By Richard Immel
USA Wrestling

The table is set for an electric 2026 U.S. Open Championships being held next week at The Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas, and the Senior women’s freestyle is expected to deliver some of the most memorable moments of the event. 

Over 255 athletes have entered the Senior women’s freestyle division, which is set for April 23-24. Fans will witness the much-anticipated return of an Olympic champion, plus see highly-contested brackets filled with World medalists of all ages, 13 past World Team members, six returning U.S. Open champions, college national champions, and top high school prospects battling for national titles. 

Online registration is open through April 19, leaving the possibility for several more top names to enter the field, which is expected. 

THE STAKES 

The Senior division at the U.S. Open has a longstanding track record as one of the toughest wrestling tournaments held annually. The 10 Senior women’s freestyle champions in Las Vegas earn the coveted title of U.S. Open champion and a distinguished USA Wrestling Stop Sign award. More importantly, champions claim a spot in 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, which is set for Friday, June 19 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. 

Final X will determine the 2026 U.S. Senior World Team in two-of-three international disciplines—men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle. In total, 20 weight classes will be contested, 10 in each discipline. The top two U.S. athletes in each weight class will wrestle a best-of-three series at Final X to determine the U.S. representative for the 2026 Senior World Championships in Manama, Bahrain. 

WRESTLERS TO WATCH 

The clear headline for next week’s showcase is the return of 2024 Olympic champion Sarah Hildebrandt, who is moving up in weight from 50 kg, where she won her Olympic gold, to 53 kg and taking on a new set of challengers. This is Hildebrandt’s first Senior-level tournament since Paris and her first time competing at the Las Vegas edition of the U.S. Open since 2018. 

Including Hildebrandt, there are five Senior World medalists in the field, four of whom own multiple World medals. Hildebrandt is a four-time World medalist, with silver medals coming in 2018 and 2021, plus bronze medals from 2022 and 2023. Jacarra Winchester (57 kg) was the World champion in 2019 and picked up a silver medal in 2023. Kayla Miracle (65 kg) and Macey Kilty (62 kg) are both two-time World medalists. 2023 World bronze medalist Jennifer Page (65 kg) rounds out the list. Winchester (2020) and Miracle (2020, 2024) have represented Team USA at the Olympic Games. 

In addition to the group of five World medalists, eight more athletes who have made a Senior World Team are back for another run. Returning from last year’s World Team are Felicity Taylor (50 kg), Cristelle Rodriguez (53 kg), Adaugo Nwachukwu (62 kg) and Alexandria Glaude (72 kg). Other World Team members include Abigail Nette (59 kg) and Dymond Guilford (76 kg) from 2022, Emma Bruntil (65 kg) from 2023 and Areana Villaescusa (55 kg) from 2024. 

There are 23 athletes currently registered who have won an age-group World medal, which is a strong predictor of Senior-level success.

• Alara Boyd – 2017 U17 World silver, 2016 U17 World bronze

• Heather Crull – 2023 U17 World bronze

• Sterling Dias – 2019 U17 World silver, 2018 U17 World bronze

• Alexandria Glaude – 2018 U23 World bronze

• Erin Golston – 2013 U20 World silver, 2012 U20 World bronze, 2011 U20 World bronze

• Katie Gomez – 2022 U20 World bronze, 2021 U17 World gold

• Dymond Guilford – 2022 U23 World silver

• Alexandra Hedrick –2022 U23 World bronze

• Tiare Ikei – 2018 U17 World bronze

• Alexis Janiak – 2025 U23 World bronze, 2024 U20 World silver, 2023 U20 World bronze

• Amani Jones – 2024 U23 World bronze, 2023 U20 World bronze

• Macey Kilty – 2024 U23 World silver, 2019 U23 World silver, 2019 U20 World silver, 2018 U20 World silver, 2018 U17 World gold, 2016 U17 World bronze

• Everest Leydecker – 2025 U20 World gold

• Kayla Miracle –2019 U23 World silver, 2016 U20 World bronze, 2014 U20 World bronze, 2012 U17 World silver

