Women’s freestyle finishes second at U17 World Championships, Fernandez repeats as champion

ATHENS, Greece — Team USA wrapped up an impressive performance in women’s freestyle at the 2025 U17 World Championships, finishing second in the team standings behind India. The squad brought home seven medals across ten weight classes, including two golds, one silver, and four bronze — a remarkable showing on the world stage that highlights the continued strength and depth of U.S. women’s wrestling.

Taina Fernandez captured her second-consecutive U17 World title with a dominant performance in the 61 kg gold medal match, defeating Yashita of India, 11-0. She opened the scoring 1:20 into the match and added a point from the activity clock to lead 3-0 at the break. Fernandez came out strong in the second period, scoring a quick single-leg takedown and turning it into a leg lace for a 9-0 advantage. A final takedown sealed the match, reinforcing her position as one of the top young stars in women’s wrestling.

Epenesa Elison battled hard in the 53 kg championship match but came up just short, earning a silver medal after a 7-4 loss to Jiaqing Jiang of China. Jiang struck early with a takedown and leg lace to build a 6-0 lead. Elison responded in the second period with a heel pick to close the gap to 6-4. Despite continued pressure and strong single leg attempts in the final seconds, Elison couldn't convert, finishing as the runner-up in a hard-fought bout.

Maisie Elliott earned a bronze medal at 40 kg with a strong 6-0 victory over Finja Strauch from Germany. She opened the score with a go-behind just 55 seconds into the match, then added another late in the second period to extend her lead. As her opponent pressed forward, Elliott executed a smooth slide-by in the closing seconds to seal the win and secure her spot on the podium.

Jaclyn Bouzakis delivered an aggressive and high-paced performance at 46 kg, earning a 12-2 victory over UWW athlete Irina Tsydeeva to claim her second U17 World bronze medal. She opened the match with a takedown on the edge for a 2-0 lead, followed by a clean shot to go up 4-0 just one-minute in. Bouzakis then scored four more points with a feet-to-back and never let up, showcasing relentless offense. After the match, she shared her excitement and pride in reaching the podium a second time.

Other U.S. women’s freestyle medalists to contribute to this remarkable run in Athens include champion Morgan Turner at 49 kg, plus bronze medalists Madison Healey at 43 kg and Ella Poalillo at 73 kg.

The U17 World Championships continues on Saturday with a full slate of men’s freestyle wrestling. Eight athletes from Team USA will be in the mix, starting at 10:30 a.m. local time. Athens, Greece is located seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.

For live results and ongoing updates from the tournament, follow USA Wrestling’s social media channels and coverage on TheMat.com. Results, brackets, and mat assignments from the U17 World Championships are available on UWW Arena. Fans in the U.S. can stream the event on FloWrestling.com.

1.  India, 151

2. United States, 142

3. Japan, 113

4. China, 107

5. Kazakhstan, 69

6. Hungary, 62

7. Germany, 51

8. Uzbekistan, 45

9. Kyrgyzstan, 35

10. Ukraine, 31

Gold – Shokhista Shonazarova (Uzbekistan)

Silver – An Nakanishi (Japan)

Bronze – Maisie Elliott (United States)

Bronze – Asema Asangaryeva (Kyrgyzstan)

5^th – Finja Strauch (Germany)

5^th – Valia Harsan (Romania)

7^th – Preeti Yadav (India)

8^th – Daria Maslennikova (UWW)

9^th – Emma Talpa (Ukraine)

10^th – Polina Timsina (Estonia)

Gold – Shokhista Shonazarova (Uzbekistan) tech. fall An Nakanishi (Japan), 11-0

Bronze – Maisie Elliott (United States) dec. Finja Strauch (Germany), 6-0

Bronze – Asema Asangaryeva (Kyrgyzstan) dec. Valia Harsan (Romania), 2-0

Gold – Hanano Oya (Japan)

Silver – Janka Sillei (Hungary)

Bronze – Maria Gkika (Greece)

Bronze – Jaclyn Bouzakis (United States)

5^th – Kamila Kuchma (Ukraine)

