By Richard Immel
USA Wrestling

NEWARK, N.J. – Two women’s freestyle series needed the rubber match on Friday night at Prudential Center as eight individuals cemented themselves on the U.S. World Team at 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management.

Reigning World Team member Adaugo Nwachukwu staved off two-time World medalist Macey Kilty in a classic best-of-three series at 62 kg. After getting a pin with one second left in the first period of round one, Nwachukwu was stifled by Kilty, 4-0, in round two. The last women’s freestyle match of the event went to Nwachukwu, 4-3, in a match that was decided as time expired.

Two-time U17 World champion Morgan Turner made the jump to the Senior World Team as an 18-year-old, fresh out of high school. She won a decisive round three match over 2026 U.S. Open champion Katie Gomez, 8-2. Turner has now qualified to represent the U.S. on the U20, U23 and Senior World Teams this year.

A second 18-year-old high school graduate stormed to a Final X title—Everest Leydecker at 55 kg. The U20 World champion and Iowa Hawkeye commit won a pair of tight battles against 2024 World Team member Areana Villaescusa, 2-1 and 3-1, to make her first Senior World Team.

For a second-straight year, Helen Maroulis faced Amanda Martinez for the 57 kg spot. It was much closer this time around—decisions rather than pins—but the result was the same. Maroulis qualified for her 13th Senior World Team, to go along with her three trips to the Olympic Games, representing Team USA at the highest levels of the sport. She is now in position to defend her World title from last year.

Three more talented athletes ended their series in two bouts and are heading to the World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan—Two-time Olympian and two-time World medalist Kayla Miracle at 65 kg, plus Cristelle Rodriguez at 55 kg and Abigail Nette at 59 kg. Miracle topped 2023 World bronze medalist Jennifer Page. Both Rodriguez and Nette are past Final X champions and Senior World Team members who won dominantly.

2024 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Amit Elor received a pair of forfeits to solidify herself as the 72 kg representative for Team USA. 2025 World Team member Alexandria Glaude withdrew from her series with Elor due to injury.

2025 World bronze medalists Kennedy Blades and Kylie Welker requested and received medical delays for their Final X series—Blades against Isabella Mir at 68 kg and Welker against Dymond Guilford at 76 kg. A new date and location for these series have not been determined.

Archived matches of 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, are available at FloWrestling.com. Results can be found on USA Bracketing.

2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management 

At Prudential Center, Newark, N.J., June 19 

Women’s Freestyle Best-of-Three Series Results  

65 kg – Kayla Miracle (Titan Mercury WC) defeats Jennifer Page (Titan Mercury WC), two matches to none

Round one – Miracle dec. Page, 7-2

Round two – Miracle dec. Page, 5-1

55 kg – Everest Leydecker (Thorobred WC/New York AC) defeats Areana Villaescusa (Army WCAP), two matches to none

Round one – Leydecker dec. Villaescusa, 2-1

Round two – Leydecker dec. Villaescusa, 3-1

59 kg – Abigail Nette (Army WCAP) defeats Alexis Janiak (Titan Mercury WC), two matches to none

Round one – Nette fall Janiak, 1:41

Round two – Nette tech. fall Janiak, 10-0

53 kg – Cristelle Rodriguez (Tiger WC/Titan Mercury WC) defeats Elena Ivaldi (California), two matches to none

Round one – Rodriguez tech. fall Ivaldi, 10-0

Round two – Rodriguez dec. Ivaldi, 9-0

72 kg – Amit Elor (New York City RTC/Titan Mercury WC) defeats Alexandria Glaude (Titan Mercury WC), two matches to none

Round one – Elor forfeit Glaude

Round two – Elor forfeit Glaude

50 kg – Morgan Turner (All I See Is Gold Academy/Titan Mercury WC) defeats Katie Gomez (Titan Mercury WC), two matches to one

Round one – Turner dec. Gomez, 7-2

Round two – Gomez dec. Turner, 3-2

Round three – Turner dec. Gomez, 8-2

62 kg – Adaugo Nwachukwu (Army WCAP) defeats Macey Kilty (Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC), two matches to one

Round one – Nwachukwu fall Kilty, 2:59

Round two – Kilty dec. Nwachukwu, 4-0

Round three – Nwachukwu dec. Kilty, 4-3

57 kg – Helen Maroulis (Titan Mercury WC) defeats Amanda Martinez (Cardinal WC/Titan Mercury WC), two matches to none

Round one – Maroulis dec. Martinez, 8-1

Round two – Maroulis dec. Martinez, 6-0

Women’s Freestyle True-Third Results  

65 kg – Reese Larramendy (Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC) forfeit Emma Bruntil (Titan Mercury WC)

50 kg – Samara Chavez (Army WCAP) tech. fall Felicity Taylor (Titan Mercury WC), 10-0

57 kg – Alex Hedrick (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Amani Jones (Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 5-3

68 kg – Latifah McBryde (Cobra Wrestling Academy) dec. Jasmine Robinson (Army WCAP), 8-2