• Sage Mortimer – 2024 U23 World gold

• Adaugo Nwachukwu – 2022 U20 World bronze

• Jennifer Page – 2013 U20 World bronze

• Jasmine Robinson – 2025 U23 World silver, 2024 U20 World gold, 2023 U17 World bronze

• Cristelle Rodriguez – 2024 U20 World gold

• Emily Shilson – 2021 U23 World gold, 2021 U20 World gold, 2018 U17 World gold, 2017 U17 World silver

• Naomi Simon – 2024 U20 World bronze

• Morgan Turner – 2025 U17 World gold, 2024 U17 World bronze, 2023 U17 World gold

• Jacarra Winchester – 2014 University World bronze 

Six champions from last year’s U.S. Open will run it back, including Amanda Martinez (57 kg) and Aine Drury (62 kg), plus Rodriguez, Nette, Miracle and Glaude. 

In March, the inaugural NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships took place in Coralville, Iowa. Six NCAA champions are signed up for the U.S. Open—Valarie Solorio (50 kg), Xochitl Mota-Pettis (57 kg), Cameron Guerin (57 kg), Katerina Lange (62 kg), Isabella Mir (68 kg) and Tristan Kelly (76 kg). 

A complete list of entries for all 10 Senior women’s freestyle weight classes is available below. 

WEIGHTS TO WATCH 

50 kg 

The lightest weight class is shaping up to be the deepest in Las Vegas. With 2025 World Team member Audrey Jimenez sidelined for the international season, current U.S. National Team members Erin Golston and Kendra Ryan come in as the favorites. They will be pushed by many notable names, including last year’s 53 kg World Team member Felicity Taylor, who is dropping down to 50 kg. Other contenders include two-time U17 World champion Morgan Turner, 2024 U23 World champion Sage Mortimer, three-time age-group World champion Emily Shilson, 2023 U17 World bronze medalist Heather Crull, two-time age-group World medalist Katie Gomez and NCAA champion Valarie Solorio. 

53 kg 

There is one match on everyone’s mind at 53 kg—2024 Olympic champion Sarah Hildebrandt versus 2025 World Team member Cristelle Rodriguez. It’s an interesting matchup with both athletes shifting weight classes, Hildebrandt moving up from 50 kg and Rodriguez moving down from 55 kg. The two haven’t wrestled before, adding to the intrigue. Other names that could shake things up at 53 kg are Harlee Hiller, Clare Booe, Elena Ivaldi, Tiare Ikei and Sydney Petzinger. 

62 kg 

Two members of last year’s World Team appear on a collision course at 62 kg. Adaugo Nwachukwu was the 62 kg World Team rep in 2025, after taking the torch from two-time Olympian Kalya Miracle. Two-time World medalist Macey Kilty is dropping down from 65 kg, presumably to slot into the Olympic weight class ahead of LA28 qualification. The two have met once before, in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials semifinals, with Kilty taking a 6-2 decision. It won’t be a cakewalk for Nwachukwu and Kilty to make the finals. Returning U.S. Open champion Aine Drury, NCAA champion Katerina Lange, two-time U17 World medalist Alara Boyd and past age-group World Team members Claire DiCugno, Skye Realin and SaVannah Cosme will all prove to be tough outs for the favorites. 

65 kg 

A trio of heavy hitters will grace the mats at 65 kg—two-time Olympian and two-time World finalist Kayla Miracle, 2023 World bronze medalist Jennifer Page and 2023 U.S. World Team member Emma Bruntil. On paper, Miracle is the favorite, holding a 2-0 record against Page and a 1-0 record against Bruntil. However, Miracle is bumping up in weight and competing for the first time since sustaining an injury at Final X last June. Two-time U20 World Team member and NCAA finalist Reese Larramendy, 2025 U17 World Team member Violett Lasure and recent U20 World Team Trials champion Riley Hanrahan are young names to watch here. 

HOW TO FOLLOW 

The Senior women’s freestyle tournament will run next Thursday and Friday. Day one of competition will feature championship rounds through the semifinals. The medal rounds and championship finals will be held on day two. A detailed schedule of events is available at usawrestlingevents.com. 

