Four returning women’s freestyle champions reach today’s finals at the U23 Nationals in Omaha
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Precious Bell gets an ankle lace during the morning session at the U23 Nationals. She will compete in today’s championship finals. Photo by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors.
OMAHA, Neb. – Four returning 2019 U23 national champions have advanced to the gold-medal finals of the 2020 U23 Nationals in women’s freestyle during Saturday first session.
The returning U23 national champions reaching the finals in tonight’s second session include Emily Shilson of Titan Mercury WC at 50 kg, Abigail Nette of the Sunkist Kids at 57 kg, Macey Kilty of the Sunkist Kids at 62 kg and Precious Bell of the Titan Mercury WC at 76 kg.
Shilson will face Samara Chavez of the Spartan Mat Club in the finals. Shilson won two college national titles last year, and was a 2018 Cadet and Youth Olympic Games champion. Chavez is currently the No. 1 ranked high school wrestler in her weight class.
Bell won two U.S. Senior National titles in April 2019 and December 2019, is currently No. 2 on the Senior National Team. She will battle Dymond Guilford of the Titan Mercury WC in the finals. Bell beat Guilford in the Senior Nationals finals of December 2019.
Kilty, a member of the Senior National Team and a five-time age-group World medalist, scored three technical falls in the morning session. Kilty will face unattached Ana Luciano in the finals.
Nette, a December 2019 Senior Nationals champion, has drawn 2020 Senior Nationals runner-up Xochitl Mota-Pettis of Rise Wrestling in the finals.
Shilson and Kilty are seeking double titles this weekend, after winning 2020 UWW Junior National titles on Friday evening. Kilty, a five-time age-group World medalist, was also a 2019 UWW Junior National champion.
2019 U23 Nationals champion Felicity Taylor of the McKendree Bearcat WC will not be able to repeat at 53 kg, after losing her semifinals bout to Cheyenne Sisenstein of the Team Tornado Wrestling Club, 8-1.
The other 53 kg semifinal was also another big-time match, as 2015 Cadet World champion Ronna Heaton of the Sunkist Kids pinned 2020 UWW Junior Nationals champion Tiare Ikei of the Titan Mercury WC in 4:13. Ikei, an April 2019 Senior Nationals champion, was Outstanding Wrestler in last night’s UWW Junior Nationals event.
At 59 kg, former Senior National Team member Koral Sugiyama, who is competing unattached, will battle current Senior National Team member Desiree Zavala of the Texas Panhandle Wrestling Club in the finals.
Two weight classes will feature teammates battling for the national title.
At 65 kg, a pair of Team Tornado WC athletes from King University, Ashlynn Ortega and Viktorya Torres are in the finals.
At 72 kg, Ophelia Lara and Kayla Marano of the Lion Wrestling Club, based at Emmanuel College, are in the championship match
The 55 kg finals will feature a pair of college stars, King’s Allison Petix of the Team Tornado WC against Colorado Mesa’s Marissa Gallegos of the Colorado Mesa WC.
There is a three-athlete round robin at 68 kg. 2020 Senior Nationals runner-up Skyler Grote of the New York AC sits at 1-0, and must beat Julia Lhotellier of the Lion WC, who sits at 0-1, in the final round to secure the U23 national title.
The second session begins at 3:00 p.m. Central time and is broadcast live on Flowrestling. There will be one round of consolations for the U23 Women freestylers, so the finals will start shortly after, at approximately 4:00 p.m.
