Winchester, Makoyed lock in quarterfinal pins at Senior World Team Trials
Share:
by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
Jacarra Winchester works a single leg in the 59 kg quarterfinals at the 2025 Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament.
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – The women’s freestyle semifinals are set at the 2025 Senior World Team Trials, with Olympian Jacarra Winchester and 2024 U23 World champion Yelena Makoyed among the big winners during Friday morning’s session at Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center.
Both Winchester and Makoyed, who are the No. 1 seeds in their respective weight classes, impressed with first-period pins in the quarterfinal round. Winchester, a two-time World medalist and 2019 World champion, earned a fall in 2:19 over 2025 NCWWC All-American Emily Frost of Iowa Women’s Wrestling Club at 59 kg. Makoyed scored a fall in 2:35 against 2025 NAIA champion Ashley Lekas of Texas at 76 kg.
In the semifinals, Winchester is paired against 2023 U23 World Team member and Pan American champion Xochitl Mota-Pettis. Makoyed will take on 2022 U20 World bronze medalist Tristan Kelly in her semifinal.
The only other No. 1 seed in action during the morning session was four-time age-group World Team member and 2024 Military World champion Adaugo Nwachukwu, who represents the U.S. Army WCAP, at 62 kg. She breezed to a 10-0 technical fall in 52-seconds against Samantha Barragan of California. Nwachukwu will see fellow four-time age-group World Team member Alara Boyd in the semifinals.
2024 U23 World champion Sage Mortimer collected a nice pin via headlock in 2:55 against Salyna Shotwell in her opener at 53 kg. The win sets up a spicy semifinal against No. 2 seed 2021 U17 World champion Katie Gomez.
There were no major upsets in the morning session, which sets up a full slate of elite matches in the semifinal round. Many of the nation’s top stars, including 2024 Olympic champion Amit Elor, will take the mats for the first time in Louisville this evening.
A complete list of quarterfinal results and semifinal pairings for the Senior women’s freestyle division can be found below.
The Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament continues at 4 p.m. (ET) with the semifinals in both men’s and women’s freestyle. The women’s freestyle championship matches will be held on Saturday at Noon (ET), followed by the men’s freestyle finals.
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.
2025 Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament #
May 16-17, Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center, Louisville, Ky. #
Quick Links #
Women’s Freestyle Results #
Semifinal Matchups #
50 kg #
Erin Golston (New York AC) vs. Heather Crull (Northeastern WC)
Emily Shilson (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Kendra Ryan (Cardinal WC)
53 kg #
Felicity Taylor (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Sydney Petzinger (Cardinal WC)
Sage Mortimer (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Katie Gomez (Titan Mercury WC)
55 kg #
Everest Leydecker (Thorobred WC) vs. Julia Vidallon (Missouri Valley WC)
Ronna Gross (MATPAC WC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Areana Villaescusa (Army WCAP)
59 kg #
Jacarra Winchester (USOPTC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Rise RTC)
Alexis Janiak (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Michaela Beck (Titan Mercury WC)
62 kg #
Adaugo Nwachukwu (Army WCAP) vs. Alara Boyd (Cardinal WC)
Ana Luciano (New York AC/King WC) vs. SaVannah Cosme (Atreus WC)
68 kg #
Solin Piearcy (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Destiny Lyng (New York AC/Lehigh WC)
Latifah McBryde (New York) vs. Brooklyn Hays (USOPTC/Titan Mercury WC)
72 kg #
Amit Elor (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Elleni Johnson (Laker WC)
Joye Levendusky (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Skylar Grote (USOPTC/Titan Mercury WC)
76 kg #
Yelena Makoyed (Cardinal WC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Tristan Kelly (Army (WCAP)
Marlynne Deede (Laker WC) vs. Dymond Guilford (USOPTC/Titan Mercury WC)
Quarterfinal Results #
50 kg #
Heather Crull (Northeastern WC) tech. fall Anaya Falcon (Titan Mercury WC), 12-0
53 kg #
Sydney Petzinger (Cardinal WC) dec. Jaslynn Gallegos (Cardinal WC), 11-7
Sage Mortimer (Titan Mercury WC) fall Salyna Shotwell (Washington), 2:55
55 kg #
Julia Vidallon (Missouri Valley WC) dec. Thalia Vogelsang (Colorado Mesa WC), 8-5
59 kg #
Jacarra Winchester (USOPTC/Titan Mercury WC) fall Emily Frost (Iowa Women's WC/Titan Mercury WC), 2:19
Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Rise RTC) tech. fall Brenda Reyna (Army WCAP), 13-0
Alexis Janiak (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Virginia Foard (New York AC/King WC), 12-2
Michaela Beck (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Lorianna Piestewa (Colorado Mesa WC), 10-0
62 kg #
Adaugo Nwachukwu (Army WCAP) tech. fall Samantha Barragan (California), 10-0
Alara Boyd (Cardinal WC) dec. Katerina Lange (New York AC), 10-4
Ana Luciano (New York AC/King WC) dec. Bridgette Duty (Army WCAP), 10-5
SaVannah Cosme (Atreus WC) dec. Marilyn Garcia (Beat the Streets LA/Titan Mercury WC), 6-4
68 kg #
Destiny Lyng (New York AC/Lehigh WC) dec. Gretchen Donally (Colorado Mesa WC), 6-2
72 kg #
Elleni Johnson (Laker WC) dec. Kaylynn Albrecht (USOPTC/Titan Mercury WC), 10-8
76 kg #
Yelena Makoyed (Cardinal WC/Titan Mercury WC) fall Ashley Lekas (Texas), 2:35
Tristan Kelly (Army WCAP) tech. fall Naomi Simon (Iowa Women's WC/Titan Mercury Wrestling WC), 10-0
Marlynne Deede (Laker WC) tech. fall Shenita Lawson (New York AC), 11-0
Dymond Guilford (USOPTC/Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Liliana Vergara (Tiger WC), 12-0
Read More#
Maroulis, Martinez to meet at 57 kg in women’s freestyle at 2025 Final X in Newark, N.J.
Six talented U.S. athletes to compete in first 2025 Beach World Series event in Monterrey, Mexico, May 12-13
Blades, Jimenez, Nette shine in finals, Welker named women’s freestyle OW at 2025 CLAW U.S. Open Championships
Five USA Bracketing tips to get ready for 2025 CLAW U.S. Open Championships