The U.S. Open Championships will be broadcast live on FloWrestling. Brackets will be available through USA Bracketing.

2026 U.S. Open Championships 

April 22-26, Las Vegas, Nevada  

Senior Women’s Freestyle 

Event Schedule 

Thursday, April 23 

10 a.m. – Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Consolations

4 p.m. – Semifinals, Consolations 

Friday, April 24 

2:30 p.m. – Medal Matches (3rd, 5th, 7th)

6 p.m. – Finals 

*All times listed are U.S. Pacific Time / local time in Las Vegas. 

Entry List (As of April 16) 

50 kg (39 Entries) 

Mariah Anderson, Air Force RTC

Samara Chavez, Army WCAP

Alejandra Corral, Menlo WC

Heather Crull, Bearcat WC

Sterling Dias, Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC

Christina Estrada, Dethrone

Tianna Fernandez, Hawaii

Charlotte Fowler, Boilermaker RTC

Jaslynn Gallegos, Cardinal WC

Erin Golston, New York AC

Katie Gomez, Titan Mercury WC

Emilie Gonzalez, Iowa Women's WC/Titan Mercury WC

Zoey Haney, Warrior RTC

Madison Haney, GTH Wrestling

Rachel Jones, Utah

Olivia Klein, Cordoba Trained

Grace Loutzenhiser, Pioneer Grappling Academy

Eliana Martinez, Grand View/New York AC

Sage Mortimer, Titan Mercury WC

Mia Palumbo, Statesmen WC

Sylvyn Parham, Mat Return

Trinity Pendergrass, Hawks WC

Jamesa Robinson, McDoubles Wrestling

Kendra Ryan, Cardinal WC

Rayana Sahagun, Laker WC

Emily Shilson, Titan Mercury WC

Kaelani Shufeldt, Cardinal WC

Teegan Sibble, New York

Makenize Smith, Warrior RTC

Damiyah Smith, Unattached

Valarie Solorio, Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC

Felicity Taylor, Titan Mercury WC

Jenny Thomas, Utah

Brooke Thurber, Rabid Dawg WC

Morgan Turner, Titan Mercury WC

Katey Valdez, Army WCAP

Arelys Valles, Grand View/New York AC

Karina Vang, Tiger WC

Brianna Vollendroff, Nebraska Panhandle WC 

53 kg (33 Entries) 

Ivy Andersen, New York City RTC

Clare Booe, West Point WC

Carleigh Czerneski, Bulldog WC

Jaden Evans, Lindsey Wilson Women’s Wrestling

Susan Fozo, Michigan

Abigail Fuglsang, Storm RTC

Isabella Marie Gonzales, Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC

Mariana Gonzalez, California

Brooklynn Gustafson, Mile High WC

Mia Hargrove, Air Force RTC

Ruby Jo Henson, BullTrained Wrestling

Sarah Hildebrandt, New York AC

Harlee Hiller, Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC

Avery Hines, Lehigh/New York AC

Tiare Ikei, Titan Mercury WC

Elena Ivaldi, California

Ayane Jasinski, Burg Training Center

Emily Klein, Cordoba Trained

Grace Lashinsky, Lindsey Wilson Women’s Wrestling

Taylin Long, Hawks WC

Alisha Paradise, New York AC

Shiella Paredes-Akimoto, Sunrise WC

Sydney Petzinger, Cardinal WC

Vanessa Ramirez, Colorado

Shea Reisel, Dubuque RTC

Madolin Ripley, USAW Maine East WC

Libby Roberts, Laker WC

Cristelle Rodriguez, Tiger WC/ Titan Mercury WC

Cecilia Saavedra, Washington

Catherine Steinkamp, Hawks WC

Paige Tarrant, Legacy Dragons

Hayden Vanderpool, Pioneer Grappling Academy

Taylor Whiting, Wisconsin 

55 kg (18 Entries) 

