2019 Bill Farrell Memorial International Open

6 Women's Freestyle Olympic Trials Bids On the Line at Farrell

6 Women's Freestyle Olympic Trials Bids On the Line at Farrell

We preview the women's division at the Bill Farrell Memorial International.

Nov 13, 2019 by David Bray
6 Women's Freestyle Olympic Trials Bids On the Line at Farrell

This weekend, six Olympic Trials bids are on the line for the women at the Bill Farrell Memorial International.

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In 2016, Helen Maroulis became the first woman to win an Olympic Gold medal in freestyle wrestling for the United States. Now four years later, the Olympic dream seems stronger than ever for many U.S. women. For some, their Olympic bid may run through New York City as the Bill Farrell Memorial International offers one Olympic Trials qualification sport per weight for the six Olympic weight classes.

In weight classes that include wrestlers who have already qualified for the trials, the highest placing non-qualifier will earn the Olympic Trials bid. Here's a look at some of the action we could see this weekend.


50kgs

This weight is packed with women who have brought home medals at age-level world championships but are still looking for their first senior-level world or Olympic medals. Veterans Erin Golston, Alyssa Lampe, and Victoria Anthony all have Junior world medals while up up-and-comer Emily Shilson has a pair of medals from Cadet world championships.

Of this ultra-competitive group, it was Victoria Anthony who came closest to making the 2019 world team falling to Whitney Conder at Final X - Rutgers. Anthony is also the only wrestler in this field who has already qualified for the 2020 Olympic Trials. 

One woman to keep an eye on is Amy Fearnside, who won both the Poland Open and the Canada Cup this summer and seems to be surging after spending a few months on the U.S. national team.

Many of the women at this weight have big move potential, and this weight has historically offered a lot of great action. Check out Erin Golston's thrilling win over 2016 Olympian Haley Augello at this year's U.S. Open:

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Currently registered at 50kgs

*Already qualified for the Olympic Trials

Aleeah Gould50 kgsCATeam Tornado Wrestling Club
Alyssa Lampe50 kgsVTSunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Amy Fearnside50 kgsCOTitan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Angelina Gomez50 kgsGALion Wrestling Club
Emily Shilson50 kgsMNTitan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Erin Golston50 kgsILNew York Athletic Club
Maria Vidales50 kgsGALion Wrestling Club
Vannessa Ramirez50 kgsIN
*Victoria Anthony50 kgsAZSunkist Kids Wrestling Club

53kgs

This weight features both highly experienced athletes and rising stars. One of the favorites, Katherine Shai, who fell this summer in Final X - Lincoln, was a University World champ back in 2008. Meanwhile, Tiare Ikei, this year's U.S. Open champ won a Cadet world bronze just last year. Those two exemplify the veteran versus youth dynamic at this weight, and each is a serious threat to win 53kg. When they met in the U.S. Open Finals, it was Ikei who came out on top.

This weight also has Haley Augello, the only 2016 Olympian in the field, a Cadet world champ, and the only registered wrestler who has qualified for the 2020 trials. Gracie Figueroa is another contender who, while junior eligible this year, has been making senior-level waves for some time.

Check out the U.S. Open Finals between Tiare Ikei and Katherine Shai.

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Currently registered at 53kgs

*Already qualified for the Olympic Trials

Alisha Howk53 kgsWISunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Areana Villaescusa53 kgsCOArmy (WCAP)
Gracie Figueroa53 kgsCATitan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
*Haley Augello53 kgsTNSunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Jaslynn Gallegos53 kgsCOBlue Chip Wrestling Club
Kasey Baynon53 kgsGALion Wrestling Club
Katherine Shai53 kgsCOTitan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Stefana Jelacic53 kgsAZSunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Tiare Ikei53 kgsCOTitan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)

57kgs

The three most accomplished women at this weight internationally are 2019 Pan Am champ Alexandra Hendrick, 2016 Cadet world champ and two-time Cadet world medalist Ronna Heaton, and Lauren Louive, who competed in four international tournaments in 2019 and earned bronze medals at the Dave Schultz and Klippan Lady Open.

