World Teams Are (Almost) Set

Final X Stillwater and Final X New York set our 2022 Senior World Team. In some cases, it set our U23 World team, too. All that’s missing is the 62-kilogram senior-level World team spot. Returning silver medalist Kayla Miracle postponed her best-of-three series with Jennifer Page due to an injury. The time and location of the special wrestle-off have not been determined.

The highest-ranked, age-eligible athlete from the 2022 Senior Women’s Freestyle National Team will represent the United States at the U23 World Championships if she chooses to take the spot. If a wrestler on the National Team does not meet the age requirements then the winner of the U23 Nationals will represent the United States.

Here is what our four World teams look like right now. Notice that 18-year-old Amit Elor is on three different teams. 

Senior World Team

50 kg: Sarah Hildebrandt

53 kg: Dominique Parrish

55 kg: Jacarra Winchester

57 kg: Helen Maroulis

59 kg: Abby Nette

62 kg: Kayla Miracle or Jennifer Page

65 kg: Mallory Velte

68 kg: Tamyra Mensah-Stock

72 kg: Amit Elor

76 kg: Dymond Guilford

U23 World Team

50 kg: Nyla Valencia

53 kg: Felicity Taylor

55 kg: Alisha Howk

57 kg: Alex Hedrick

59 kg: Lexie Basham

62 kg: Alex Liles

65 kg: Emma Bruntil

68 kg: Sienna Ramirez

72 kg: Amit Elor

76 kg: Dymond Guilford

U20 World Team

50 kg: Audrey Jimenez

53 kg: Katie Gomez

55 kg: Adriana Dorado Marin

57 kg: Sofia Macaluso

59 kg: Savannah Cosme

62 kg: Adaugo Nwachukwu

65 kg: Reese Larramendy

68 kg: Destiny Rodriguez

72 kg: Amit Elor

76 kg: Tristan Kelly

2022 U17 World Team

40 kg: Megan Valdez

43 kg: Erica Pastoriza

46 kg: Gabriella Gomez

49 kg: Audrey Jimenez

53 kg: Elena Ivaldi

57 kg: Shelby Moore

61 kg: Valerie Hamilton

65 kg: Lizzie Shunn

69 kg: Jasmine Robinson

73 kg: Amarisa Manuel

Coaching Carousel

There have been lots of college coaching changes and additions over the past several weeks. Here is a breakdown of what has happened — so far. 

— McKendree head women’s coach Sam Schmitz accepted the head men’s position at Central Methodist and his former Bearcat assistant, Gabby Weyrich, accepted the head women’s role at Southern Oregon. 

— Alexio Garcia, an assistant coach with USA Women’s Wrestling and coach at Empire Wrestling Club in Washington, accepted the head women’s position at McKendree — a program that has won the past three NCWWC (NCAA programs) tournaments. 

— Shauna Kemp resigned as head women’s coach at Jamestown and accepted the role of executive director of a domestic abuse shelter. The university is currently seeking someone to fill her position. The first officially sanctioned women’s NAIA Championships will take place at Jamestown on March 10-11, 2023. 

— Amy Hildebrandt, sister of three-time World/Olympic medalist Sarah, resigned at Trine and was replaced by Theresa Rankin. Rankin placed fifth at the 2019 WCWA Championships and seventh at the NCWWC tournament (NCAA programs) for McKendree. She transferred and placed fifth at the 2021 NAIA Championships for Lourdes. 

— Brady Kyner was named head coach at the newly formed Wartburg College women’s program. Kyner placed fifth at the 2022 NCAA Division III Championships and was part of team championships for the Knights in 2018 and 2022. 

— Dominique Smalley was named head coach of Cornell College’s new women’s program. Smalley was a 2000 Junior World champion and was a member of three US National Teams. 

— Jake Kaedel was officially named the head men’s and women’s coach at Iowa Wesleyan after serving as interim head coach this year, while Cash Wilcke was promoted to assistant. Both wrestled at the University of Iowa. 

— Stryder Davis was named the head women’s coach at Wayland Baptist after previously serving as head coach at Corban University. Corban recently dropped its women’s wrestling program. 

— Texas Wesleyan is still seeking a head women’s coach after Ray Bedford was fired. 

Everything Women’s Wrestling

Sacred Heart coach Paulina Biega was recently interviewed by FloWrestling’s Lori Ayres on Everything Women’s Wrestling. Biega is one of three Division I head women’s coaches and one of two women.