Rodiah Adeduntan, Lindsey Wilson Women’s Wrestling

Vayle Baker, Army WCAP

Annesley Day, Dragon WC

Montana DeLawder, Haines Trained Wrestling

Marissa Gallegos, Titan Mercury WC

Katherine Heath, Wildcat Elite WC

Jaylenn Hudlemeyer, Missouri

Esperanza Huitron, Backyard Bullies WC

Amani Jones, Titan Mercury WC

Megan Lam, Reign WC

Everest Leydecker, New York AC

Samara Lusk, Burg Training Center

Aleena Navarrete, Sanderson Wrestling Academy

Mateah Roehl, Askren Wrestling Academy

Sydney Stifter, MoWest Championship Wrestling

Karissa Turnwall, Emmanuel Training Center

Areana Villaescusa, Army WCAP

Savannah Witt, Eagle WC 

57 kg (25 Entries) 

Vanessa Alvarado, Highland High School Wrestling

Shelby Banovitz, Capital Wrestling Alliance

Aspen Blasko, Laker WC

Karlee Brooks, Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC

Kamilah Brooks, Lindsey Wilson Women’s Wrestling

Jayde Coleman, Moses Lake WC

Ava Davis, Air Force

Anna DiCugno, Tarleton WC

Tonya Flournory, Pembroke RTC

Virginia Foard, King/New York AC

Kaidance Gerg, Askren Wrestling Academy

Cameron Guerin, Titan Mercury WC

Alexandra Hedrick, Titan Mercury WC

Rose Kaplan, Warrior RTC

Amanda Martinez, Cardinal WC

Morgan Maschmann, Tiger Den WC

Carolina Moreno, Matador WC

Xochitl Mota-Pettis, Hawks WC

Vanessa Nguyen, Adams State Women’s Wrestling

Irelan Powell, Unattached

Avery Steldt, Combat W.C. School of Wrestling

Sara Sterner, Cardinal WC

Jacarra Winchester, Titan Mercury WC

Julian Yates, Olympiad RTC

Ajayzee Zaballos, Menlo WC 

59 kg (27 Entries) 

Emma Bacon, Titan Mercury WC

Michaela Beck, Titan Mercury WC

Anayka Besco, Cardinal WC

Madison Black, Project 8 Wrestling

Kendall Bostelman, Statesmen WC

Iyanna Crawford, Pembroke RTC

Bella Devoto, Adams

Bailey Emery, Hilltopper WC

Emily Frost, Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC

Alexis Janiak, Titan Mercury WC

Chase Kiel, Missouri

Abigail Mozden, Samurai WC

Abigail Nette, Army WCAP

Lexy Pabon, Head Hunters

Ashlee Palimoo, Tiger WC

Aiyana Perkins, Threestyle Wrestling of Oklahoma

Abigail Pursley, Pembroke RTC

Brenda Reyna, Army WCAP

Sarah Savidge, Army WCAP

Sophia Smith, Askren Wrestling Academy

Jennifer Soto, Tarleton WC

Grace Stem, Cardinal WC

Lauren Stoker, Brunson UVRTC/Titan Mercury WC

Alexandra Szkotnicki, Bearcat WC

Bella Williams, Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC

London Woods, Cardinal WC

Mika Yoffee, Legends of Gold Las Vegas

62 kg (24 Entries) 

Alara Boyd, Titan Mercury WC

Jessica Bristol, Louisiana

Mia Collins, New York City RTC

SaVannah Cosme, Southwest WC

Claire DiCugno, Cardinal WC/New York AC

Aine Drury, New York AC

Hanna Errthum, USOPTC

Marilyn Garcia, Titan Mercury WC

Renice Gonzalez, California

Emma Gruenhagen, Victory School of Wrestling

Nia Hagler, Champions WC

Ellisa Jimenez, Bearcat WC

Macey Kilty, Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC

Piper Lalli, California

Katerina Lange, New York AC

Maxine Dorothea Lisot Sturch, LoftonStyle Wrestling

Emily Medford, Laker WC

Zoe Nowicki, Bulldog WC

Adaugo Nwachukwu, Army WCAP

Skye Realin, Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC

Kyra Tomlinson, GCRTC

Katy Vardaman, Spartan RTC

Emme Velasco, Devils Women's WC at Arizona State University

Corrie Williams, Utah 

65 kg (28 Entries) 

