Senior World Team members Elor, Kilty among stars on women’s freestyle U23 World Team set to compete in Finland

Photo: Amit Elor (left) and Macey Kilty (right) are 2023 Senior World Team members slated to compete at the 2023 U23 World Championships (Tony Rotundo, wrestlersarewarriors.com)

]The roster has been finalized for the U.S. women’s freestyle team slated to compete at the 2023 U23 World Championships in Tampere, Finland, October 25-27.

2023 Senior World Team members Macey Kilty and Amit Elor highlight the accomplished group of athletes that will represent the United States at the event.

Elor brings amazing achievements in international competition to the U23 team. She became the first U.S. athlete to win World titles at three different age levels in a year in 2022 (U20, U23, Senior). Elor is also the youngest U.S. athlete to win a Senior World title at age 19. Prior to competing at U23 Worlds, Elor will aim to repeat at the U20 and Senior levels. Elor has won six UWW World titles at all levels, five in freestyle and one in Beach wrestling.

Kilty, a first-time Senior World Team member after her victory in Final X, has won five age-group World medals, including a gold medal at the U17 World Championships in 2018. She has been a part of several Senior National Teams.

Eight of the ten team members competed at Final X earlier this summer, solidifying their spots on the Senior National Team. All ten have experience in international competitions.
Audrey Jimenez, competing at 50 kg for the U23 World Championships, has earned medals in international competitions early in her career as she has a U17 bronze and U20 silver under her belt. She will also compete at the U20 World Championships prior to the U23 competition this fall.

At 53 kg, Katie Gomez is a Senior National Team member and 2023 Final X runner-up. Gomez brings international competition experience as she was a 2021 U17 World champion and earned a bronze medal at the 2022 U20 World Championships.
Alisha Howk is set to compete at 55 kg at event. Howk, a 2023 Senior National Team member and Final X runner-up, was a bronze medalist at the 2022 U23 World Championships. She won the US Open in April and is a 2023 U23 National champion.
Xochitl Mota-Pettis is slated to compete at 59 kg for the U23 World Championships. Mota-Pettis, a 2023 Pan American champion, has earned a spot on the 2023 Senior National Team and will wrestle at a Final X Special Wrestle-off for the Senior World Team spot on August 12 in Colorado Springs, Colo. against Helen Maroulis.
Michaela Beck, competing at 59 kg, won the 2023 US Open and is a member of the 2023 Senior National Team. She also competed at the U23 World Championships last year and was on the 2019 U20 World Team.
Adaugo Nwachukwu is set to compete at 62 kg. She is on the 2023 Senior National Team, a Final X runner up, 2023 US Open champion and earned a bronze medal at the 2022 U20 World Championships. Nwachukwu is a two-time NAIA national champion.

At 68 kg, Katerina Lange is a gold medalist at the 2021 U20 Pan American Championships. She was a 2023 NCWWC college national champion for Augsburg, and qualified for the U23 World Team after winning the 2023 U23 Nationals.

Rounding out the roster is Kennedy Blades at 76 kg. Blades is a 2021 U20 World Champion, 2023 US Open champion, Final X runner-up and member of the 2023 Senior National team. She was a runner-up at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. She has also competed at the U17 World Championships in 2019.

The U23 World Championships will be held Oct. 23-29 at Tampere Ice Stadium in Tampere, Finland. The women’s freestyle team is scheduled to compete October 25-27.

A live broadcast of the U23 World Championships will be available to U.S. residents on FloWrestling.com. A FloWrestling subscription is required to watch.

USA Wrestling will announce the remaining U23 World Team rosters with the Greco-Roman team roster coming out on Thursday.
2023 U23 World Championships

At Tampere Ice Stadium, Tampere, Finland, Oct. 23-29
U.S. Women’s Freestyle Roster
50 kg – Audrey Jimenez (Tucson, Ariz./Sunkist Kids WC)
53 kg – Katie Gomez (Van Nuys, Calif./Sunkist Kids WC)
55 kg – Alisha Howk (River Falls, Wis./Sunkist Kids WC)
57 kg – Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Humble, Texas/Rise RTC)
59 kg – Michaela Beck (New York, N.Y./Sunkist Kids WC)
62 kg – Adaugo Nwachukwu (San Jose, Calif./Titan Mercury WC)
65 kg – Macey Kilty (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids WC)
68 kg – Katerina Lange (Sherburn, Minn., Minnesota Storm)
72 kg – Amit Elor (Walnut Creek, Calif./New York City RTC/Titan Mercury WC)
76 kg – Kennedy Blades (Chicago, Ill./Sunkist Kids WC)