Velte, Makoyed win women’s freestyle titles at Bill Farrell Memorial in New York

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The United States had two individual champions in women’s freestyle at the 2023 Bill Farrell Memorial International at the historic New York Athletic Club on Friday.

U.S. gold medalists were two-time World bronze medalist Mallory Velte at 68 kg and Yelena Makoyed at 76 kg.

Spots in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling at Penn State in April were decided. The top U.S. placewinner (in the top four) in each weight class who had not already qualified in each weight class has advanced to the Challenge Tournament of the Olympic Trials.

Velte defeated her Beaver Dam RTC teammate Alexandria Glaude in the finals, 4-0, in a tight battle between regular workout partners. Velte has already qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, meaning Glaude will advance to the Trials in Penn State.

Makoyed, the 2023 USA Wrestling Women’s College Wrestler of the Year, fell behind early to Skylar Grote in the finals, but powered back with a dominant second period to secure a 9-5 victory. Makoyed punched her ticket for the Olympic Trials.

The United States qualified a finalist in the first four weight classes of the finals, all who were defeated by foreign opponents. The international champions at the 2023 Bill Farrell Memorial International were Miyu Nakamura of Japan (50 kg), Karla Godinez Gonzalez of Canada (53 kg), Himeka Tokuhara of Japan (57 kg) and Ana Godinez Gonzalez of Canada (62 kg).

The U.S. runners-up in the first four weight classes all punched their ticket for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials: Erin Golston (50 kg), Alisha Howk (53 kg), Xochitl Mota-Pettis (57 kg) and Katerina Lange (62 kg).

The Bill Farrell Memorial International will conclude on Saturday with the men’s freestyle competition, with its first session starting at 10:00 a.m. ET. This event is being broadcast live by FloWrestling.

BILL FARRELL MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL

At New York, N.Y., November 17

Women’s Freestyle results

·

50 kg

Gold - Miyu Nakamura (Japan) tech. fall Erin Golston (USA) 10-0

Bronze – Arelys Valles (USA) inj. dft. over Katie Dutchak (Canada),

53 kg

Gold - Karla Godinez Gonzalez (Canada) dec. Alisha Howk (USA), 5-0

Bronze – Diana Weicker (Canada) tech fall Areana Villaescusa (USA), 10-0

57 kg

Gold -Himeka Tokuhara (Japan) dec.Xochitl Mota-Pettis (USA), 12-4

Bronze – Brenda Reyna (USA) dec. Amanda Martinez (USA), 9-4

62 kg

Gold - Ana Godinez Gonzalez (Canada) tech fall Katerina Lange (USA), 15-4

Bronze -Ashlynn Ortega (USA) dec. Aleah Nickel (Canada), 4-1

68 kg

Gold - Mallory Velte (USA) dec. Alexandria Glaude (USA), 4-0

Bronze – Kaylynn Albrecht (USA) tech fall Lydia Krauss (USA), 14-4

76 kg

Gold - Yelena Makoyed (USA) dec. Skylar Grote (USA), 9-5

Bronze – Tristan Kelly (USA) pin Precious Bell (USA), 2:36

Qualifiers for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Penn State in April

50 kg – Erin Golston

53 kg – Alisha Howk

57 kg - Xochitl Mota-Pettis

62 kg - Katerina Lange

68 kg – Alexandria Glaude

76 kg – Yelena Makoyed