The U.S. Senior World Team in women’s freestyle wrestling held its final domestic training camp prior to the World Championships in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Aug. 14-20. The camp featured the 10-member 2022 U.S. World Team which will compete at the World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, Sept. 12-15.

The 62 kg wrestle-off between Kayla Miracle and Jennifer Rogers takes place prior to the camp on Aug. 13. The winner was Kayla Miracle who won 2 out of three matches.

Local organizer Pat Tocci says the wrestle-off and training camp assisted in the growth of women’s wrestling across the state.

As traditionally done at many training camps there will be a two-day competition simulation as part of the finishing touches before leaving to the World Championships in Serbia. Attendance is invite-only. 

“It’s our last domestic camp before we leave overseas, so it’s the last time we’ll have our full National Team together for the summer,” U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Terry Steiner said. “We’ll do a competition simulation to make sure all our processes are in place, whether it’s what we are doing the night before with our weight, or how they are going to recover from the weight cut before competition.”

Another important aspect of the camp, according to Steiner, is getting the star-studded roster working together to elevate each other’s performances.

“Getting our national team together is always important because iron sharpens iron and we want those people pushing each other forward,” Steiner said. “We will fine-tune our processes with the competition simulation, and we will get some good wrestling in at the same time.”

Additionally, there will be a rules seminar hosted by referee Sammy Julian of Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania to serve as a refresher for the athletes and to give them a chance to ask any questions prior to hitting the road for Worlds.

The wrestle-off, hosted by Beat the Streets Lancaster and Pennsylvania USA Wrestling, will be held at J.P. McCaskey High School in Lancaster, Pa. Ticket information will be announced once it is released. Fans can watch live on FloWrestling.org.

The Camp was held at Schopf Brothers Barn (the home of Hempfield Wrestling Club) The host for the event were Steve and Wendy Capoferri and James and Andrea Schopf. PAUSAW will also be part of the activity and will be spending the week in Lancaster supporting the coaches and team. Joe Stabilito Sr. – State Chairman of PAUSAW commented that he was excited to be part of the event and believes it was a huge success.

U.S. Senior women’s freestyle World Team:

U.S. Senior women’s freestyle World Team:
50 kg – Sarah Hildebrandt (USOPTC/NYAC)
53 kg - Dominique Parrish (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg – Jacarra Winchester (USOPTC/TMWC)
57 kg – Helen Maroulis (Sunkist Kids)
59 kg – Abigail Nette (Army WCAP)
62 kg – Kayla Miracle (Sunkist Kids) OR Jennifer Rogers (TMWC)
65 kg – Mallory Velte (Beaver Dam RTC/TMWC)
68 kg – Tamyra Mensah Stock (USOPTC/TMWC)
72 kg - Amit Elor (NYC RTC/TMWC)
76 kg - Dymond Guilford (USOPTC/TMWC)

National Women’s coach: Terry Steiner
Assistant National Women’s coach: Katie Kriebel

Other PA Women’s wrestling news is that there are now 56 Sanctioned Teams, and we continue to move towards of goal of 100. Chris Atkinson (SanctionPA and PAUSAW Women’s Director) believes that there are a bunch more that will be announcing in the next few months. The sanction teams will have a full competition schedule this season leading up to three regional tournaments being held on March 6 and followed by States host by MyHouse, PA USAW Wrestling and SanctionPA.