Valdez Locks in Spot on Team USA; U17 Pan American Team Trials Finals Set
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by David Gerhart, USA Wrestling
Sophia Valdez competing at the 2026 U17 Pan American Team Trials
NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa – Sophia Valdez became the first competitor to lock in her spot on Team USA for the 2026 Pan American Championships during the first session of the 2026 U17 Pan American Team Trials.
Valdez went a perfect 2-0 at 40 kg with 8-2 and 5-2 decisions in her round robin matches against U15 Pan American bronze medalist Lanaia Selig.
Nine championship finals bout are set and feature a quartet of age-group Pan American champions.
In the final round robin contest at 43 kg, 2024 U15 champion Abigail Peterson faces Justice Gutierrez for the title. In the first matches of the day, Gutierrez won via technical fall while Peterson notched a first-period pin.
At 46 kg, two-time Pan American medalist Olivia Hernandez faces Ryleigh Sturgill. Both Sturgill and Hernandez have a pin and a decision victory to their names thus far.
Hailey Delgado, who won gold at the 2023 U15 Pan Am Championships, battles Sophia Maria Gonzales at 49 kg. Gonzales pinned both her opponents en route to the final. Delgado had an opening round decision victory, then recorded a pin and a technical fall to move into the championship.
After winning the U15 Pan Am title last year, Lyric Hetzer is one win away from going to the U17 continental championships. At 53 kg, Hetzer is set to face Aubree Gutierrez. The pair have three wins each on the day heading into the finals.
The championship round also features an All-Wyoming Seminary match-up with Ciyanna Okocha facing teammate Alexis Penley at 73 kg.
In the final four championship bouts, Winter West takes on Aleia Apostol at 57 kg, Sobina Clendaniel faces Landri VonGonten at 61 kg, Eve Skrocki battles Harlow Skenandore at 65 kg and the final bout at 69 kg features Matilda Hruby and Gray Joyce.
A complete list of final round matchups is listed below.
The final session will feature first and third place bouts at each of the nine remaining weight classes. The winners of each of the first place bouts in the evening session will join Valdez and represent the U.S. at the 2026 U17 Pan American Championships in Panama City, Panama, April 2-4.
Action continues at 4:30 p.m. CT from The Palestra in North Liberty, Iowa. Live video is available through FloWrestling. Live results and brackets will be hosted on USA Bracketing.
2026 U17 Pan American Team Trials
At North Liberty, Iowa, March 6
Quick Links
Women’s Freestyle Results
Final Rounds Matches
40 kg
R1 - Sophia Valdez (Betterman Elite Wrestling) dec. Lanaia Selig (Mat Demon Wrestling Club), 8-2
R2 - Sophia Valdez (Betterman Elite Wrestling) dec. Lanaia Selig (Mat Demon Wrestling Club), 5-2
43 kg
R1 - Justice Gutierrez (Pomona Wrestling Club Colorado) T.F. Mia Pardo (ALL-American Wrestling Club), 12-2 (3:09)
R2 - Abigail Peterson (Big Game Wrestling Club) F. Mia Pardo (ALL-American Wrestling Club), 1:46
R3 - Abigail Peterson (Big Game Wrestling Club) vs. Justice Gutierrez (Pomona Wrestling Club Colorado)
46 kg
1st - Ryleigh Sturgill (Buckwild Wrestling) vs. Olivia Hernandez (Beaver Dam Wrestling Club)
3rd - Maisie Elliott (Mat Demon Wrestling Club) vs. Olivia Munson (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC))
49 kg
1st - Hailey Delgado (NXT Level Wrestling Academy) vs. Sophia Marie Gonzales (SilvaBack Training Center)
3rd - Bella Manno (Valiant Wrestling Club) vs. Riley Karwowski (Wyoming Seminary)
53 kg
1st - Lyric Hetzer (Toss Em Up Wrestling Academy) vs. Aubree Gutierrez (Surfside X Wrestling)
3rd - Reagan Mathers (Valiant College Preparatory) vs. Timmery Condit (Pomona Wrestling Club Colorado)
57 kg
1st - Winter West (Mat Demon Wrestling Club) vs. Aleia Apostol (Poway RTC / Titan Mercury)
3rd - Corabella Wesley (Hobart Wrestling Club) vs. Rachel Garcia (Oklahoma)
61 kg
1st - Sobina Clendaniel (Marathon Wrestling Club) vs. Landri VonGonten (Boneyard Wrestling Academy)
3rd - Marie Sharp (Blair Academy) vs. Isabella Miller (Big Game Wrestling Club)
65 kg
1st - Eve Skrocki (Valiant Wrestling Club) vs. Harlow Skenandore (Wisconsin)
3rd - Clover Williams (Husky Wrestling Club) vs. Emma Antoni (Pinnacle Wrestling Club)
69 kg
1st - Matilda Hruby (Brighton Wrestling) vs. Gray Joyce (Wichita Training Center)
3rd - Janiya Johnson (Wyoming Seminary) vs. Mya Dobrinski (Stillwater High School Wrestling)
73 kg
1st - Ciyanna Okocha (Wyoming Seminary) vs. Alexis Penley (Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory High School Wrestling)
3rd - Anastasia Simon (Northeast Iowa Wrestling Club) vs. Remington LaFlamme (Wyoming Seminary)
