Winchester, Velte, Wieser claim Senior Nationals titles in women’s freestyle
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
FORT WORTH, Texas – The championship finals in the three highest women’s Olympic freestyle weight classes at the Senior Nationals were held on Sunday afternoon at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
2019 World champion Jacarra Winchester finished off her impressive run through the field at 62 kg, scoring a pin in 5:36 over No. 3 seed Ashlynn Ortega in the finals. Winchester scored the first takedown, then added a four-point takedown to lead 6-0 at the break. Winchester added another second period takedown, then took Ortega straight to her back for the fall late in the bout.
Winchester moved up in weight but was able to display her talents against a new set of athletes. She won her World title at 55 kg and wrestled in the 2020 Olympics at 53 kg.
Securing the national title at 76 kg was No. 2 seed Precious Wieser, who pinned No. 4 seed Marlynne Deede in the finals in 3:36. After leading 1-0 at the break, early in the second period, Wieser tossed Deede to her back and secured the fall.
When Deede was at Augsburg, where she won a NCWWC national title, Wieser was one of her coaches. Deede has transferred to Iowa. Wieser won two previous Senior national titles competing as Precious Bell.
Two-time World bronze medalist Mallory Velte added another national title with a forfeit victory over No. 6 seed Cheyenne Bowman, who did not compete in the finals.
This is Velte’s first season competing up at 68 kg. She won a World bronze medal at 62 kg in 2018 and another World bronze medal at 65 kg in 2022.
The Outstanding Wrestler in women’s freestyle was 53 kg champion Vayle-Rae Baker of the West Point Wrestling Club, who won her title on Saturday night.
The top five finishers in each weight class punched their ticket for U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling, set for Penn State, April 19-20.
The Titan Mercury WC won the Div. I team title in women’s freestyle, while the New York Athletic Club was the Div. II champions.
SENIOR NATIONALS
At Fort Worth, Texas, December 17, 2023
Women’s freestyle results
62 kg
1st - Jacarra Winchester (USOPTC/TMWC) pin Ashlynn Ortega (New York Athletic Club), 5:35
3rd - Aine Drury (CA) dec. Maya Letona (NYCRTC/TMWC), 6-4
5th - SaVannah Cosme (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec. Lexie Basham (USOPTC/TMWC), 9-6
7th - Skylar Hattendorf (USOPTC/New York Athletic Club) Sec. Andrea Schlabach (Grand View Wrestling Club), 5-1
68 kg
1st - Mallory Velte (Beaver Dam RTC/TMWC) forfeit Cheyenne Bowman (Pounder WC)
3rd -Alara Boyd (Cardinal Wrestling Club) forfeit Solin Piearcy (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) FF
5th - Kaylynn Albrecht (USOPTC/TMWC) won by tech fall over Marilyn Garcia (BTSLA/TMWC) TF 11-0
7th - Liv Wieber (The Factory Wrestling Club) forfeit Jackie Cataline (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club)
76 kg
1st - Precious Wieser (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) pin Marlynne Deede (Iowa Womens Wrestling Club), 3:36
3rd - Skylar Grote (USOPTC/TMWC) tech fall Brooklyn Hays (Minnesota Gold Wrestling Club), 10-0
5th - Rose Cassioppi (Iowa Womens Wrestling Club) dec. Tiffani Baublitz (Team Pennsylvania) Dec 3-1
7th - Love Daley (Beat the Streets New England - Boston) pin Cara Broadus (KT Kidz Wrestling Club), 0:57