Doi, Reyna, Miracle, Porter receive women's freestyle draws for Junior Worlds

U.S. Junior World Team member Kayla Miracle at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Photo: John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com.

MACON, France – The first four U.S. women have weighed in and received their draws for the first day of women’s freestyle competition at the 2016 Junior World Championships.


Taking the mat for Team USA on Thursday will be Marina Doi (Kingsburg, Calif./Titan Mercury WC), Brenda Reyna (Mount Vernon, Wash./Vandit Wrestling Academy), Kayla Miracle (Campbellsville, Ky./Sunkist Kids) and Alexis Porter (Ballston Lake, N.Y./McKendree University).


“Our whole team is definitely prepared, especially these four. They’re ready to go first day. Sometimes the first day is a little tougher, but these girls are definitely ready,” said U.S. women’s freestyle coach Erin Vandiver.


Doi will open against 2015 Cadet World silver medalist Obed Perez Solis of Mexico in her third Junior Worlds appearance at 44 kg/97 lbs. The California native won bronze at the 2014 Junior Worlds and boasts three medals from the Cadet World Championships, including a gold in 2012.


Competing in her first Junior World Championships, Reyna drew 2016 Junior European silver medalist Hilary Honorine of France in her first bout at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. The emerging Reyna won her first USAW Junior Nationals crown this summer in Fargo, N.D.


A 2014 Junior World bronze medalist, Miracle is set to face Hungary’s Viktoria Vilhelm at 59 kg/130 lbs. Miracle has made five age-group World Team’s for the U.S. and was a Cadet World silver medalist in 2012. She placed fourth at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials this year.


Porter begins her quest for Junior World glory against Enrica Rinaldi of Italy who was fifth at last year’s Cadet World Championships. This is Porter’s second trip to the Junior Worlds. She was a Junior Pan American champion in 2015.


“We have three veterans that have been here before,” Vandiver added. “They know what to expect. They’ve made their adjustments over the years and they have some big expectations for themselves. They’ve set their goals, their dreams pretty big and I think tomorrow we’re going to make it become a reality.”


The women’s freestyle competition will begin tomorrow in France at 4 a.m. (ET) with the qualification rounds and repechage followed by the medal matches at 12 p.m. (ET).


Flowrestling is providing a live stream of the Junior World Championships at flowrestling.org. Viewers must purchase a FloPro membership to watch the competition live. 


For complete brackets and match-by-match results visit unitedworldwrestling.org.

2016 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Aug. 30 – Sept. 4 in Macon, France

U.S. women’s freestyle draws for Thursday

44 kg/97 lbs. – Marina Doi, Kingsburg, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)

Vs. Obed Perez Solis (Mexico), 2015 Cadet World silver medalist, 2015 Cadet Pan American champion


51 kg/112.25 lbs. – Brenda Reyna, Mount Vernon, Wash. (Vandit Wrestling Academy)

Vs. Hilary Honorine (France), 2016 Junior European silver medalist


59 kg/130 lbs. – Kayla Miracle, Campbellsville, Ky. (Sunkist Kids)

Vs. Viktoria Vilhelm (Hungary), Fifth in 2016 Junior European Championships


67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Alexis Porter, Ballston Lake, N.Y. (McKendree University)

Vs. Enrica Rinaldi (Italy), Fifth in 2015 Cadet World Championships, Fifth in 2016 Junior European Championships