Get to know your women's freestyle wrestling team in advance of the Junior World Championships held in Ufa, Russia on August 16-22.
Emily Shilson
Weight: 50 kg
Hometown: Maple Grove, Minnesota
High School: Mounds View
College: Augsburg
Instagram: @emilyshilson22
What you need to know: Shilson is entering her junior year at Augsburg with an undefeated college career, winning a WCWA title in 2020 and WCWC titles in 2020 and 2021, all at 109 pounds. She also has a hefty international resume, including a silver medal at the 2017 Cadet Worlds and gold in 2018. Shilson qualified for the 2019 U23 Worlds and will participate in the event later this year.
Championship Series: Shilson over Samara Chavez, 2-0
Match One: Shilson def. Chavez, FALL 4:04
Match Two: Shiloson def. Chavez, FALL 5:04
Jaslynn Gallegos
Weight: 53 kg
Hometown: Brighton, Colorado
High School: Skyview
College: Presbyterian
Instagram: @jaslynn.isabella
What you need to know: Gallegos qualified for this year’s Junior World team following Tiare Ikei’s withdrawal due to an injury. She enters her junior year at Presbyterian as a two-time WCWC All-American (fourth in 2020 and third in 2021) and a 2020 WCWA national champion. Gallegos placed fifth at the 2019 Colorado boys’ state tournament — becoming the first female from the state to place.
Championship Series: Tiare Ikei over Gallegos, 2-0
Match One: Ikei def. Gallegos, 10-0
Match Two: Ikei def. Gallegos, FALL 2:48
Payton Stroud
Weight: 55 kg
Hometown: Buckley, Washington
High School: White River
College: McKendree
Instagram: @payton.stroud
What you need to know: Stroud is a two-time WCWC All-American for McKendree, placing eighth in 2020 and fifth in 2021 at 123 pounds. She is also a four-time Fargo All-American, placing third three times and fifth once.
Championship Series: Stroud over Amani Jones, 2-0
Match One: Stroud def. Jones, 14-3
Match Two: Stroud def. Jones, 10-6
Claire DiCugno
Weight: 57 kg
Hometown: Lake Tapps, Washington
High School: White River
College: Colorado Mesa
Instagram: @makaluri_dicugno
What you need to know: DiCugno won two Washington state titles and is a two-time Fargo All-American, placing fifth in the 16U division in 2018 and fourth in 2019. She committed to Colorado Mesa and will compete for the Mavericks in the fall.
Championship Series: DiCugno over Jennifer Soto, 2-1
Match One: Soto def. DiCugno, 7-4
Match Two: DiCugno def. Soto, 11-0
Match Three: DiCugno def Soto, 11-1
Mia Macaluso
Weight: 59 kg
Hometown: Otisville, New York
High School: Minisink Valley
College: East Stroudsburg+
Instagram: @mia.macaluso
What you need to know: Macaluso is a three-time Fargo All-American, bagging a 16U title in 2018. She will be a sophomore at East Stroudsburg after having last season canceled due to COVID-19. Macaluso won gold at the 2019 Cadet Pan American Championships and a bronze in the Junior division.
Championship Series: Macaluso over London Houston, 2-1
Match One: Macaluso def. Houston, FALL 2:13
Match Two: Houston def. Macaluso, 14-4
Match Three: Macaluso def. Houston, FALL 5:41
Korina Blades
Weight: 62 kg
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
High School: Wyoming Seminary
College: NA
Instagram: @korinablades
What you need to know: Blades qualified for Cadet and Junior World teams this year after going 13-0 between both qualification tournaments and outscoring her opponents 128-8. The 16-year-old went 2-1 at the Cadet Worlds in July and will join her older sister, Kennedy, on this year’s Junior team. She is also a 2019 U15 World champion.
Championship Series: Blades over Aliyah Yates, 2-0
Match One: Blades def. Yates, 10-0
Match Two: Blades def. Yates, 12-1
Alara Boyd
Weight: 65 kg
Hometown: Muncie, Indiana
High School: Yorktown
College: McKendree
Instagram: @alaraboyd_
What you need to know: Boyd enters her junior year at McKendree as a two-time WCWC finalist, placing second in 2020 and first in 2021. This will be her fourth age-level World team after bagging a bronze medal at the 2016 Cadet Worlds and a silver in 2017. Boyd is also a five-time Fargo All-American, winning a Junior title in 2019.
Championship Series: Boyd over Katerina Lange, 2-1
Match One: Lange def. Boyd, FALL:28
Match Two: Boyd def. Lange, 4-3
Match Three: Boyd def. Lange, 11-1
Amit Elor
Weight: 68 kg
Hometown: Walnut Creek, California
High School: College Park
College: NA
Instagram: @amitelor1
What you need to know: Elor won the Cadet World Championships in July after winning a bronze medal in 2019. She won all 12 of her matches by fall or technical superiority at the Cadet and Junior World Team Trials without surrendering a point. The 17-year-old only wrestled her freshman season of high school where she went 44-0 with 44 pins to win the California girls' state championships.
Championship Series: Elor over Cheyenne Bowman, 2-0
Match One: Elor def. Bowman, FALL 1:30
Match Two: Elor def. Bowman, 10-0
Kennedy Blades
Weight: 72 kg
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
High School: Wyoming Seminary
College: NA
Instagram: @kennedyblades
What you need to know: Blades made a splash this year by making the finals of the 68-kg Olympic Trials at the age of 17. Her run included a dominant win over two-time Senior-level World team member Forrest Molinari before falling in the finals to the 2019 World champion and 2020 Olympic gold medalist Tamyra Mensah-Stock. Blades is already a three-time Fargo national champion — winning a 16U title in 2018 and double titles in 2019 — and a 2019 Cadet World teamer. She will also compete at the U23 World Championships later this year.
Championship Series: Blades over Lillian Freitas, 2-0
Freitas forfeited both matches
Kylie Welker
Weight: 76 kg
Hometown: Waterford, Wisconsin
High School: Burlington
College: NA
Instagram: @kyliewelker24
What you need to know: Welker made both the Junior and U23 World teams this year prior to a dominant win at Junior Nationals in July. The 17-year-old reached the finals of the Olympic Trials where she fell to five-time World champion Adeline Gray in the best-of-three series. She’s already scored a bronze medal at the 2019 Cadet Worlds and is searching for more this year.
Championship series: Welker over Yelena Makoyed, 2-0
Match One: Welker over Makoyed, FALL 1:17
Match Two: Welker over Makoyed, 13-2