Four Women’s freestyle champions return to the finals at the U.S. Senior Open
by Koral Sugiyama, Special to TheMat.com
Photo of Erin Golston in her semifinals bout at the U.S. Open. Photo by Aj Grieves/MatFocus
Las Vegas, Nev.– The semifinal bouts for the Women’s freestyle tournament concluded this evening and four returning champions move into tomorrow’s finals for the U.S. Open.
Wisconsin RTC athlete Erin Golston (NYAC) returns to the finals this year at 50 kg against NAIA star Nina Pham (Texas WC). Golston won via tech-fall over both of her opponents today en-route to the finals, picking up an 10-0 win over Arelys Valles in the semis.
Olympian Jacarra Winchester (TMWC) at 55 kg dominated her opponent in the semifinals. The 2019 World champion has yet to be scored on this tournament. Winchester will face Ronna Heaton (SKWC) in the finals tomorrow; this will be a rematch of the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials where Winchester defeated Heaton in both bouts, 7-4 and 12-2.
The 62 kg finals match includes returning champion Jennifer Page (TMWC/NLWC) and 2020 Olympian and 2021 World Silver medalist Kayla Miracle (SKWC). This won’t be either of the athlete’s first U.S. Open finals appearance. Page has won this tournament for the past two years while Miracle has earned three titles herself.
Two-time NAIA National champion Dymond Guilford (TMWC) will compete against past National Team and U23 World Team member Precious Bell (TMWC) in the 76 kg finals bout. This will be a rematch from last year’s Senior Nationals where Guilford pinned Bell.
At 57 kg, Cameron Guerin (TMWC) defeated returning champion Alex Hedrick in a 2-1 decision. Guerin will wrestle Adriana Dorado Marin (Army-WCAP) in the 57 kg finals bout.
In a highly anticipated finals bout, Emma Bruntil (TMWC) will face off against past World bronze medalist Mallory Velte (TMWC). Both wrestlers have been going back-and-forth with their victories. Velte has previously won the US Open, but for Bruntil this will be her first finals appearance.
Also appearing in the finals will be Felicity Taylor (McKendree Bearcat WC) against two-time World bronze medalist Alyssa Lampe (SKWC/DAMRTC) at 53 kg.
Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Rise RTC) will take on Nanea Estrella (Spartan Combat RTC) in the 59 kg bout.
Augsburg freshman Katerina Lange (TCRTC) will wrestle Sienna Ramirez (Southern Oregon RTC) for the 68 kg finals
At 72 kg, Skylar Grote (NYAC/DAMRTC) will be wrestling Marlynne Deede (TCRTC) for the title.
The top seven placewinners in the U.S. Open advance to the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Coralville, Iowa in May.
The women’s medal matches will return tomorrow at 4 p.m. You can watch the final matches along with the other tournaments going on at the South Point Arena on FloWrestling.
U.S. OPEN WOMEN’S FREESTYLE
At Las Vegas, Nev. April 28, 2022
Final Pairings
50 - Erin Golston IL (New York Athletic Club) vs Nina Pham CA (Texas Wrestling Club)
53 - Felicity Taylor IL (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club) vs Alyssa Lampe OR (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)
55 - Jacarra Winchester CO (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) vs Ronna Heaton WI (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club)
57 - Adriana Dorado marin CO (Army (WCAP)) vs Cameron Guerin IL (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC))
59 - Nanea Estrella HI (Spartan Combat RTC) vs Xochitl Mota-pettis TX (Rise RTC)
62 - Kayla Miracle IN (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) vs Jennifer Page CO (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club / TMWC)
65 - Emma Bruntil WA (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) vs Mallory Velte CA (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC))
68 - Katerina Lange MN (Twin Cities Regional Training Center) vs Sienna Ramirez OR (Southern Oregon Regional Training Center)
72 - Skylar Grote NJ (New York Athletic Club) vs Marlynne Deede UT (Twin Cities Regional Training Center)
76 - Precious Bell WI (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) vs Dymond Guilford CA (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC))
Semifinal Results
50 - Erin Golston IL (New York Athletic Club) tech Arelys Valles FL (Grand View Wrestling Club), 10-0 0:44
50 - Nina Pham CA (Texas Wrestling Club) dec Caitlyn Walker PA (New York City RTC), 9-7
53 - Felicity Taylor IL (McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club) fall Haley Franich WA (Air Force Regional Training Center), 8-0 1:43
53 - Alyssa Lampe OR (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) tech Estrella Dorado marin CO (Army (WCAP)), 10-0 1:25
55 - Jacarra Winchester CO (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) tech Lauren Mason CA (Brunson UVRTC), 10-0 3:18
55 - Ronna Heaton WI (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) dec Marissa Gallegos CO (Colorado Mesa Wrestling Club / TMWC), 8-7
57 - Adriana Dorado Marin CO (Army (WCAP)) dec Amanda Martinez IL (Cardinal Wrestling Club / TMWC), 8-5
57 - Cameron Guerin IL (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) dec Alexandra Hedrick CA (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)), 2-1
59 - Nanea Estrella HI (Spartan Combat RTC) tech Claire Dicugno WA (Colorado Mesa Wrestling Club), 11-0 4:21
59 - Xochitl Mota-pettis TX (Rise RTC) dec Sophia Mirabella NY (Team Tornado Wrestling Club), 10-5
62 - Kayla Miracle IN (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) tech Adaugo Nwachukwu CA (Swamp Monsters Wrestling Club), 10-0 0:55
62 - Jennifer Page CO (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club / TMWC) tech Nina Makem MN (Twin Cities Regional Training Center), 12-2 4:41
65 - Emma Bruntil WA (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) dec Amanda Hendey CO (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)), 6-4 6:00
65 - Mallory Velte CA (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) tech Emily Se CA (El Dorado Hills Wrestling Club), 10-0 1:57
68 - Katerina Lange MN (Twin Cities Regional Training Center) fall Dalia Garibay CA (Colorado Mesa Wrestling Club), 12-8 2:40
68 - Sienna Ramirez OR (Southern Oregon Regional Training Center) fall Nahiela Magee CO (Army (WCAP)), 5-2 2:27
72 - Skylar Grote NJ (New York Athletic Club) tech Aine Drury CA (California), 10-0 0:51
72 - Marlynne Deede UT (Twin Cities Regional Training Center) fall Marilyn Garcia CA (California), 4-0 1:00
76 - Precious Bell WI (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) dec Victoria Francis IA (Hawkeye Wrestling Club / TMWC), 10-2
76 - Dymond Guilford CA (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)) fall Yelena Makoyed CA (Cardinal Wrestling Club / TMWC), 10-3 5:40