What: U.S. Olympic Trials
Weight: 50 kg (women’s freestyle)
When: April 19-20
Where: State College, Pennsylvania (Bryce Jordan Center)
How to watch: Peacock 

It’s hard to imagine a scenario where Sarah Hildebrandt does not make the 2024 Olympic Team. Hildebrandt has been a verifiable superstar at 50 kilograms since dropping from 53 after the 2019 World Championships. 

The 30-year-old began her career at 55 kilograms before dropping to 53 and eventually to 50. She hasn’t lost a match to a domestic opponent since her move to the lightest international weight. 

Hildebrandt’s medal haul is impressive, too. She has five senior-level World medals, including a bronze at the 2020 Olympics. That’s on top of one of the best leg laces in the world. Hildebrandt will make you pay for getting taken down by ending matches early. 

The Granger, Indiana, native gets to sit out of the challenge tournament since she won a medal at the 2023 World Championships. Hildebrandt is two wins away from her second Olympic Team.

Sarah Hildebrandt at the World and Olympics

Her top challenger might be a high school superstar. Audrey Jimenez recently won the Arizona boys’ state championships days before winning a bronze medal at the Pan American Championships in Acapulco, Mexico. 

Jimenez is a young up-and-comer who broke through at the US Open by defeating two-time World bronze medalist Alyssa Lampe in the finals, 10-10. The Tuscon, Arizona, native was down 8-0 halfway through the second period before scoring a takedown and three turns to take an 8-8 criteria lead. Jimenez scored the deciding takedown with five seconds remaining.

Hildebrandt notched a pair of shutout wins over Jimenez at last year’s Final X (8-0, 11-0) so this is an opportunity for the next generation to show progress in a best-of-three series. 

Veteran Erin Golston has to fight off a group of college stars to win the challenge tournament. The 31-year-old has been among the most consistent and reliable wrestlers at the weight for over a decade. She has good leg attacks and a potent offense. She’ll need every bit of that for the right to face Hildebrandt in the finals.

Sage Mortimer has consistently improved since getting teched by Golston at last year’s US Open and Bill Farrell Memorial International. Mortimer was down 3-2 against Golston during December’s US Nationals before hitting a lefty headlock for the semifinal fall. The Springville, Utah, native had a come-from-behind win against former King teammate Samara Chavez in the finals. Mortimer is a dangerous wrestler who is never out of a match. 

Chavez, Kendra Ryan (North Central), Kaelani Shufledt (Lock Haven), Mia Palumbo (William Penn), Emilie Gonzalez (Iowa), Ava Bayless (Iowa), and Stefana Jelacic (Lourdes) represent a group of contenders fresh off of a college season. Jelacic (101) and Palumbo (109) won NAIA titles while Gonzalez (101) and Bayless (109) won the NCWWC Championships. 

Iowa’s Nyla Valencia missed the college season due to injury but looked sharp at the last chance Olympic Trials qualifier. 

The challenge tournament will feel like a college national championship with NAIA and NCAA divisions in the mix. Several wrestlers have a shot at winning the challenge tournament, but it’s an uphill climb to defeat Hildebrandt once she gets there.