Gross, Janiak emerge, Elor returns as women’s freestyle finals set at Senior World Team Trials

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – The women’s freestyle finals are set after an eventful evening session at the 2025 Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament. Ronna Gross and Alexis Janiak notched signature wins in the semifinals, while Olympic champion Amit Elor made her first appearance on the competition mats since Paris.

In her first outing at 55 kg since early 2023, Gross looked every bit the part of a title contender at Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center. She dethroned reigning U.S. World Team member Areana Villaescusa with a decisive 12-2 technical fall, displaying superb counter-offense and icing things from the top position.

Gross, a six-time age-group World Team member, was an elite U.S. prospect in the late 2010’s but never made the jump from age-group sensation to Senior-level star. She’s now one win away from her first appearance at Final X and a chance at a Senior World Team. Up next for Gross is, fittingly, 17-year-old prodigy Everest Leydecker, who was runner-up at the U.S. Open.

Janiak picked up a statement semifinal win at 55 kg with a 2-1 decision over U.S. Open runner-up Michaela Beck. The lead was 1-0 Beck at the break thanks to a shot clock point. Janiak returned serve with a blast double leg takedown early in the second period and held on for the win.

The two-time U20 World medalist Janiak takes a step up in competition in tomorrow’s championship match—Tokyo Olympian and 2019 World champion Jacarra Winchester awaits. Winchester bagged a quick pin and 10-0 technical fall on her way to the finals.

After nearly 10 months away from active competition, Elor didn’t skip a beat in a 10-0 technical fall win over Elleni Johnson in the 72 kg semifinals. The youngest Olympic champion in U.S. wrestling history matches up against U.S. Open runner-up Skylar Grote for gold.

Elor is a two-time Senior World champion and six-time age-group World champion. After winning her two Senior World titles at 72 kg, she dropped to 68 kg for an Olympic run. Elor is back to take over the 72 kg weight class globally once again.

A battle of age-group World champions took place at 53 kg. 2024 U23 World champion Sage Mortimer poured it on 2021 U17 World champion Katie Gomez in a 12-1 technical fall. Mortimer will face two-time U23 World Team member Felicity Taylor for the Final X berth in this weight class.

The championship match with top billing could come at 76 kg with 2024 U23 World champion Yelena Makoyed opposite 2022 U.S. World Team member Dymond Guilford. Both looked impressive during Friday’s action.

All ten No. 1 seeds advanced to the championship finals, which are set for Noon (ET) on Saturday in Louisville. Eight-of-10 top seeds won by technical fall in the semifinals. Solin Piearcy at 68 kg and Makoyed were the only No. 1’s to go to a decision.

A complete list of semifinal results and finals pairings for the Senior women’s freestyle division can be found below.

Each champion from this weekend will face the 2025 U.S. Open champion in a best-of-three series at Final X to determine the Team USA representative at the 2025 Senior World Championships. Final X will take place on June 14 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Two Final X matchups are already determined in women’s freestyle, 57 kg and 65 kg, which removed those weight classes from the Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament field.

All the action from the Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament is available to watch live on FloWrestling. Online results and brackets for the event can be viewed on USA Bracketing.