This weight offers some intrigue as its three most accomplished wrestlers all migrated to 57kg from non-Olympic weights last season. Since no registered wrestlers at this weight have qualified for the Olympic Trials, the finals match is guaranteed to be for a spot in State College.

Currently registered at 57kgs

Alexandra Hedrick57 kgsCATitan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Allison Petix57 kgsNVLundell Wrestling Club
Alma Valencia57 kgsPANittany Lion Wrestling Club
Koral Sugiyama57 kgsID
Lauren Louive57 kgsOHNew York Athletic Club
Maria Manzueta57 kgsWA
Ronna Heaton57 kgsWISunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Xochitl Mota-Pettis57 kgsTXRise Wrestling

62kgs

World bronze medalist Malory Velte seems to be the favorite at this weight in another stacked field. She fell just short of making the world team this year dropping two matches to her rival Kayla Miracle at Final X: Lincoln.

Junior world bronze medalist Alexis Porter has been rounding into senior-level form and could also be a contender here.

One of the most interesting entries at 62kg is Julia Salata, who made the semifinals at the 2016 Olympic Trials up at 69kg and wrestled in Final X - Lehigh last year at 65kg. Salata at 62 could be a big problem for this field.

Here's Salata's win in the 2018 U.S. Open finals:

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Currently registered at 62kgs

*Already qualified for the Olympic Trials

Alexis Porter62 kgsNYNew York Athletic Club
Emma Bruntil62 kgsWA
Gabrielle Lord-Klein62 kgsWI
Julia Salata62 kgsMINew York Athletic Club
Katrin Pokalyukhin62 kgsNYEdge Hoboken
*Mallory Velte62 kgsCATitan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Marlee Smith62 kgsNJSunkist Kids Wrestling Club
Maya Porter62 kgsNYJOURNEYMEN WRESTLING CLUB
Nahiela Magee62 kgsCA

68kg

The 2018 U23 world bronze medalist Alexandria Glaude is the probably the most accomplished wrestler at this weight. In addition to her U23 world medal, she also qualified for Final X - Rutgers where she lost to 2019 world champion Tamyra Mensah-Stock.

While Glaude might be the favorite, this is another deep weight. Rachel Watters, Jayden Laurent, Kayla Marano, Ashlynn Ortega, Morgan Norris, and Tiyahna Askew have all made age-level world teams.

On top of that, Randi Beltz, the 2019 U.S. Open champ, is a threat at this weight as she has been having senior-level success since 2012. This Farrell title is anything but a lock for Glaude.

Currently registered at 68kgs

Alexandria Glaude68 kgsCATitan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Ashlynn Ortega68 kgsCOTeam Tornado Wrestling Club
Jayden Laurent68 kgsWITitan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Kayla Marano68 kgsGALion Wrestling Club
Morgan Norris68 kgsNVBlue Chip Wrestling Club
Rachel Watters68 kgsIANew York Athletic Club
Randi Beltz68 kgsCAArmy (WCAP)
Skylar Grote68 kgsNJNew York Athletic Club
Tiyahna Askew68 kgsGA

76kgs

We may see more entries at this weight, but so far, only four women have registered. Precious Bell was this year's U.S. Open Champion and our U23 world teamer. She was second in line on the senior level after dropping two matches to five-time world champion Adeline Gray at Final X - Lincoln.

Dymond Guilford made a Junior world team last year and won a silver medal at the Pan Am Championships this summer while Hannah Gladden won a Pan Am bronze the same year. Iman Kazem wrestled overseas this summer at both the Canada Cup and the Poland Open.

Check out Precious Bell's U.S. Open win over Gladden here:

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Currently registered at 76kgs

Dymond Guilford76 kgsCATitan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)
Hannah Gladden76 kgsGALion Wrestling Club
Iman Kazem76 kgsCA
Precious Bell76 kgsCATitan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)