5^th – Irina Tsydeeva (UWW)

7^th – Elanur Berber (Turkey)

8^th – Kasish Gurjar (India)

9^th – Yuting Yuan (China)

10^th – Shynaiy Maken (Kazakhstan)

Gold – Hanano Oya (Japan) dec. Janka Sillei (Hungary), 3-0

Bronze – Maria Gkika (Greece) dec. Kamila Kuchma (Ukraine), 4-3

Bronze – Jaclyn Bouzakis (United States) tech. fall Irina Tsydeeva (UWW), 12-2

Gold – Jiaqing Jiang (China)

Silver – Epenesa Elison (United States)

Bronze – Mariia Zhytovoz (Hungary)

Bronze – Rion Ogawa (Japan)

5^th – Farida Abdrakhmanova (Kazakhstan)

5^th – Margarita Iarygina (UWW)

7^th – Naomi Liuzzi (Italy)

8^th – Josefine Widmann (Germany)

9^th – Kanita Spahija (Kosovo)

10^th – Saarika (India)

Gold – Jiaqing Jiang (China) dec. Epenesa Elison (United States), 7-4

Bronze – Mariia Zhytovoz (Hungary) tech. fall Farida Abdrakhmanova (Kazakhstan), 10-0

Bronze – Rion Ogawa (Japan) dec. Margarita Iarygina (UWW), 8-0

Gold – Taina Fernandez (United States)

Silver – Yashita (India)

Bronze – Zalina Totrova (UWW)

Bronze – Barbara Bager (Hungary)

5^th – Miranda Kapanadze (Georgia)

5^th – Varvara Aliseyenka (UWW)

7^th – Akylai Chynybaeva (Kyrgyzstan)

8^th – Nadia Kocia (Poland)

9^th – Natalie Wojciechowski (Canada)

10^th – Waka Awano (Japan)

Gold – Taina Fernandez (United States) tech. fall Yashita (India), 11-0

Bronze – Zalina Totrova (UWW) dec. Miranda Kapanadze (Georgia), 8-0

Bronze – Barbara Bager (Hungary) dec. Varvara Aliseyenka (UWW), 3-0

Gold – Min Zhao (China)

Silver – Ayla Sahin (Germany)

Bronze – Shakhizada Dauletzhan (Kazakhstan)

Bronze – Solomiia Petriv (Ukraine)

5^th – Linda Martinez Armenta (Mexico)

5^th – Manisha (India)

7^th – Cassandra Gonzales (United States)

8^th – Mayara Neper Oliveira Santos (Brazil)

9^th – Aurelia Godzinska (Poland)

10^th – Aiana Asamalikova (Kyrgyzstan)

Gold – Min Zhao (China) tech. fall Ayla Sahin (Germany), 13-2

Bronze – Shakhizada Dauletzhan (Kazakhstan) dec. Linda Martinez Armenta (Mexico), 4-1

Bronze – Solomiia Petriv (Ukraine) dec. Manisha (India), 5-2

WIN Preeti Yadav (India), 6-2

LOSS Shokhista Shonazarova (Uzbekistan), 9-0

WIN Finja Strauch (Germany), 6-0

WIN Yuting Yuan (China), 7-4

WIN Kasish Gurjar (India), 12-4

LOSS Hanano Oya (Japan), 6-4

WIN Irina Tsydeeva (UWW), tech. fall, 12-2

WIN Kanita Spahija (Kosovo), tech. fall, 12-0

WIN Maria Vandoulaki Vandoula (Greece), fall, 1:04

WIN Mariia Zhytovoz (Hungary), 12-7

WIN Farida Abdrakhmanova (Kazakhstan), tech fall, 10-0

LOSS Jiaqing Jiang (China), 7-4

WIN Zichen Dong (China), tech. fall, 10-0

WIN Zalina Totrova (UWW), 13-6

WIN Miranda Kapanadze (Georgia), fall, :35

WIN Yashita (India), tech. fall, 11-0

WIN Gereltuya Amarsaikhan (Mongolia), tech. fall, 11-0

LOSS Manisha (India), fall 1:50