Every wrestler circles the Olympic Team Trials as their main goal in their four-year cycle. Without winning at the trials, the wrestler can’t earn the sport’s ultimate prize: an Olympic gold medal. 

Now, the four-year wait is nearly over. Wrestlers will battle in Iowa City's Carver Hawkeye Arena on April 9 and 10 for the right to represent the U.S. at the Olympic Games in Rio. 

Note: Some of the trial winners will have to earn the spot for the U.S. at the Last Chance Qualifiers in Mongolia or Turkey later this spring.

The Field 63kg (139 lbs)

Erin Clodgo (2015 USA World Team member)
Elena Pirozhkova (2015 USA World Team member)
Sally Roberts (Past Olympic or World Team member)
Jennifer Page (Grand Prix of Spain silver medalist)
Amanda Hendey (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 1st)
Mallory Velte (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 4th)
Alexis Porter (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 5th)
Hannah Jewell (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 6th)
Monica Ramirez (WCWA silver medalist)
Francesca Giorgio (WCWA bronze medalist)
Maggie Douma (WCWA silver medalist)
Olivia Seppinni (WCWA bronze medalist)
Shai Mason (University Nationals silver medalist)
Rachael Shannon (Last Chance Qualifier Champion)
Axa Molina (Last Chance Qualifier Silver)

Rankings Used To Seed

1. Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
2. Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
3. Amanda Hendey, San Gabriel, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
4. Jennifer Page, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
5. Mallory Velte, Sacramento, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
6. Alexis Porter, Ballston Lake, N.Y. (NYAC/MWC)
7. Hannah Jewell, Grand Blanc, Mich. (King University)
8. Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)

The Favorites

Elena Pirozhkova is back down to the weight class that she dominated domestically dating back to the 2008 World Championships. Last year, she tested the waters at 69kg, but ultimately chose to return to the lower weight class.  

Erin Clodgo broke through to the world team with the absence of Pirozhkova at 63kg. She also qualified in the weight class at the Pan-American Olympic Games Qualifier for the U.S., but got knocked off by Jennifer Page at U.S. Senior Nationals. It looks like Page and Pirozhkova will be on the opposite side of the bracket from her.

The Dark Horses

Jennifer Page highlighted her current season with a win over world-team-member Clodgo at U.S. Senior Nationals, but fell in the final to Amanda Hendey to take second place. At the Dave Schultz, she was runner-up to world medalist Anastasija Grigorjeva.

Amanda Henley enjoyed a great year domestically. She won U.S. Senior Nationals, took third at the Dave Schultz, and grabbed fourth at the Bill Farrell. All of her losses at the Farrell and Schultz resulted from foreign competitors. She wasn’t the one to knock Clodgo off at Senior Nationals, but she won the weight class with the world team member in the field.

Early Match To Watch

Mallory Velte vs Jennifer Page, Quarterfinal

Both women won University Nationals just a few weeks ago. Page won her title up at 69kg, while Velte was the champion at 63kg.

The Pick

Elena Pirozhkova over Erin Clodgo, two matches to zero

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The Field 69kg (152 lbs)

Randi Miller (Past Olympic or World Team member)
Veronica Carlson (Past Olympic or World Team member)
Tamyra Mensah (2015 Grand Prix of Spain silver medalist)
Forrest Molinari (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 3rd)
Rachel Watters (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 4th)
Lisa Gonzalez (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 6th)
Brittany David (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 7th)
Julia Salata (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 3rd, 75kg)
Brittney Roberts (Dave Schultz highest medalist)
Jessica Rottier (WCWA silver medalist)
Lorrie Ramos (Last Chance Qualifier Champion)
Hanna Gladden (Last Chance Qualifier Silver)

Rankings Used To Seed

1. Tamyra Mensah, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
2. Randi Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
3. Brittney Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
4. Julia Salata, Canton, Mich. (NYAC/OTC)
5. Forrest Molinari, Benicia, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
6. Rachel Watters, Ankeny, Iowa (Gator/OKCU Women’s RTC)
7. Jessika Rottier, Little Suamico, Wis. (Cumberlands)
8. Veronica Carlson, Rock Hill, S.C. (New York AC)

