2023 Final X - Newark

Final X Match-up: Macey Kilty vs Mallory Velte

Final X Match-up: Macey Kilty vs Mallory Velte

A preview of the match between Macey Kilty and Mallory Velte at Final X on Saturday, June 10.

May 15, 2023 by Kyle Klingman
Final X Match-up: Macey Kilty vs Mallory Velte

Final X, presented by Tezos, is Saturday, June 10 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and will be streamed LIVE on FloWrestling. Final X determines the 2023 U.S. Senior World teams in all three Olympic disciplines: men’s and women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman.

Below is a women’s freestyle preview of the 65-kilogram match between Macey Kilty and Mallory Velte

Key Credentials

Macey Kilty, 22
— 2023 US Open champion (65 kg)
— 2022 Yasa Dogu silver medalist (62 kg)
— 2022 Ivan Yarygin silver medalist (62 kg)
— 2020 Olympic Trials finalist (62 kg)
— 2019 U23 World silver medalist (68 kg)
— 2018 U20 World silver medalist (68 kg)
— 2017 U17 World champion (69 kg)
— 2016 U17 World bronze medalist (49 kg)

Mallory Velte, 28
— 2023 Pan-Am champion (65 kg)
— 2022 World bronze medalist (65 kg)
— 2022 Yasar Dogu silver medalist (65 kg)
— 2020 Pan-Am champion (62 kg)
— 2018 World bronze medalist (62 kg)
— 2017 World teamer (63 kg)
— 2015 U20 World team (63 kg)
— Three-time WCWA champion (2016-18) and four-time All-American (2015-18) for Simon Fraser

Match History

— Kilty defeated Velte, 11-0, at the 2021 Captains’ Cup
— Kilty defeated Velte, 4-2, at the 2020 Olympic Trials

How They Reached Final X

Kilty reached Final X by winning this year’s US Open. She entered as the one-seed and won 10-0 over Celina Cook (R16), 10-0 over Viktorya Torres (quarters), 11-0 over Aine Drury (semifinals), and 5-1 over Emma Bruntil (finals).

Velte reached Final X as a returning 2022 World bronze medalist. She recently won a gold medal at the Pan-Am Championships. 

What Can You Expect?

Velte is a cerebral wrestler who can make adjustments, so don’t look too much into her losses against Kilty in 2021. She fell to Forrest Molinari, 7-4, in last year’s Yasar Dogu only to notch 9-1 (match one) and 10-0 (match three) wins during her Final X series with Molinari (she fell 3-1 in the second match). 

Kilty is an age-level World champion who is seeking her first senior World team after being on the cusp multiple times. She split with Kayla Miracle at the 2020 Olympic Trials but defaulted with a shoulder injury within the first 32 seconds of their deciding match. The Stratford, Wisconsin, native reached the 2022 World Team Trials Challenge tournament finals against Jennifer Page but defaulted after 31 seconds due to the same shoulder injury. 

This season is a new opportunity and a different weight class for Kilty. She has wrestled as high as 68 kg at the senior level but has competed at 62 kilograms in the past four years. The 65 kg weight featured a three-way rivalry between Velte, Molinari, and Emma Bruntil but Molinari moved up to 68 kg.

Things didn't get any easier with the addition of Kilty. Kilty defeated Bruntil in a tight match in the US Open final, which forces Bruntil up to 68 kg for the World Team Trials. 

Velte has a blast double from space and good short offense — and she has an effective gut wrench. 

Kilty is a disciplined wrestler who keeps solid position and is a good hand fighter.

Neither makes many mistakes, so these will likely be low-scoring matches where position is more valuable than points. Kilty was trailing 1-1 on criteria against Bruntil in the final minute before she found an opening on a tilt and a turn. 

Those positions will be the difference for both wrestlers in New Jersey. Velte has proven she can come up big in the big moments. Kilty wants her time to come up big at Final X, too.

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Macey Kilty defeated Emma Bruntil, 5-1, in this year's US Open final.

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Watch scoring highlights from last year's Final X matches between Velte and Molinari


Final X is the Beat the Streets New York Benefit

It is the second straight year Final X will serve as the Beat the Streets New York Annual Benefit. This year’s event will be the 13th BTSNY Annual Benefit. These unique and electrifying annual events help BTSNY raise more than $1 million each year to support local youth wrestling programs which empower young people in New York City. The BTSNY Annual Benefit after-party will follow the conclusion of Final X. Benefit tickets and sponsorship packages (Final X plus exclusive after-party celebration access), that also provide the best wrestling-event seats, are available at give.btsny.org/beatthestreetsbenefit2023. For more information on ticket packages, email Katrin Pokalyukhin at katrin@btsny.org. Event-only tickets for Final X without access to the BTSNY after-party celebration are available on Ticketmaster.