Several World medalists highlight the field at this weekend’s Women’s Nationals in Texas

The 2021 Women’s Nationals is upon us! This weekend, Irving, Texas, will host over 1,000 female wrestlers as they vie for national titles, and in some cases, World and Pan American Team spots.

World Team spots up for grabs come in the U23, Junior and Cadet divisions. Pan American Team spots will be determined at the Junior, Cadet and U15 levels. The runners-up in the Junior and Cadet weight classes will go to Pan Ams, and the U15 champions will earn the bid to the continental championships.

There will also be competition at 14U, 12U, 10U and 8U divisions.

Watch all the action live on FloWrestling.org, and follow along with updates on Twitter via @USAWrestling.

Note: USA Wrestling had to sift through more than 1,000 names for this preview. If a World medalist, Senior National Team member or Senior National champion is missing, please reach out to Taylor Miller (tmiller@usawrestling.org).

U23 DIVISION
World Championships – Nov. 1-7; Belgrade, Serbia

There is tons of talent in this division from Cadet and Junior World successes to college standouts to Senior-level rising stars. The winners at the 10 U23 weight classes will represent the USA at the U23 World Championships in November in Belgrade, Serbia.

Below highlights some of the top names to look out for and their accolades.

Senior National Team

• 68 kg: Kennedy Blades (No. 2 at 68 kg)
• 76 kg: Kylie Welker (No. 2 at 76 kg)

  World medalists

• 50 kg: Alleida Martinez (2015 Cadet World silver, 2016 Cadet World bronze)
• 50 kg: Emily Shilson (2018 Cadet World gold, 2018 Youth Olympic Games gold, 2017 Cadet World silver)
• 53 kg: Ronna Heaton (2015 Cadet World gold, 2016 Cadet World silver)
• 59 kg: Gracie Figueroa (2016 Cadet World bronze)
• 65 kg: Alara Boyd (2017 Cadet World silver, 2016 Cadet World bronze)
• 72 kg: Kayla Marano (2015 Cadet World bronze)
• 76 kg: Kylie Welker (2019 Cadet World bronze)

  Senior National champion

• 76 kg: Dymond Guilford (2021 Senior Nationals champion)

   

  JUNIOR DIVISION
  World Championships – Aug. 16-22; Ufa, Russia
  
  Pan American Championships – June 9-13; Oaxtepec, Mexico

  The Junior division features more than 300 exciting athletes, which includes Senior National Team members and multiple World medalists. The winners of the 10 Junior weights will represent the USA at the Junior World Championships in August in Ufa, Russia. The runners-up at the 10 Junior weights will compete at the Junior Pan American Championships next month in Oaxtepec, Mexico.

  Below highlights some of the top names to look out for and their accolades.

  Senior National Team

• 68 kg: Kennedy Blades (No. 2 at 68 kg)
• 76 kg: Kylie Welker (No. 2 at 76 kg)

World medalists

• 50 kg: Sterling Dias (2019 Cadet World silver, 2018 Cadet World bronze)
• 50 kg: Emily Shilson (2018 Cadet World gold, 2018 Youth Olympic Games gold, 2017 Cadet World silver)
• 53 kg: Tiare Ikei (2018 Cadet World bronze)
• 57 kg: Cristelle Rodriguez (2019 Cadet World silver)
• 65 kg: Alara Boyd (2017 Cadet World silver, 2016 Cadet World bronze)
• 65 kg: Reese Larramendy (2019 U15 World silver)
• 65 kg: Destiny Rodriguez (2019 U15 World gold)
• 68 kg: Amit Elor (2019 Cadet World bronze)
• 76 kg: Kylie Welker (2019 Cadet World bronze)

CADET DIVISION
World Championships – July 19-25; Budapest, Hungary

Pan American Championships – June 9-13; Oaxtepec, Mexico

This division is loaded with reigning U15 World medalists and some 2019 Cadet World medalists. The winners of the 10 Cadet weight classes will represent the USA at the Cadet World Championships in July in Budapest, Hungary. The runners-up at the 10 Cadet weights will compete at the Cadet Pan American Championships, alongside the Junior division, next month in Oaxtepec, Mexico.

Below highlights some of the top names to look out for and their accolades.

World medalists

• 40 kg: Gigi Bragg (2019 U15 World silver)
• 46 kg: Alex Szkotnicki (2019 U15 World gold)
• 49 kg: Olivia Messerly (2019 U15 World gold)
• 49 kg: Paige Morales (2019 U15 World silver)
• 57 kg: Cristelle Rodriguez (2019 Cadet World silver)
• 57 kg: Jennifer Soto (2019 U15 World bronze)
• 61 kg: Korina Blades (2019 U15 World gold)
• 65 kg: Reese Larramendy (2019 U15 World silver)
• 65 kg: Destiny Rodriguez (2019 U15 World gold)
• 69 kg: Amit Elor (2019 Cadet World bronze)