Photo of Kayla Miracle during the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open. Photo by Robbert Wijtman

LAS VEGAS, Nev.–Women’s freestyle kicked off the start of the Senior U.S Open championships at the South Point arena today. The athletes started their morning battling for their spot in the semifinals later this evening.

Only six champions from last year’s event weighed in, and five will wrestle tonight in the semifinals: Erin Golston, Jacarra Winchester, Alex Hedrick, Jen Page, and Dymond Guilford.

At 50 kg, multiple time National Team member and first-seed Erin Golston (WRTC/NYAC) will face off against Arelys Valles (Grand View WC), who placed fourth at last year's event.

NCWWC national champion and past National Team member Alex Hedrick (TMWC) will compete against Pan-Am Bronze medalist and fellow NCWWC champion Cameron Guerin (TMWC) in the 57 kg semi-final match.

National Team member Jennifer Page (TMWC/NLWC) will face 2022 Bill Farrell champion Nina Makem (TCRTC) in 62 kg.

Dymond Guilford (TMWC) will wrestle two-time NCWWC champion Yelena Makoyed (TMWC/Cardinal WC) for one of the semifinal bouts of the night at 76 kg.

2020 Olympian and 2019 World champion Jacarra Winchester (TMWC) will wrestle Lauren Mason (Brunson UVRTC). Mason defeated last year’s runner-up Alisha Howk (SKWC) in a narrow 5-4 quarterfinals match.

Another 2020 Olympian in the semifinals is Kayla Miracle (SKWC) at 62 kg. Miracle will wrestle NAIA National champion Adaugo Nwachukwu (Swamp Monsters WC) for the semifinals.

Number one seed Areana Villaescusa (WCAP) dropped her first match of the day by injury-forfeiting against eventual semifinalist Haley Franich (Air Force RTC). Franich will face two-time NCWWC finalist and past U23 World team member Felicity Taylor (McKendree Bearcat WC) in a 53 kg semifinal.

Junior Pan-Am champion Katie Lange (TCRTC) upset returning champion Solin Piearcy (Menlo), 9-4, in the quarterfinals. Lange will face Dalia Garibay (Colorado Mesa WC) in the 68 kg semifinals.

Caitlyn Walker (NYCRTC) started her day off strong with a 10-0 in the first round and a pin over second-seed Sage Mortimer (TMWC). Walker will wrestle two-time NAIA National champion Nina Pham (Texas WC) for the 50 kg semifinal.

Also stepping out at 53 kg will be last year’s fifth-place winner, Estrella Dorado Marin (Army-WCAP), who will face two-time World bronze medalist Alyssa Lampe (SKWC).

Olympic Team Trials runner-up Ronna Heaton will face two-time NCWWC All-American Marissa Gallegos (TMWC/Colorado Mesa WC). Gallegos teched Junior World Team member, Payton Stroud in the quarter-finals, 12-1.

At 57 kg, U23 World Team member Amanda Martinez (TMWC/Cardinal WC) will face Adriana Dorado Marin (Army-WCAP).

Sophia Mirabella (Team Tornado WC) took out fourth seed Bridget Duty, in the first round with a 10-6 win. Mirabella will wrestle Bill Farrell champion Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Rise RTC) for the 59 kg semifinals.

The second 59 kg bout will feature Claire DiCugno (Colorado Mesa WC) and Nanea Estrella (Spartan Combat RTC).

Yariguin champion and U23 World team member Emma Bruntil (TMWC) will wrestle veteran Amanda Hendey (TMWC) for one of the 65 kg semifinal bouts.

On the opposite side of the 65 kg bracket, World Bronze medalist Mallory Velte (TMWC) will wrestle NAIA National third-place winner Emly Se (El Dorado Hills WC).

Sienna Ramirez (Southern Oregon RTC) will wrestle Nahiela Magee (Army-WCAP) for the second 68 kg semi-final bout.

For the 72 kg semifinal bouts, Skyler Grote (NYAC) will face Aine Drury (CA) while Marilyn Garcia (CA) will wrestle Marlynne Deede (TCRTC).

At 68 kg, two-time World Team member Victoria Francis (TMWC/HWC) will wrestle last year’s runner up Precious Bell (TMWC/Victory School of Wrestling).

Semifinals will begin at 6 p.m. tonight. You can follow the tournament on FloArena.

U.S. OPEN WOMEN’S FREESTYLE

At Las Vegas, Nev. April 27, 2022

Semifinal pairings

50 kg

Erin Golston (WRTC/NYAC) vs Arelys Valles (Grand View WC)

Nina Pham (Texas WC) vs Caitlyn Walker (NYC RTC)

53 kg

Haley Franich (Air Force RTC) vs Felicity Taylor (McKendree Bearcat WC)

Estrella Dorado Marin (Army-WCAP) vs Alyssa Lampe (SKWC)

55 kg

Jacarra Winchester (TMWC) vs Lauren Mason (Brunson UVRTC)

Marissa Gallegos (TMWC/Colorado Mesa WC) vs Ronna Heaton (SKWC)

57 kg

Amanda Martinez (TMWC/Cardinal WC) vs Adriana Dorado Marin (Army-WCAP)

Alex Hedrick (TMWC) vs Cameron Guerin (TMWC)

59 kg

Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Rise RTC) vs Sophia Mirabella (Team Tornado WC)

Claire DiCugno (Colorado Mesa WC) vs Nanea Estrella (Spartan Combat RTC)

