Making a U23 Women’s Freestyle World Team is difficult, but explaining how to make the U23 World team during an Olympic year might be more difficult. Here is what you need to know. 

When Are The U23 World Championships?

That’s easy. The U23 World Championships are October 21-27 in Tirana, Albania.

What Are The U23 World Championships?

This is a senior-level competition for those 23 and under. 

How Does An American Qualify For The U23 Women’s Freestyle World Championships?

Hold on tight. This will take some explaining. 

Let’s use the 76-kilogram weight class as our guide since this is our deepest domestic weight. 

U23 Nationals were held on April 12-13 in Spokane, Washington. Tristan Kelly dominated the bracket to win the 76 kg bracket but has a long way to go before she makes the U23 World Team. 

As it stands today, Kelly is fourth in the pecking order. 

USA Wrestling wants to send its best team to the U23 World Championships so it rewards age-eligible wrestlers who competed well at the Olympic Trials on April 19-20. The top four wrestlers at the six Olympic weights are members of the U.S. National Team.

Below is our current U.S. National Team at 76 kilograms.

1. Kennedy Blades (U23 eligible)
2. Adeline Gray (not U23 eligible)
3. Yelena Makoyed (U23 eligible)
4. Kylie Welker (U23 eligible)

The highest-placing age-eligible Olympic Team Trials National Team member has first dibs on the U23 World Team spot. That means Blades has first dibs, Makoyed has second dibs, and Welker has third dibs. 

The U23 World team spot goes to the U23 National champion if any age-eligible U.S. National Team member declines. Kelly gets the spot if Blades, Makoyed, and Welker decline. 

Bo Giebe — runner-up to Kelly at U23 Nationals — gets the spot if Blades, Makoyed, Welker, and Kelly decline. 

Kalila Shrive — third-place finisher at U23 Nationals — gets the spot if Blades, Makoyed, Welker, Kelly, and Giebe decline. 

While this graphic could be true, lots will have to happen before Kelly is a member of the U23 World Team. 

Here is a breakdown of the remaining five Olympic weight classes.

50 kilograms

National Team
1. Sarah Hildebrandt (not U23 eligible)
2. Audrey Jimenez (U23 eligible)
3. Sage Mortimer (U23 eligible)
4. Erin Golston (not U23 eligible)

U23 Nationals
1. Heather Crull
2. Sterling Dias
3. Makenzie Smith

Current Pecking Order For U23 World Team
1. Audrey Jimenez
2. Sage Mortimer
3. Heather Crull
4. Sterling Dias
5. Makenzie Smith

53 kilograms

National Team
1. Dom Parrish (not U23 eligible)
2. Haley Augello (not U23 eligible)
3. Areana Villaescusa (not U23 eligible)
4. Felicity Taylor (not U23 eligible)

U23 Nationals
1. Elena Ivaldi
2. Jaslynn Gallegos
3. Eden Hernandez

Current Pecking Order For U23 Team
1. Elena Ivaldi
2. Jaslynn Gallegos
3. Eden Hernandez

57 kilograms

National Team
1. Helen Maroulis (not U23 eligible)
2. Jacarra Winchester (not U23 eligible)
3. Alex Hedrick (not U23 eligible)
4. Abby Nette (not U23 eligible)

U23 Nationals
1. Sofia Macaluso
2. Carissa Qureshi
3. Haley Narahara

Current Pecking Order For U23 Team
1. Sofia Macaluso
2. Carissa Qureshi
3. Haley Narahara

62 kilograms

National Team
1. Kayla Miracle (not U23 eligible)
2. Macey Kilty (U23 eligible)
3. Adaugo Nwachukwu (U23 eligible)
4. Jennifer Page (not U23 eligible)

U23 Nationals
1. Adaugo Nwachukwu
2. Marisol Nugent
3. Claire DiCugno

Current Pecking Order For U23 Team
1. Macey Kilty
2. Adaugo Nwachukwu
3. Marisol Nugent
4. Claire DiCugno

68 kilograms

National Team
1. Amit Elor (U23 eligible)
2. Forrest Molinari (not U23 eligible)
3. Alexandra Glaude (not U23 eligible)
4. Brooklyn Hayes (U23 eligible)

U23 Nationals
1. Brooklyn Hayes
2. Nina Makem
3. Riley Aamold

Current Pecking Order For U23 Team
1. Amit Elor
2. Brooklyn Hayes
3. Nina Makem
4. Riley Aamold

What About Non-Olympic Weights?

Goodness!!! Things were making sense. Why would you ask that? 

Okay, keep your hands and feet inside the ride. This could could get bumpy. 

Any age-eligible National Team member (see above) can challenge the U23 National champion at any World weight (55, 59, 65, 72) during Senior National Team camp on June 23-29. Here are the top three wrestlers from U23 Nationals at the World weights.

55 kilograms
1. Amani Jones
2. Montana DeLawder
3. Ella Jauregui

59 kilograms
1. Skye Realin
2. YeLe Aycock
3. Larissa Kaz

65 kilograms
1. Aine Drury
2. Alara Boyd
3. Emma Walker

72 kilograms
1. Jasmine Robinson
2. London Houston
3. Aspen Barber

There will be a single elimination tournament to determine who will challenge the 2024 U23 National Champion if there is more than one challenger per weight. 

There will be a best-of-three series between the 2024 U23 National Champion and the challenger to determine who will earn the spot.

If the 2024 U23 National Champion declines, the challenger tournament finals will be a best-of-three series.

If there are no challengers, the 2024 U23 National Champion will be the 2024 U23 World Team member.

If the 2024 U23 National Champion declines the opportunity, it will be offered to the #2 and #3 ranked athletes from the 2024 U23 Women's National Championships.

Is There Anything Else We Should Know?

USA Wrestling will select the U23 team member if the above process doesn’t work. 

Bottom Line: We have a long way to go before the 10-member U23 World Team is determined. We’ll keep you posted.