Women's Weekly

Women's Weekly: International Tournament Season

Women's Weekly: International Tournament Season

July is filled with women's wrestling tournaments. See who is competing at various tournaments throughout the world.

Jul 8, 2022 by Kyle Klingman
Women's Weekly: International Tournament Season

The international wrestling season is in full swing with several major competitions happening in July. Here is what you can expect.

U20 Pan American Championships: Oaxtepec, Mexico, July 8-10

Team USA is sending a solid team to the Pan American championships that include second-place finishers from U20 nationals with the exception of Haley Ward who was third. 

50 kg: Sage Mortimer
53 kg: Estrella Dorado Marin
55 kg: Amani Jones
57 kg: Claire DiCugno
59 kg: Nanea Estrella
62 kg: Skylar Hattendorf
65 kg: Elleni Johnson
68 kg: Tiera Jimerson
72 kg: Haley Ward
76 kg: Rose Cassioppi

Grand Prix of Spain: Madrid, Spain, July 9-10

This tournament features 23 American women, including 15 age-level World teamers and four Final X participants.

50 kg: Nyla Valencia — U23 World team]
50 kg: Audrey Jimenez — U17 and U20 World team]
50 kg: Erin Golston
50 kg: Emily Shilson
53 kg: Felicity Taylor — U23 World team and Final X
53 kg: Katie Gomez — U20 World team
53 kg: Tiare Ikei
55 kg: Alisha Howk — U23 World team
55 kg: Adriana Dorado-Marin — U20 World team
55 kg: Lauren Mason
57 kg: Nichole Moore
57 kg: Sophia Macaluso — U20 World team
57 kg: Amanda Martinez
59 kg: Lexie Basham — U23 World team and Final X
59 kg: Savannah Cosme — U20 World team
62 kg: Alexandra Liles — U23 World team
65 kg: Reese Larramendy — U20 World team
65 kg: Chloe Ogden
68 kg: Sienna Ramirez — U23 World team and Final X
68 kg: Ana Luciano
68 kg: Destiny Rodriguez — U20 World team
76 kg: Yelena Makoyed — Final X
76 kg: Tristan Kelly — U20 World team

Zouhaier Sghaier International: Tunis, Tunisia, July 14-17

Six of 10 World teamers are expected to compete at the Zouhaier Sghaier International in several days. Here is a look at the projected lineup that includes Olympic champions Helen Maroulis and Tamyra Mensah-Stock. 

50 kg: Sarah Hildebrandt — World team
50 kg: Emily Shilson
53 kg: Dom Parrish — World team
55 kg: Alisha Howk
57 kg: Helen Maroulis — World team
57 kg: Amanda Martinez
65 kg: Emma Bruntil
68 kg: Tamyra Mensah Stock — World team
68 kg: Forrest Molinari
72 kg: Amit Elor — World team
72 kg: Skylar Grote — Final X
72 kg: Marilyn Garcia
76 kg: Dymond Guilford — World team
76 kg: Yelena Makoyed — Final X
76 kg: Precious Bell

2022 U17 World Championships: Rome, Italy, July 27-29

Get to know your U17 World team that will compete in Rome at the end of the month. 

Megan Valdez
Weight
Weight: 43 kg
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
High School: Wyoming Seminary
Grade: entering senior year
Club: Wyoming Seminary Wrestling Club
Instagram: @ericapastorizaa 

What you need to know: Pastoriza made her second trip to the Cadet Worlds after winning the 40 kg title in 2021. She was also a 2022 Tallinn Open champion and a 2021 winner at Who’s #1.

Gabriella Gomez
Weight: 46 kg
Hometown: Carol Stream, Illinois
High School: Glenbard North High School
Grade: entering junior year
Club: Gomez Wrestling RTC
Instagram: @gabriella_g22

What you need to know: Gomez was a 2021 16U National runner-up, U15 Girls National runner-up, and a UWW U17 All-American.

Audrey Jimenez
Weight: 49 kg
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
High School: Sunnyside High School
Grade: entering junior year (graduating early)
Club: Sunkist Kids
Instagram: @_audreyjimenez

What you need to know: Jimenez was a 2019 U15 Pan Am Championships gold medalist and bronze medalist at the 2021 Cadet World Championships 49 kg. She had an impressive run at this year’s Women’s Nationals, making U17 (Cadet) and U20 (Junior) World teams. 

Elena Ivaldi
Weight: 53 kg
Hometown: New Castle, California
High School: Del Oro High School
Grade: entering senior year
Club: MatTime
Instagram: @elenaaivaldi 

What you need to know: Ivaldi was a Fargo 16U All-American at 117 pounds and a 2022 California state champion. 

Shelby Moore
Weight: 57 kg
Hometown: Buckley, Washington
High School: White River High School
Grade: entering senior year
Club: Takedown Express
Instagram: @shelbymooore

What you need to know: Moore was a 2021 16U National champion and a USA Junior National champion. She also won the USA Wrestling High School Recruiting Showcase this year. 

Valerie Hamilton
Weight: 61 kg
Hometown: Gridley, Illinois
High School: El Paso-Gridley High School
Grade: entering junior year
Club: SOTC
Instagram: @valeriehamilton2409 

Lizzie Shunn
Weight: 65 kg
Hometown: Eagle Mountain, Utah
High School: Westlake High School
Grade: entering senior year
Club: Champions Wrestling Club
Instagram: @lizzieshunn 

What you need to know: Shunn was a 2021 16U National All-American and placed seventh at the 2021 High School Recruiting Showcase. 

Jasmine Robinson
Weight: 69 kg
Hometown: Allen, Texas
High School: Allen High School
Grade: entering junior year
Club: Best Trained Wrestling
Instagram: @jasminerobinson26

What you need to know: Robinson won U16 and Junior National titles in 2021 and was named Outstanding Wrestler in both tournaments.

Amarisa Manuel
Weight: 73 kg
Hometown: Washington, Michigan
High School: Romeo High School
Grade: entering junior year
Club: Michigan Revolution Wrestling Club
Instagram: @amarisa_man15

What you need to know: Manuel was on the Women’s Freestyle 16U National Team as the 144-pound runner-up. 

Women’s Spotlight

Audrey Jimenez made Cadet and Junior World teams this year. Learn how she won 13 matches over one weekend to represent the United States twice.

Women's Spotlight: Audrey Jimenez


Mensah to Shreiner

Tarkyia Mensah — sister of 2020 Olympic champion Tamyra — was recently named the head wrestling coach at Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas. Mensah was a three-time WCWA All-American for Wayland Baptist (2014-15, ‘17).

She Said It

“Wrestling is like a game of chess with your mind and body — a creative puzzle that takes every ounce of strength and will to solve. Every part of it is intense and it demands and present and focused mind. I love it.

“Because of wrestling, I walk through life confident in my abilities. This confidence affords me an increased degree of safety. I know if something is humanly possible, I have a chance because I’ve challenged myself in ways most people have not.”

— 2004 Olympian Tela O'Donnell during her recent TEDx Talk in Anchorage, Alaska