Alexis Gomez, senior, Carol Stream, Ill., Glenbard North High School
Sixth in 2018 UWW Junior Nationals… Eighth in 2018 U.S. Senior Open… Third in 2018 Northern Plains Regionals… 2017 Junior Nationals champion… Third in 2017 Yoshida Cup (Japan)… 2017 UWW Cadet Nationals champion… Second in 2016 Junior Nationals…
The lineups have been announced for the Wyoming Seminary vs. USA All-Star Dual, which will be held
will be held as part of the NCAA Fan Festival between sessions at the 2019 NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships in Pittsburgh, Pa. on Saturday, March 23.
A special event, featuring many of the nation’s best high school girl wrestlers, will be hosted at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Hall A, which is the site of this year’s NCAA Fan Festival. This exciting freestyle wrestling event will begin at approximately 4:15 p.m. ET, at the conclusion of the USA Wrestling Freestyle Practice and Autograph Session. It is free to the general public.
There will be 10 bouts featuring nationally-respected athletes from across the nation, all who have compiled outstanding achievements in both freestyle and folkstyle wrestling. Of the 20 girls on the card, 17 are currently in the most recent National Girls High School Rankings, which was released on March 13. The other three athletes have been nationally ranked in the past.
All 10 of the athletes in the dual meet from the Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School women’s team are nationally ranked. This team, located in Kingston, Pa., is coached by former Women’s Team USA athlete and coach Erin Vandiver. The young women train and compete in freestyle, the international style. The program is supported by USA Wrestling as an accelerated elite girl’s developmental program.
All of the athletes on Wyoming Seminary’s team are ranked in the top 20 in the nation in their weight class. The 20 athletes on the card hail from 12 different states.
There are a pair of No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdowns in the lineup.
At 50kg/110 lbs., Mia Palumbo of Oak Lawn, Ill., who is No. 1 at 106 pounds, will battle Wyoming Seminary’s Caitlyn Walker of Hatboro, Pa. Palumbo was a 2018 Junior Nationals and Cadet Nationals freestyle champion. Walker was second in the 2018 Junior Nationals.
The other No. 1 vs. No. 2 are ranked at different weight classes. Holding down No. 1 at 122 pounds is Alexys Zepeda of Oregon, a 2018 Junior Nationals and Cadet Nationals champion. Her opponent is Wyoming Seminary’s Vayle-rae Baker of Benton, Pa., who won the 2018 Junior Nationals at a lower weight class than Zepeda.
Another featured battle will be at 72 kg/158.4 lbs. where freshman sensation Kennedy Blades of Wyoming Seminary, who is ranked No. 2 at 152 pounds will battle senior Alexis Gomez, who is ranked No. 4 at 152 pounds. Both are from Illinois, with Blades hailing from Broadview and Gomez from Carol Stream.
Another of the nation’s top freshman stars is Amit Elor of Concord, Calif., who has a No. 3 ranking at 152 pounds. She has drawn Wyoming Seminary’s Tiffani Baublitz of Stewartstown, Pa., with a No. 10 ranking at 144 pounds.
The lineup includes two young women who have represented the USA at age-group World Championships, Wyoming Seminary’s Vayle-rae Baker and Caitlyn Walker, plus a number who have been on U.S. Pan American age-group teams, including Kennedy Blades and Korina Blades of Wyoming Seminary, plus Alexis Zepeda and Amit Elor from the USA team.
There is little doubt that the results of this dual meet will affect the next National Girls High School rankings in a big way.
“Wyoming Seminary, together with SportsPITTSBURGH, the NCAA, and USA Wrestling, is excited to present this historic event showcasing top high school wrestlers. The amount of opportunities for girls are increasing exponentially at all levels - we believe it is important to keep a focus on Freestyle for young women. The dual will feature competitive match ups between girls from coast to coast with many USA World/National Team members and All Americans represented,” said Wyoming Seminary’s Women’s Head Wrestling Coach Erin Vandiver.
Girls high school wrestling is one of the fastest growing sports in the nation. There are 14 states which have official girls high school championships, with many more going through the process to receive official status. Women’s wrestling is also being considered as an NCAA Emerging Sport.
NCAA Fan Festival Dual
Wyoming Seminary vs. USA All-stars
Saturday, March 23 at PPG Paint Arena at 4:15 p.m.