Destiny Benjamin, Colorado

Emma Bruntil, Titan Mercury WC

Alissa Caltagirone, NMU-NTS

Cadence Diduch, Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC

Julia Fongaro, Lehigh/New York AC

Ella Gahl, Spartan RTC

Cassandra Gonzales, Pinnacle WC

Riley Hanrahan, Team Nazar Training Center

Ryen Hickey, Mile High WC

London Houston, Mat Demon WC

April Kelly, Burg Training Center

Maddie Kubicki, Vision Wrestling

Reese Larramendy, Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC

Violette Lasure, Team PA

Makynna Loepp, Lehigh/New York AC

Nina Makem, New York AC/Storm

Madelyn McLaughlin, New York City RTC

Kayla Miracle, Titan Mercury WC

Nichole Moore, Tiger Den WC

Marisol Nugent, New York AC

Jennifer Page, Titan Mercury WC

Marie Pearson, Falcon WC

Gabriella Perez, Florida

Tyler Richardson, The Factory WC

Brianna Snavely, Hawaii Wrestling Academy

Haidyn Snyder, Burg Training Center

Bridgette Sotomayor, Tiger WC

Paige Wehrmeister, Missouri 

68 kg (25 Entries) 

Nora Akpan, Pinnacle WC

Annette Beltran, The Snake Pit

Sarina Bertram, Missouri Valley

Greta Brus, Big Game

Margaret Buurma, Laker WC

Josselinne Campos, Lindsey Wilson Women’s Wrestling

Ava Collins, The Factory WC

Sarah Doty, Southern Illinois RTC

Noelle Gaffney, New York AC

Tiera Jimerson, Eagle WC

Lydia Krauss, Bearcat WC

Zoey Lints, Curby 3 Style WC

Destiny Lyng, Lehigh RTC/New York AC

Latifah McBryde, Life

Cheyann Miller, New Mexico

Isabella Mir, Cardinal WC

Nigar Mirzazada, Nassau

Katie Moore, CT Prep

Annelise Obermark, Storm RTC

Solin Piearcy, Titan Mercury WC

CarrieAnn Randolph, Heidelberg WC

Jasmine Robinson, Army WCAP

Katherine Stewart, RPA Wrestling

Liv Wieber, The Factory WC

Taylor Williams, North Carolina 

72 kg (21 Entries) 

Kaylynn Albrecht, Titan Mercury WC

Alexandria Alli, USOPTC

Chandni Banks, California

Tiffani Baublitz, Penn/New York AC

Berlyn Davis, Granite WC

Gracin Dennis, The Factory WC

Micah Fisher, Greenbrier WC

Sophia Flores, Betterman Elite Wrestling

Bo Geibe, Warrior RTC

Alexandria Glaude, Titan Mercury WC

Taylor Graveman, Cardinal WC

Skylar Grote, Titan Mercury WC

Jolynn Harris, Albion Wrestling

Sylvia Hoffman, Colorado

Joye Levendusky, Titan Mercury WC

Katelyn Lewis, Wisconsin

Olivia Pizano, Lehigh/New York AC

Ciel Sattler, Inland Northwest Wrestling Training Center

Mira Sonnen, New York City RTC

Liliana Vergara, California

Precious Wieser, Titan Mercury WC 

76 kg (16 Entries) 

Kiley Dillow, Chanute WC

Alexia Foca, RedNose Wrestling School, LLC

Dymond Guilford, Titan Mercury WC

Tavia Heidelberg, Menlo WC

Fabiana Josa, Pennsylvania

Keeley Kehrli, Storm RTC

Tristan Kelly, Army WCAP

Shenita Lawson, New York AC

Katianna Martinez, California

Vanessa McCloud, Brevard FCA Wrestling

Autumn Perez, Oregon

Isabella Phillips, Gannon Golden Knights

Olivia Robinson, Peninsula WC

Madison Sandquist, Rise RTC

Naomi Simon, Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC

Alejandra Zia-Lopez, California