Who Are The 10 Best Women's Wrestlers From California?
Who Are The 10 Best Women's Wrestlers From California?
Check out some of the biggest women's wrestling stars California has produced. The list is staggering.
California is — by far — the greatest state for women’s wrestling.
The talent it has produced is absurd, and this top 10 list proves it. So do the names that didn’t make the list, and they would be the envy of most states.
California has a quarter of the United States' 12 women's freestyle World and Olympic champions.
It also produced Afsoon Johnston — the first U.S. woman to medal at the World Championships. Her inspirational story of immigrating to the United States from Iran should be a documentary or a movie (let’s hope that happens).
Below are the top 10 women’s wrestlers from California.
10. Victoria Anthony, Huntington Beach
Anthony finished fifth at the 2013 and 2017 Senior World Championships and was the first four-time WCWA champion (college nationals) when she won titles for Simon Fraser from 2010-11 and 2013-14. She won Junior World titles in 2009 and 2010. Her inside trip was among the best in the game.
9. Forrest Molinari, Benicia
Molinari won a bronze medal at the 2021 Senior World Championships after dropping medal matches in 2018 and 2019. She finished third at the 2014 WCWA Championships for Missouri Baptist before finishing fourth, first, and second for King University (2015-17). Her tough, hard-nosed style made her a fan favorite.
Molinari showed how to break an opponent during this 2023 Ranking Tournament final
8. Stephanie Murata, Hillsborough
Murata made eight Senior World Teams (1996-99, 2001-02, 2005, 2007), winning a silver medal in 2001. She was also a nine-time US Open champion
7. Tatiana Suarez, Covina
Suarez was on track to become one of the best wrestlers in U.S. history. She won a bronze medal at the 2008 Senior World Championships as a 17-year-old and another bronze at the 2010 World Championships at 19. Her final wrestling competition was the 2011 World Cup in France.
The Northview star was named ASICS National High School Wrestler of the Year in 2007 and 2008. She was one of the first teenage women’s wrestling superstars.
The 34-year-old has a UFC contract, holding a 10-1 MMA record.
6. Mallory Velte, Sacramento
Velte won bronze medals at the 2018 and 2022 Senior World Championships after making the 2017 World team. She won three WCWA titles (2016-18) for Simon Fraser and was a four-time All-American (2014, 2016-18). The Christian Brothers prep star won California state titles from 2011-13.
Watch scoring highlights from Velte's 2022 World bronze medal match
5. Shannon Williams, Ontario
Williams was one of the original women’s wrestling pioneers, competing at seven Senior World Championships (1990-91, 1993-97), winning silver medals in 1991, 1993, 1994, and 1997. She won four US Open titles and made an appearance on the popular television show “American Gladiators.”
4. Dom Parrish, Scotts Valley
Parrish struck gold at the 2022 World Championships, adding her name to the most prestigious list in women’s wrestling. She made a second World team in 2023 and an Olympic Team in 2024. The Scots Valley High School star won CIF titles in 2014 and 2015 before WCWA finishes of third, second, first, and first (2016-19) for Simon Fraser.
Watch scoring highlights from Parrish's 2022 World gold medal match
3. Jacarra Winchester, Oakland
Winchester won the 2019 Senior World Championships and finished second in 2023. That’s on top of medal matches at the 2018 and 2022 Worlds and the 2020 Olympics. She recently competed at the 2023 World Championships and has had success at five different weights. The Missouri Baptist College star finished second at the 2013 WCWA Championships and first in 2015.
2. Patricia Miranda, Manteca
Miranda won bronze at the 2004 Olympics — becoming the first American to earn a women’s freestyle medal. She won Senior World silver medals in 2000 and 2003, and a 2006 bronze. Miranda earned a spot on the Stanford men’s team at 125 pounds despite competing at 48 kg (105.5 pounds)
1. Amit Elor, Walnut Creek
Elor is the undisputed California women’s wrestling GOAT. She won a 2019 California state title before focusing full-time on freestyle. She won 2022 and 2023 Senior World titles before winning gold at the 2024 Olympics.
The 21-year-old is one of two wrestlers to win an international wrestling grand slam: U17, U20, U23, Senior Worlds, and Olympic gold. Elor also won U20, U23, and Senior World titles twice in the same year (2022 and 2023).
The below graph speaks for itself.
California Notables
Afsoon Johnston—2x World medalist, first US woman to win a World medal
Marie Zeigler—2x World silver, 5x Senior World Team
Jennifer Page—2023 World bronze, 2012 WCWA Champ
Amanda Hendey—3x WCWA All-American, 2015 WCWA champion
Samantha Lopez—4x CIF state champion
Alex Hedrick—4x WCWA finalist, 2x WCWA champ, 2x Final X
Dymond Guilford—2022 Senior World team, 4x college national champ
Yelena Makoyed—5x NCWWC finalist, 3x NCWWC champ
Alyssa LaFrancis—1st CIF 4x state champion
Gabby Garcia—2nd CIF 4x state champion
Anaya Falcon—Undefeated, 3x CIF champion
Gracie Figueroa—4x CIF state champion, 2016 Cadet World bronze, 2019 WCWA champion
Cheyenne Bowman—2x NCWWC finalist
Aine Drury—2024 NCWWC finalist, 2025 US Open champ, 2025 Final X
Emilie Gonzalez—2024 NCWWC champ
Brianna Gonzalez—2025 US Open champ, 2025 FInal X, 2024 NCWWC finalist
Christelle Rodriguez—U20 World champion, 2x NAIA champ, 2025 US Open champ, 2025 Final X,
Precious Bell—2019 Final X, 3x All-American
Alyvia Fiske—2022 NCWWC champ, 3x AA, 2019 Final X
Adaugo Nwachukwu—3x NAIA champ, 2023 Final X, 2022 U20 World bronze
Marina Doi—3x age-level World medalist (gold, silver, bronze), 4x WCWA finalist, 2x WCWA champ
Regina Doi—2013 Cadet World silver, 4x WCWA AA, 2018 WCWA champ
Katie Gomez—2023 US Open champ, 4x age-level World teamer (gold, bronze)
Katherine Shai—World University champ, 2x WCWA champ, 4x AA
Sara Fulp-Allen—3x WCWA champ, 1st college national champion
Jessica Medina—2x WCWA champ, 2x Senior World team
Solin Piearcy—2019 WCWA/NAIA champion
Alex Glaude—2x WCWA/NCWWC champion/2x Final X
Destiny Lyng—2022 NAIA champ/5x AA
Nina Pham—2x NAIA champ, 5x AA
Pauline Granado—2020 NCWWC champ, 3x AA
Sharlene Solis—2026 WCN champ
Othella Lucas—2x WCN champ, 3x finalist
Bethany Harris—2007 WCN champ, 2x AA
Lauren Knight—2010 WCWA champ, 4x AA
Kat Perez—2013 WCWA champ, 2x AA
Cheyenne Youngblood—2017 WCWA champ, 4x AA
Niauni Youngblood—2018 WCWA champ, 4x AA
Tiana Jackson—2019 NAIA champ
Alexandra Castillo—2020 WCWA champ, 5x AA
Alleida Martinez—3x NAIA/WCWA champ
Emily Se—2023 NAIA champ, 4x AA
Tavia Heidelberg-Tillotson, 2024 NAIA champ, 5x AA