For the first time since 2015, our women’s freestyle team will be bringing home a gold medal from the Cadet world championships. Emily Shilson became America’s fifth world champ since the reinstatement of Cadet worlds in 2011, with Macey Kilty also in the finals tomorrow.

Facing last year’s world champ at 38kg, Shilson trailed 2-0 at the break and then gave up another takedown to start the second period. Shahana Nazarova (AZE) had done what she did all tournament, jump out to a big early lead. It looked as though Shilson would have to settle for silver two years in a row, until she reversed the Azeri to her back. Six gut wrenches later, she got the 14-4 tech and became a world champion.

Coming from the Pinnacle club in Minnesota, she is coached by, among others, Olympic silver medalist Brandon Paulson. So it’s no surprise that Shilson has a terrifying gut wrench, and basically always has since she came onto the scene for USA Wrestling. If Shilson can put on some weight and maintain her gut wrench, she could very likely be winning medals for the United States’ junior team as early as next year.

Women's Cadet World Champs Since 2011

2011: Haley Augello (IL), 46kg

2012: Marina Doi (CA), 38kg

2014: Teshya Alo (HI), 56kg

2015: Ronna Heaton (SD), 49kg

Also taking home a medal on the day was Tiari Ikei. The Hawaii native used four straight crotch locks to take an 8-2 lead in her bronze medal match, before finishing off her opponent from Mongolia with a pin. Ikei and Shilson are both third year Cadets, closing out their eligibility in this age group with big wins.

Earlier in the day, Team USA put four girls in the semifinals, meaning each will wrestle for a medal tomorrow. Macey Kilty dominated en route to the 69kg finals, racking up two pins and a 12-1 tech. She was previously a world bronze in 2016.

The three girls wrestling for bronze are Sterling Dias at 40kg, a first year Cadet from Nevada, Olivia Shore at 46kg, a Fargo champ from Ohio competing in her second world championship, and Leilah Castro at 53kg, also a Fargo champ from Ohio.

Though Japan is way out in front in the team race, the United States is ahead of China and Russia for second. The Stars and Stripes ended the day with 98 points, compared to 90 for both China and Russia. The Red, White, and Blue have four wrestling for medals, so they max out at 118 points. China has three wrestling for medals and one in the repechage. Russia has one wrestling for a medal.