By Tanner Lafever
USA Wrestling

LAS VEGAS – Rarely is anyone truly a ‘winner’ after a night in Las Vegas, but at least 10 individuals can unquestionably count themselves as such as they exit the Expo at World Market Center.

And that’s because they do so with U.S. Open titles in hand – courtesy of their victories during Friday evening’s Senior Women’s Freestyle finals.

Led by Outstanding Wrestler award recipient Katie Gomez (Titan Mercury WC) at 50 kg, each of these women demonstrated poise, precision and plenty of guts while navigating their respective weight classes.

And now, they’re all champions – punching their tickets to Final X in June, where they’ll wrestle for a spot on Team USA.

Of the 10 finals, none was more engaging from start-to-finish than 62 kg – where Adaugo Nwachuku (Army WCAP) prevailed in a matchup between 2025 World teamers.

Trailing 4-1 at the break to two-time World medalist Macey Kilty, Nwachuku responded with a takedown and two turns soon after the restart. And though Kilty continued to charge forward, Nwachukwu kept her at bay until time ran out, prevailing by a final score of 10-8.

Several other World team veterans also got the job done, earning themselves a berth at Final X in the process.

Starting at 53 kg, a must-see final was unfortunately cut short when Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hildebrandt was forced to injury default midway through her match against 2025 World teamer Cristelle Rodriguez (Tiger WC/Titan Mercury WC).

Up until that point, however, the two engaged in several thrilling flurries – including a four-point move that put Rodriguez back in front entering intermission.

Meanwhile, at 59 and 65 kg, both Abigail Nette (Army WCAP) and Kayla Miracle (Titan Mercury WC) powered their way to dominant technical fall victories.

Nette – a 2022 World teamer – was a bit more expedient, locking up Michaela Beck in an early leg lace for a win that barely took sixty seconds. Conversely, Mircle’s 11-0 triumph over 2023 World teamer Emma Bruntil nearly went the full six minutes.

The two heaviest weight classes also saw experienced World teamers prevail, albeit in closer, lower-scoring manners.

Alexandria Glaude (Titan Mercury WC) won a contrast of styles at 72 kg, overcoming the height/length advantage of 2019 U.S. Open champ Precious Wieser in a 4-1 decision.

And at 76 kg, Dymond Guilford (Titan Mercury WC) won perhaps the cagiest final of the bunch – earning a step out point with 0:33 left to give her a bit of breathing room in a 3-1 defeat of NCAA champion Tristan Kelly.

Another experienced Senior-level athlete stood tallest at 57kg.

There, returning U.S. Open champ Amanda Martinez (Cardinal WC/Titan Mercury WC) was on the attack from start-to-finish – which was enough to hold off Alexandra Hedrick in a 6-4 decision.

As for the three remaining weight classes, youth was the theme.

A year after her breakout (runner-up) performance, Everest Leydecker (New York AC) went one step further to earn a 55 kg title. Her controlled 4-1 victory over Areana Villaescusa (fifth at the 2024 World Championships) belied the 18-year-old’s experience and encouraged even more optimism about her future on the Senior level.

Up at 68 kg, Isabella Mir (Cardinal WC) continued her strong run of form after winning an NCAA title last month – dominating U20 World champion Jasmine Robinson via 10-0 tech. fall.

And to bring it all back to the very first champion of the night, the aforementioned ‘OW’ Katie Gomez completed her run through arguably the deepest bracket of the tournament (50kg), defeating top-seeded Erin Golston, 5-0, thanks to a go-behind takedown in each period and plenty of stingy defense in between.

Gomez, like these nine others, now awaits her Final X opportunity – June 19th in Newark, New Jersey.

A trio of the victors already know their upcoming opponents – as Martinez, Mir and Guilford will take on returning World medalists Helen Maroulis, Kennedy Blades and Kylie Welker, respectively.

Until then, the seven remaining Final X spots will be decided at the Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Louisville, KY (May 14-15).

The 2026 U.S. Open Championships are broadcast live on FloWrestling.

Brackets, mat assignments and other information are available through USA Bracketing.

