Women's Weekly: What We Learned From The World Team Trials
Women's Weekly: What We Learned From The World Team Trials
The Final X countdown begins following a memorable World Teams Trials challenge tournament in Colorado Springs.
The World Team Trials took place over the weekend and all Final X matchups are now set. Below are the 10 best-of-three matches we get to see along with what we learned from the weekend.
Final X Match-ups
50 kg: Audrey Jimenez (US Open champ) vs Sarah Hildebrandt (returning medalist)
53 kg: Katie Gomez (US Open champ) vs Dom Parrish (returning medalist)
55 kg: Alisha Howk (US Open champ) vs Jacarra Winchester (WTT champ)
57 kg: Xochitl Mota-Pettis (US Open champ) vs Helen Maroulis (returning medalist)
59 kg: Michaela Beck (US Open champ) vs Jennifer Page (WTT champ)
62 kg: Adaugo Nwachukwu (US Open champ) vs Kayla Miracle (WTT champ)
65 kg: Macey Kilty (US Open champ) vs Mallory Velte (returning medalist)
68 kg: Forrest Molinari (US Open champ) vs Emma Bruntil (WTT champ)
72 kg: Joye Levendusky (US Open champ) vs Amit Elor (returning medalist)
76 kg: Kennedy Blades (US Open champ) vs Adeline Gray (WTT champ)
55 kg: Jacarra’s Still Got It
Jacarra Winchester didn’t compete at the US Open but she showed why she is a returning World champion who is been in four World and Olympic medal matches. Here World Team Trials bracket only had six entrants but she was the class of the field. She fell behind 4-0 against Amanda Martinez but charged back for a fall in the second period, then she won 11-0 over Areana Villaescusa in the finals.
This is Winchester’s sixth consecutive appearance in the World Team Trials final.
“I never feel out of a match and I wrestle for six minutes,” Winchester said after the tournament. “I tried some new stuff, and if you can’t try it here it won’t work on the world stage. I’m trying to wrestle a different style and find openings.”
Watch Winchester's finals match against Areana Villaescusa
Hear from Jacarra Winchester after winning the World Team Trials
59 kg: Jennifer Page Moved Down To Reach Final X
Jennifer Page thought her season might be over after finishing second at 62 kilograms during the US Open in Vegas. She flew back to State College and her Nittany Lion Wrestling Club coach Jake Varner encouraged her to wrestle at 59 kg during the World Team Trials.
Page has wrestled at weight classes between 60 and 67 kilograms for most of her career, so a drop to 59 kg had many wondering how she would handle dropping an additional 6.5 pounds. The California native answered those questions by winning three straight matches, including an 11-4 win over 2021 World teamer Maya Nelson.
“(Moving down) was completely last minute,” Page said. “It never even crossed my mind since I didn’t think I’d be wrestling this light.”
Watch Jennifer Page's finals match against Maya Nelson
Hear from Jennifer Page after winning the World Team Trials
68 kg: Emma Bruntil Won Battle Of Former Bearcats
Emma Bruntil may have found a new home at 68 kilograms after dominating the field at the World Team Trials. Her second-place US Open finish at 65 kg forced her to move up a weight class for another shot at Final X.
She made a statement by registering three technical superiorities and outscoring her opponents by a 32-2 count. Her finals opponent was her former McKendree teammate Alex Glaude. Bruntil won a 2020 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championship at 136, while Glaude won a title at 155.
“I didn’t know what to expect moving up to 68,” Bruntil said. “It’s funny because I weigh the exact same as when I was making 65. It’s been different, but a good different. I’m really excited.”
Watch Emma Bruntil's finals match against Alex Glaude
Hear from Emma Bruntil after winning the World Team Trials
76 kg: Adeline Gray Is A Mental Monster
There’s a reason Adeline Gray is a six-time World champion and a 2020 Olympic silver medalist. She proved it at the World Team Trials Challenge tournament in her hometown.
Gray finished second at the US Open after falling to Kennedy Blades, 12-2, in the finals. She made significant jumps in three weeks for a dominant run in the deep and talented 76 kg class. Oh, and the 32-year-old recently gave birth to twins.
The Colorado native gave a master’s class in toughness by pinning Skylar Grote in the quarters, teching Kylie Welker (14-3) in the semis, and teching Dymond Guilford (12-1) in the finals. The Guilford match showed how far she has come in just a few days. She was down 8-0 to her at the US Open before earning three cautions in a row for the win. This time, it was all Gray from start to finish.
“There are pieces to this,” Gray said. “There are pieces in wrestling that you have to put together it’s going to take me a little bit of time to put all those pieces together. It’s coming, though.”
Watch Adeline Gray's finals match at the World Team Trials
Hear from Adeline Gray after winning the World Team Trials
More Final X Interviews
Hear from Katie Gomez (53 kg) and Xochitl Mota-Pettis (57 kg) about their journeys to reach Final X.
Katie Gomez breaks down key matches during her career, her ongoing battle with confidence, and her Final X match-up with World champion Dom Parrish.
Devyn Gomez interviews Xochitl Mota-Pettis about her upcoming Final X series with Olympic gold medalist Helen Maroulis. They discuss mental preparation, wrestling against boys in high school, and changing weight classes.