Zao Estrada named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week

Photo: Zao Estrada pictured at 2023 Girls High School National Recruiting Showcase in Las Vegas, Nev. (Tony Rotundo/wrestlersarewarriors.com)

Zao Estrada (Hilton Head, S.C./ Daughters of Zion Wrestling) has been named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week on May 30, 2023.


The South Carolina product went 7-0 at the USA Wrestling Frank E. Rader Southeast Regional Championships held at Cherokee Convention Center Expo Hall and Ballrooms over the weekend, claiming gold medals in the women’s freestyle and women’s Greco-Roman divisions at 117 pounds at the Junior level. She accumulated five shutout technical falls plus two pins to punctuate her performance.


It has been a great start to the summer wrestling season for Estrada, who just wrapped up a first-place finish at the Girls High School National Recruiting Showcase held at South Point Arena in Las Vegas last April. The win marked Estrada’s third gold medal at the prestigious event dating back to 2021.


Estrada finished in fourth place at the South Carolina (SCHSL) Class 4A boys state tournament at 113 pounds for Hilton Head High School in 2023. She is currently ranked No. 2 at 112 pounds in the National Girls High School Rankings and is No. 23 in the pound-for-pound rankings.


She is a two-time All-American at the 16U and Junior Nationals held in Fargo, N.D., taking fourth place in the Junior division in 2022 and second place in the 16U division in 2021. She also earned a Girls Folkstyle Nationals title in 2021, finished in fourth place at the 2022 U17 Nationals, and was a bronze medalist at the U15 Pan-American Championships.


To nominate a wrestler for this honor please email the athlete's name, wrestling program, weekly accomplishments, and career accolades to communications@usawrestling.org.