2026 U.S. Open Championships 

At Las Vegas, Nevada, April 24 

Reference Links 

• Live stream

• Brackets

• Event hub
  

Senior Women’s Freestyle  

Final Results 

50 kg 

1st - Katie Gomez (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Erin Golston (New York AC), 5-0

3rd - Felicity Taylor (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Kendra Ryan (Cardinal WC), 7-6

5th - Kaelani Shufeldt (Cardinal WC) med. for. Morgan Turner (Titan Mercury WC)

7th - Samara Chavez (Army WCAP) tech. fall Rianne Murphy (Iowa Women's WC/Titan Mercury WC), 10-0 (1:57)

53 kg 

1st - Cristelle Rodriguez (Tiger WC/Titan Mercury WC) inj. def. Sarah Hildebrandt (New York AC), 3:52

3rd - Elena Ivaldi (California) fall Jaslynn Gallegos (Cardinal WC), 5:01

5th - Sydney Petzinger (Lehigh Valley Wrestling RTC) dec. Clare Booe (West Point WC), 10-6

7th - Isabella Marie Gonzales (Iowa Women's WC/Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Ruby Jo Henson (BullTrained Wrestling), 10-0

55 kg 

1st - Everest Leydecker (New York AC) dec. Areana Villaescusa Army (WCAP), 4-1

3rd - Karissa Turnwall (Emmanuel Training Center) med. for. Marissa Gallegos (Titan Mercury WC)

5th - Vayle Baker (Army WCAP) fall Louisa Schwab (Menlo WC), 1:53

7th - Mateah Roehl (Askren Wrestling Academy) tech. fall Savannah Witt (Eagle WC), 10-0 (1:32)

57 kg 

1st - Amanda Martinez (Cardinal WC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Alexandra Hedrick (Titan Mercury WC), 6-4

3rd - Amani Jones (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Sara Sterner (Cardinal WC), 6-0

5th - Carolina Moreno (Matador WC) tech. fall Rose Kaplan (Warrior RTC), 11-1

7th - Morgan Maschmann (Tiger Den WC) dec. Aspen Blasko (Laker WC), 7-4

59 kg 

1st - Abigail Nette (Army WCAP) tech. fall Michaela Beck (Titan Mercury WC), 10-0

3rd - Alexis Janiak (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Alexandra Szkotnicki (Bearcat WC), 3-1

5th - Ruby Julien-Newsom (Tornado WC) med. for. Cameron Guerin (Titan Mercury WC)

7th - Sarah Savidge (Army WCAP) tech. fall Samantha Barragan (Cowtown Training Center), 13-2

62 kg 

1st - Adaugo Nwachukwu (Army WCAP) dec. Macey Kilty (Iowa Women's WC/Titan Mercury WC), 10-8

3rd - Alara Boyd (Titan Mercury WC/Bears RTC/Cardinal WC) fall Katerina Lange (New York AC), 1:49

5th - Claire DiCugno (Cardinal WC/New York AC) tech. fall Hanna Errthum (USOPTC), 11-

7th - SaVannah Cosme (Southwest WC) dec. Bella Williams (Iowa Women's WC/ Titan Mercury WC), 5-1

65 kg 

1st - Kayla Miracle (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Emma Bruntil (Titan Mercury WC), 11-0

3rd - Reese Larramendy (Iowa Women's WC/Titan Mercury WC) med. for. Nina Makem (New York AC/Storm)

5th - London Houston (Mat Demon WC) fall Aine Drury (New York AC), 1:06

7th - Riley Hanrahan (Team Nazar Training Center) dec. Desiree Jones (Menlo WC), 5-3

68 kg 

1st - Isabella Mir (Cardinal WC) tech. fall Jasmine Robinson (Army WCAP), 10-0

3rd - Latifah McBryde (Life) fall Nora Akpan (Pinnacle WC), 4:31

5th - Alissa Caltagirone (NMU-NTS) dec. Liv Wieber (The Factory WC), 6-6

7th - Annelise Obermark (Storm RTC) fall Lydia Krauss (Bearcat WC), 3:40

72 kg 

1st - Alexandria Glaude (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Precious Wieser (Titan Mercury WC), 4-1

3rd - Alexandria Alli (USOPTC) dec. Kaylynn Albrecht (Titan Mercury WC), 2-2

5th - Skylar Grote (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Taylor Graveman (Cardinal WC), 10-0

7th - Joye Levendusky (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Mikayla Lancaster (Menlo WC), 10-0

76 kg 

1st - Dymond Guilford (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Tristan Kelly (Army WCAP), 3-1

3rd - Shenita Lawson (New York AC) dec. Isabella Phillips (Gannon Golden Knights), 4-4

5th - Naomi Simon (Iowa Women's WC/Titan Mercury WC) fall Madison Sandquist (Rise RTC), 2:14

7th - Liliana Vergara (California) dec. Kiley Dillow (Chanute WC), 7-5