62 kg

Kayla Miracle (SKWC) vs Adaugo Nwachukwu (Swamp Monsters WC)

Nina Makem (TCRTC) vs Jennifer Page (TMWC/NLWC)

65 kg

Emma Bruntil (TMWC) vs Amanda Hendey (TMWC)

Emily Se (El Dorado Hill WC) vs Mallory Velte (TMWC)

68 kg

Katerina Lange (TCRTC) vs Dalia Garibay (Colorado Mesa WC)

Sienna Ramirez (Southern Oregon RTC) vs Nahiela Magee (Army-WCAP)

72 kg

Skyler Grote (NYAC) vs Aine Drury (CA)

Marilyn Garcia (CA) vs Marlynne Deede (TCRTC)

76 kg

Victoria Francis (TMWC/HWC) vs Precious Bell (TMWC)

Dymond Guilford (TMWC) vs Yelena Makoyed (TMWC/Cardinal WC)

Quarterfinal results

50

Erin Golston (New York Athletic Club) tech Charlotte Fowler (River Valley Wrestling Club), 13-2 2:4150

Arelys Valles (Grand View Wrestling Club) dec Mariah Anderson (Air Force Regional Training Center), 7-0

Nina Pham (Texas Wrestling Club) tech Victoria Nunez (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club), 10-0 0:33

Caitlyn Walker (New York City RTC) fall Sage Mortimer (TMWC), 6-1 1:04

53

Felicity Taylor (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club) fall Danielle Garcia (California), 4-0 0:55

Estrella Dorado marin (Army (WCAP)) dec Hannah Hall (Colorado), 3-0

Alyssa Lampe (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) fall Angela Ruth Dela Cruz (California), 4-0 1:11

Haley Franich (Air Force Regional Training Center) inj Areana Villaescusa (Army (WCAP)), 1-0 0:57

55

Lauren Mason (Brunson UVRTC) dec Alisha Howk (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 5-4

Jacarra Winchester (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) fall Victoria Smith (Grand View Wrestling Club), 10-0 1:19

Marissa Gallegos (Colorado Mesa Wrestling Club / TMWC) tech Payton Stroud (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club), 12-1 3:56

Ronna Heaton (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) fall Cara Romeike (Bronco Womens Wrestling Club), 6-0 2:33

57

Amanda Martinez (Cardinal Wrestling Club / TMWC) tech Alisha Narvaez (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club), 10-0 2:22

Adriana Dorado Marin (Army (WCAP)) dec Ngao Shoua Whitethorn (Victory School of Wrestling), 7-6

Alexandra Hedrick (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) tech Jennifer Soto (Daniel Cormier Wrestling Club), 11-0 4:28

Cameron Guerin (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) fall Trynadii Rocha OR (USA Cobra), 6-0 0:40

59

Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Rise RTC) tech Genesis Ramirez (All Navy Wrestling), 10-0 0:52

Sophia Mirabella (Team Tornado Wrestling Club) tech Nonnie Justice (Missouri), 11-0 4:53

Claire Dicugno (Colorado Mesa Wrestling Club) dec Montana Delawder (Haines Trained Wrestling Club), 4-3

Nanea Estrella (Spartan Combat RTC) tech Esther Han (Bruin Wrestling Club), 10-0 2:18

62

Kayla Miracle (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) fall Sierra Brown ton (Twin Cities Regional Training Center), 6-0 1:33

Adaugo Nwachukwu (Swamp Monsters Wrestling Club) tech Andrea Schlabach (Grand View Wrestling Club), 10-0 5:14

Nina Makem (Twin Cities Regional Training Center) dec Alexandria Liles (Army (WCAP)), 7-0

Jennifer Page (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club / TMWC) tech Emmily Patneaud (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club), 10-0 1:20

65

Emma Bruntil (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) tech Maya Letona (New York City RTC), 10-0 1:04

Amanda Hendey (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) tech Rachel Watters (Iowa), 16-6 4:17

Emily Se (El Dorado Hills Wrestling Club) fall Destiny Lyng (California), 12-11 4:48

Mallory Velte (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) tech Carrieann Randolph (Tennessee), 10-0 0:34

68

Katerina Lange (Twin Cities Regional Training Center) dec Solin Piearcy CA (Menlo Wrestling Club), 9-4

Dalia Garibay (Colorado Mesa Wrestling Club) tech Kairah Cantillo (Grand View Wrestling Club), 11-0 2:10

Sienna Ramirez (Southern Oregon Regional Training Center) dec Alexis Gomez (Grand View Wrestling Club), 8-2

Nahiela Magee (Army (WCAP)) dec Anayka Besco (Kansas), 8-1 3:27

72

Marilyn Garcia (California) tech Aury Naylor (Georgia), 12-1 5:42

Aine Drury (California) fall Michelle Montague (Florida), 10-2 2:52

Marlynne Deede (Twin Cities Regional Training Center) fall Jessica Kemgne (Beat the Streets New York City), 4-0 1:33

76

Victoria Francis (Hawkeye Wrestling Club / TMWC) fall Ashley Lekas (Texas Pride Wrestling Club), 7-6 5:45

Precious Bell (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) dec Joye Levendusky NY (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club), 6-3

Dymond Guilford (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) tech Tristan Kelly (Army (WCAP)), 10-0 0:44

Yelena Makoyed (Cardinal Wrestling Club / TMWC) fall Jordan Nelson (Hawkeye Wrestling Club / TMWC), 9-1 4:28

Five returning champions and two Olympians reach U.S. Senior Women's Open semifinals

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