The Favorites

Tamyra Mensah was second last year behind Pirozhkova. But with Pirozhkova’s return to 63kg, Mensah has emerged as the favorite. She defeated former Olympic medalist, Randi Miller, to win U.S. Senior Nationals in December. This was off of a runner-up performance at the Bill Farrell Memorial, where she dropped the final to Canadian Olympian Dorothy Yeats. Mensah will be the woman to beat in Iowa City.

Randi Miller won an Olympic bronze medal in 2008, but didn’t return to the sport until the fall of 2013. In her first year back, she made the world team at 69kg. She dropped a close match to Mensah at U.S. Senior Nationals, but is a serious contender two Olympic cycles after her medal in Beijing.

The Dark Horse

Brittney Roberts qualified with a title at the Dave Schultz Memorial. She won the 2013 U.S. Open, and was second at the world team trials that year. Can she spoil the expected final between Mensah and Miller?

Early Match To Watch

Forrest Molinari vs Julia Salata, Quarterfinal

These two met in a first-round match at the Bill Farrell Memorial, where Salata won 2-0. They both finished third at U.S. Senior Nationals as Salata wrestled up at 75kg.

The Pick

Tamyra Mensah over Randi Miller, two matches to zero

[polldaddy poll="9378648"]

The Field 75kg (165 lbs)

Adeline Gray (2015 USA World Team member)*
Iris Smith (Past Olympic or World Team member)
Jackie Surber (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 1st)
Victoria Francis (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 2nd)
Niauni Hill (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 4th)
Brandy Lowe (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 5th)
Katerina Lobsinger (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 6th)
Nahliela Magee (Olympic Trials Qualifier - 7th)
Hannah Hall (WCWA silver medalist)
Alyssa LaFrancis (WCWA bronze medalist)
Tiara Scott (WCWA gold medalist)
Kierra Boyce (WCWA bronze medalist)
Renee Samano (WCWA fourth place)
Tanya Kusse (Last Chance Qualifier Champion)
Mary Westman (Last Chance Qualifier Silver)

Rankings Used To Seed

1. Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
2. Jackie Surber, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
3, Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
4. Victoria Francis, Litchfield, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC)
5, Niauni Hill, Oakland, Calif. (Lindenwood Women`s WC)
6. Alyssa LaFrancis, Escondido, Calif. (Cumberlands)
7. Brandy Lowe, Paxico, Kan. (Bearcat WC)
8. Katerina Lobsinger, Martinez, Calif. (Combat Sports Academy)

The Favorite

Adeline Gray, the reigning two-time world champion, is a favorite to become the United States' first women’s gold medalist in Rio. She waits in the best-of-three series for the winner of the mini-tournament. Barring injury, I don’t see any way Adeline doesn’t secure her spot on the Olympic Team.

The Pick

Adeline Gray over Iris Smith, two matches to zero

[polldaddy poll="9378649"]

Olympic Team Trials Schedule

Saturday, April 9
Men’s freestyle (65 kg and 125 kg)
Women’s freestyle (58 kg, 63 kg and 69 kg)
Greco-Roman (59 kg, 66 kg, 85 kg and 98 kg)
8:00 a.m. – Doors open to Carver-Hawkeye Arena
9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Preliminaries through Challenge Tournament finals
5:00 p.m. – Doors open to Carver-Hawkeye Arena
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Best two of three Championship Series

Sunday, April 10
Men’s freestyle (57 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg)
Women’s freestyle (48 kg, 53 kg, 75 kg)
Greco-Roman (75 kg and 130 kg)
8:00 a.m. – Doors open to Carver-Hawkeye Arena
9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Preliminaries through Challenge Tournament finals
5:00 p.m. – Doors open to Carver-Hawkeye Arena
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Best two of three Championship Series.