U23 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Omaha, Neb., November 14
U23 Women’s freestyle finals pairings
50 kg - Emily Shilson (TMWC/Twin Cities RTC) vs. Samara Chavez (Spartan Mat Club)
53 kg - Cheyenne Sisenstein (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) vs. Ronna Heaton (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)
55 kg - Allison Petix (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) vs. Marissa Gallegos (Colorado Mesa WC)
57 kg - Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Rise Wrestling) vs. Abigail Nette (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)
59 kg - Koral Sugiyama (Unattached) vs. Desiree Zavala (Texas Panhandle Wrestling Club)
62 kg - Macey Kilty (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Academy) vs. Ana Luciano (Unattached)
65 kg - Ashlynn Ortega (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) vs. Viktorya Torres (Team Tornado Wrestling Club)
68 kg – RR: Skyler Grote (NYAC) 1-0 record; Samantha Bush (Grand View WC) 1-1 record, Julia Lhotellier (Lion WC) 0-1 record
72 kg - Ophelia Lara (Lion Wrestling Club) vs. Kayla Marano (Lion Wrestling Club)
76 kg - Dymond Guilford (TMWC) vs. Precious Bell (TMWC)
U23 Women’s freestyle semifinal results
50 kg
Emily Shilson (TMWC/Twin Cities RTC) pin Aleeah Gould (Team Tornado Wrestling Club), 2:31
Samara Chavez (Spartan Mat Club) pin Maria Vidales (Lion Wrestling Club), 2:14
53 kg
Cheyenne Sisenstein (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) dec. Felicity Taylor (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club), 8-1
Ronna Heaton (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) pin Tiare Ikei (TMWC), 4:13
55 kg
Allison Petix (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) dec. Melanie Mendoza (Team Tornado Wrestling Club), 4-1
Marissa Gallegos (Colorado Mesa WC) tech. fall Sophia Mirabella NY (Team Tornado Wrestling Club), 15-3 5:41
57 kg
Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Rise Wrestling) dec. Alexia Ward (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club), 8-0
Abigail Nette (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Lauren Mason (Unattached), 7-2
59 kg
Koral Sugiyama (Unattached) tech. fall Gracie Figueroa CA (TMWC), 16-6 2:46
Desiree Zavala (Texas Panhandle Wrestling Club) tech. fall Paige Respicio (Warrior Wrestling Club), 10-0 0:40
62 kg
Macey Kilty (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Academy) tech. fall Phoenix Dubose (Team Tornado Wrestling Club), 10-0 1:29
Ana Luciano (Unattached) tech. fall Kendall Bostelman (Wyoming Seminary), 10-0 2:06
65 kg
Ashlynn Ortega (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) tech. fall Marisol Nugent (Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club), 10-0 2:40
Viktorya Torres (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) tech. fall Amor Tuttle (Twin Cities RTC), 11-0 4:50
72 kg
Ophelia Lara (Lion Wrestling Club) dec. Gianna Anaya (Lion Wrestling Club), 5-1
Kayla Marano (Lion Wrestling Club) dec. Marlynne Deede (Twin Cities RTC), 10-3
76 kg
Dymond Guilford (TMWC) tech. fall Joye Levendusky (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club), 12-2 5:25
Precious Bell WI (TMWC) dec. Yelena Makoyed (Cardinal Wrestling Club), 8-2
OMAHA, Neb. – Four returning 2019 U23 national champions have advanced to the gold-medal finals of the 2020 U23 Nationals in women’s freestyle during Saturday first session.
The returning U23 national champions reaching the finals in tonight’s second session include Emily Shilson of Titan Mercury WC at 50 kg, Abigail Nette of the Sunkist Kids at 57 kg, Macey Kilty of the Sunkist Kids at 62 kg and Precious Bell of the Titan Mercury WC at 76 kg.
Shilson will face Samara Chavez of the Spartan Mat Club in the finals. Shilson won two college national titles last year, and was a 2018 Cadet and Youth Olympic Games champion. Chavez is currently the No. 1 ranked high school wrestler in her weight class.
Bell won two U.S. Senior National titles in April 2019 and December 2019, is currently No. 2 on the Senior National Team. She will battle Dymond Guilford of the Titan Mercury WC in the finals. Bell beat Guilford in the Senior Nationals finals of December 2019.
Kilty, a member of the Senior National Team and a five-time age-group World medalist, scored three technical falls in the morning session. Kilty will face unattached Ana Luciano in the finals.
Nette, a December 2019 Senior Nationals champion, has drawn 2020 Senior Nationals runner-up Xochitl Mota-Pettis of Rise Wrestling in the finals.
Shilson and Kilty are seeking double titles this weekend, after winning 2020 UWW Junior National titles on Friday evening. Kilty, a five-time age-group World medalist, was also a 2019 UWW Junior National champion.
2019 U23 Nationals champion Felicity Taylor of the McKendree Bearcat WC will not be able to repeat at 53 kg, after losing her semifinals bout to Cheyenne Sisenstein of the Team Tornado Wrestling Club, 8-1.
The other 53 kg semifinal was also another big-time match, as 2015 Cadet World champion Ronna Heaton of the Sunkist Kids pinned 2020 UWW Junior Nationals champion Tiare Ikei of the Titan Mercury WC in 4:13. Ikei, an April 2019 Senior Nationals champion, was Outstanding Wrestler in last night’s UWW Junior Nationals event.