Rankings from March 13 National Girls High School Rankings
46 kg/101.2 lbs
No. 12 - Ava Bayless, freshman, Greenville, Pa. Wyoming Seminary (PA)
Second in 2018 Cadet Nationals… Fourth in 2018 Super 32… 2019 Pennsylvania state champion…
No. 7 - Estrella Dorado Marin, junior, Denver, Colo., Springs Studio for Academic Excellence/Betterman Elite
Fifth in 2018 Junior Nationals… Second in 2018 Western Regionals… Fourth in 2017 USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals… Third in 2018 Conflict for Charity…
48 kg/105.6 lbs
No. 15 at 100 - Abbygale Duke, freshman, Patterson, N.Y., Wyoming Seminary (PA)
Fourth in 2018 Cadet Nationals… Fifth in 2018 UWW Cadet Nationals…. Fifth in 2018 Super 32… Third in 2017 Schoolgirl Nationals…
Tatyana Ortiz, senior, Philadelphia Pa. Mariana Bracetti Academy
Sixth in 2018 Super 32… Second in 2019 Pennsylvania state championships…
50kg/110 lbs
No. 2 at 106 - Caitlyn Walker, junior, Hatboro, Pa., Wyoming Seminary (PA)
Second in 2018 Junior Nationals… 2018 Super 32 champion… Second in 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial International… 2019 Pennsylvania state champion… 2018 Northeast Regional champion… Fifth in 2017 Cadet World Championships… Sixth in 2017 Junior Nationals… Fourth in 2017 Cadet Nationals… Seventh in 2016 Cadet World Championships… Second in 2016 Pan American Cadet Championships…
No. 1 at 106 Mia Palumbo, sophomore, Oak Lawn, Ill., Richards High School
2018 Junior Nationals champion… 2018 Cadet Nationals champion… 2018 Girls National Duals All-Tournament Team… 2017 USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals champion… First girl to win a match at the Illinois high school boys state championships…
55kg/116.6 lbs
No. 2 at 117 - Vayle-rae Baker, senior, Benton, Pa., Wyoming Seminary (PA)
2016, 2017 and 2018 Junior Nationals champion… Second in 2018 UWW Junior Nationals… Third in 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial International… Second in 2018 Pan American Junior Championships… Seventh in 2017 Cadet World Championships… 2018 Northeast Regionals champion… Third in 2018 U23 Team Trials… Second in 2017 Flatz Open (Austria)… Second in 2017 Super 32… Eighth in 2015 Cadet World Championships… 2015 Pan American Cadet champion…
No. 1 at 122 - Alexys Zepeda, sophomore, Gervais, Ore., Gervais High School
2018 Junior Nationals champion… 2018 Cadet Nationals champion… 2019 Oregon state champion… Second in 2018 Super 32… Third in 2018 UWW Cadet Nationals… 3rd in 2018 Oregon boys high school state championships… 2017 Pan American Schoolgirl champion and Outstanding Wrestler… 2017 Schoolgirl Nationals champion…
57kg/125.5 lbs.
No. 7 at 122 - Korina Blades, freshman, Broadview, Ill., Wyoming Seminary (PA)
2018 U15 Pan American champion… Fourth in 2019 U15 Klippan Lady Open (Sweden)… Third in 2018 Super 32… 2017 Conflict in Carver champion… Third in 2017 Schoolgirl Nationals…
No. 5 at 127 - Skylar Hattendorf, freshman, Hookset, N.H., Bow High School
2018 USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals champion… 2019 Shogun champion… Second in 2018 Schoolgirl Nationals…
57kg/125.5 lbs.
No. 13 at 122 - Sophia Smith, junior, Bismarck, N.D., Wyoming Seminary (PA)
Fourth in 2018 UWW Cadet Nationals… Second in 2017 Cadet Nationals… Sixth in 2017 Junior Nationals… Fifth in the 2017 Cadet Folkstyle Nationals…
Lily Sherer, sophomore, Shohola, Pa., Delaware Valley High School
Second in 2018 Cadet Nationals… Second in 2018 Super 32… Second in 2019 Pennsylvania state championships…
59kg/129.8 lbs
No. 7 at 132 - Shaina Murray, senior, Watchung, N.J., Wyoming Seminary, PA
Fifth in 2018 UWW Junior Nationals… Second in 2018 Northeast Regionals… Second in 2018 Flatz Open (Austria)… 2018 New Jersey state champion… Fifth in 2017 Super 32… Eighth in 2017 Junior Nationals… Fifth in 2016 Junior Nationals…
Naomi Henry, junior, Brooklyn, N.Y., Wingate Educational Campus
Second in 2018 Cadet Nationals… Third in 2019 New York state championships…
65kg/143lbs
No. 12 at 138 - Reese Larramendy, freshman, Reno, Nev., Wyoming Seminary (PA)
Fourth in 2018 Super 32… Second in 2018 Schoolgirl Nationals… 2017 USA Wrestling Schoolgirl Nationals champion…
No. 13 at 144 - Seda Tsarni, sophomore, Montgomery County, Md., Watkins Mill High School
Fourth in 2018 Cadet Nationals… Fourth in 2018 Super 32…
67kg/147.4 lbs
No. 10 at 144 - Tiffani Baublitz, sophomore, Stewartstown, Pa., Wyoming Seminary (PA)
Third in 2018 Cadet Nationals… 2019 Pennsylvania state champion… Fifth in 2018 Super 32… 2017 Flatz Open Cadet champion (Austria)… Fourth in 2017 Super 32… Sixth in 2017 USA Wrestling Folkstyle Cadet Nationals… Firth in 2016 Pan American Schoolgirl Championships… Second in 2015 Schoolgirl Folkstyle Nationals…
No. 3 at 152 - Amit Elor, Concord, Calif., freshman, College Park High School
2018 Pan American U15 champion… 2019 California state champion… 2018 Schoolgirl Nationals champion… 2016 USA Wrestling Schoolgirl Folkstyle Nationals champion…
72kg/158.4 lbs.
No. 2 at 152 - Kennedy Blades, freshman, Broadview, Ill., Wyoming Seminary (PA)
2018 Cadet Nationals champion… Second in 2018 UWW Cadet Nationals… 2018 Pan American Cadet champion… 2018 Super 32 champion… 2019 Klippan Lady Open U17 champion… 2017 Conflict in Carver champion… 2017 Pan American Schoolgirl champion…
No. 4 at 152 - Alexis Gomez, senior, Carol Stream, Ill., Glenbard North High School
Sixth in 2018 UWW Junior Nationals… Eighth in 2018 U.S. Senior Open… Third in 2018 Northern Plains Regionals… 2017 Junior Nationals champion… Third in 2017 Yoshida Cup (Japan)… 2017 UWW Cadet Nationals champion… Second in 2016 Junior Nationals…
Read More#
2023 USMC Junior Women's Nationals finalist bios
Day 1 preview: Junior Women and 16U Women kick off event, powering through the quarterfinals
Check out the 2023 16U Regional champions, by style and weight class
A peek back at the 2022 Fargo team results, with the final standings in each of the six tournaments