At 59 kg, former Senior National Team member Koral Sugiyama, who is competing unattached, will battle current Senior National Team member Desiree Zavala of the Texas Panhandle Wrestling Club in the finals.
Two weight classes will feature teammates battling for the national title.
At 65 kg, a pair of Team Tornado WC athletes from King University, Ashlynn Ortega and Viktorya Torres are in the finals.
At 72 kg, Ophelia Lara and Kayla Marano of the Lion Wrestling Club, based at Emmanuel College, are in the championship match
The 55 kg finals will feature a pair of college stars, King’s Allison Petix of the Team Tornado WC against Colorado Mesa’s Marissa Gallegos of the Colorado Mesa WC.
There is a three-athlete round robin at 68 kg. 2020 Senior Nationals runner-up Skyler Grote of the New York AC sits at 1-0, and must beat Julia Lhotellier of the Lion WC, who sits at 0-1, in the final round to secure the U23 national title.
The second session begins at 3:00 p.m. Central time and is broadcast live on Flowrestling. There will be one round of consolations for the U23 Women freestylers, so the finals will start shortly after, at approximately 4:00 p.m.
U23 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Omaha, Neb., November 14
U23 Women’s freestyle finals pairings
50 kg - Emily Shilson (TMWC/Twin Cities RTC) vs. Samara Chavez (Spartan Mat Club)
53 kg - Cheyenne Sisenstein (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) vs. Ronna Heaton (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)
55 kg - Allison Petix (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) vs. Marissa Gallegos (Colorado Mesa WC)
57 kg - Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Rise Wrestling) vs. Abigail Nette (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)
59 kg - Koral Sugiyama (Unattached) vs. Desiree Zavala (Texas Panhandle Wrestling Club)
62 kg - Macey Kilty (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Academy) vs. Ana Luciano (Unattached)
65 kg - Ashlynn Ortega (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) vs. Viktorya Torres (Team Tornado Wrestling Club)
68 kg – RR: Skyler Grote (NYAC) 1-0 record; Samantha Bush (Grand View WC) 1-1 record, Julia Lhotellier (Lion WC) 0-1 record
72 kg - Ophelia Lara (Lion Wrestling Club) vs. Kayla Marano (Lion Wrestling Club)
76 kg - Dymond Guilford (TMWC) vs. Precious Bell (TMWC)
U23 Women’s freestyle semifinal results
50 kg
Emily Shilson (TMWC/Twin Cities RTC) pin Aleeah Gould (Team Tornado Wrestling Club), 2:31
Samara Chavez (Spartan Mat Club) pin Maria Vidales (Lion Wrestling Club), 2:14
53 kg
Cheyenne Sisenstein (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) dec. Felicity Taylor (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club), 8-1
Ronna Heaton (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) pin Tiare Ikei (TMWC), 4:13
55 kg
Allison Petix (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) dec. Melanie Mendoza (Team Tornado Wrestling Club), 4-1
Marissa Gallegos (Colorado Mesa WC) tech. fall Sophia Mirabella NY (Team Tornado Wrestling Club), 15-3 5:41
57 kg
Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Rise Wrestling) dec. Alexia Ward (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club), 8-0
Abigail Nette (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Lauren Mason (Unattached), 7-2
59 kg
Koral Sugiyama (Unattached) tech. fall Gracie Figueroa CA (TMWC), 16-6 2:46
Desiree Zavala (Texas Panhandle Wrestling Club) tech. fall Paige Respicio (Warrior Wrestling Club), 10-0 0:40
62 kg
Macey Kilty (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Academy) tech. fall Phoenix Dubose (Team Tornado Wrestling Club), 10-0 1:29
Ana Luciano (Unattached) tech. fall Kendall Bostelman (Wyoming Seminary), 10-0 2:06
65 kg
Ashlynn Ortega (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) tech. fall Marisol Nugent (Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club), 10-0 2:40
Viktorya Torres (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) tech. fall Amor Tuttle (Twin Cities RTC), 11-0 4:50
72 kg
Ophelia Lara (Lion Wrestling Club) dec. Gianna Anaya (Lion Wrestling Club), 5-1
Kayla Marano (Lion Wrestling Club) dec. Marlynne Deede (Twin Cities RTC), 10-3
76 kg
Dymond Guilford (TMWC) tech. fall Joye Levendusky (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club), 12-2 5:25
Precious Bell WI (TMWC) dec. Yelena Makoyed (Cardinal Wrestling Club), 8-2
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