U23 champion Amani Jones in her first match of the best-of-three series at the 2024 USMC Women's National Championships.

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Crull, Jones, Nwachukwu among repeat champions at USMC U23 Women’s National Championships

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by Savannah Asmann, USA Wrestling

The U23 division at the 2024 U.S. Marine Corps Women’s National Championships concluded on Saturday in Spokane, Washington, with 10 winners crowned following a best-of-three series at each weight class.

Winners at each weight class for the U23 tournament secured a spot on the 2024 U23 Pan American Championships team that is slated to compete in Rionegro, Colombia, June 21-22. The champions in the U23 division are not guaranteed a spot on the 2024 U23 World Team. For more information on the team selection procedures, visit themat.com.

Just two of the best-of-three finals series went the full three bouts, while eight were decided following the second matches. Watch all champion interviews on the USA Wrestling YouTube channel.

To open the session, Heather Crull defeated Sterling Dias in a 10-3 decision. Crull, a U17 World bronze medalist, started the match with a 7-3 lead after the first period. She tacked on three points to hold the lead going into match two. Crull got to work quick in the second match, holding a 6-0 lead through the first three minutes. Four points in the second put her ahead 10-0 to end the match early. She will also be competing in the U20 division at this tournament. Crull was named the Most Oustanding Wreslter in the U23 division.

At 53 kg, Elena Ivaldi came from behind in both of her matches to claim the series over Jaslynn Gallegos, two matches to none. Ivaldi, down 10-2 after the first period, tacked on six points before sealing the win with a fall at 5:18 over Gallegos. Entering the second bout, Gallegos had a 6-0 lead before Ivaldi tied up the leg lace, got to work and won 10-6 as time expired. Ivaldi was a 2022 U17 World Team member.

Returning champion from the U20 division Amani Jones was able to repeat last year’s result, defeating Montana DeLawder two matches to none in the best-of-three series at 55 kg. A slow first period in the first bout saw the score tied, but Jones was able to earn a takedown to lead. The score reached 5-1 with just four seconds left in the match, sealing the win for Jones. In match two, a monster throw by Jones put her ahead 8-1 for the national title.

Sofia Macaluso, a 2022 U20 World silver medalist, defeated Carissa Qureshi two matches to none in the championship series at 57 kg. Coming off of a third place finish at the Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier, Macaluso won both matches by fall, the first coming at 5:31 and the second at 4:36.

The championship series at 59 kg was one of two that went the distance, with Skye Realin pulling out the win over YeLe Aycock. In the first match, it was Realin that took the early lead with a 9-5 decision. Aycock used a 5-3 decision to even the series, forcing a third match. Realin jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the first period, but Aycock tallied two points on step outs to even the score. Realin led on criteria, but with just seconds to go, Aycock appeared to score a takedown on the edge. Realin’s corner challenged the call, claiming that it should have been a step out point in her favor, and the call was reversed with Realin winning the series 2-1.

Adaugo Nwachukwu, last year’s champion in both the U20 and U23 divisions, repeated her result and won the 62 kg best-of-three series over Marisol Nugent. In the first match, Nwachukwu pulled out the 8-1 decision. Bout two saw Nwachukwu refuse to give up a point. Two blast doubles from Nwachukwu sealed the 12-0 win.

At 65 kg, Aine Drury won the best of three series over four-time age-group World Team member Alara Boyd. In the first match, Drury scored six unanswered points late in the second period to secure the 6-1 decision. She captured the series two matches to none with a 5-3 decision in the second match.

The second series of the day to go to three matches was the championships series at 68 kg. Senior National Team member Brooklyn Hays dropped the first bout, a close 3-2 decision, to Nina Makem. Hays defended an attack from Makem in the second bout and was able to secure the win by fall at 5:12, getting Makem to her back on the reattack. The third match saw Hays maintain control throughout, eventually pinning Makem at 3:49.

Jasmine Robinson, last year’s champion at 69 kg in the U17 division, won her series 2-0 after her opponent London Houston injury defaulted 59 seconds into their first match. She was unable to wrestle in the second match, and the series went to Robinson.

At 76 kg, Tristan Kelly was nothing short of dominant, defeating Bo Geibe two matches to none. Kelly pinned Geibe 34 seconds into the first match, earning an eight-point lead before the fall. Match two saw a similar result, with a win by fall one minute in.

For full brackets and results of the U23 division at the 2024 U.S. Marine Corps Women’s National Championships, visit Trackwrestling.com. Replays of the matches are available on FloWrestling (subscription required).

2024 U.S. Marine Corps Women’s National Championships
At Spokane, Washington, April 12-14

Full Results

50 kg – Best-of-three series

1st Place - Heather Crull of IN

2nd Place - Sterling Dias of NV

Round 1

Heather Crull (IN) won by decision over Sterling Dias (NV) (Dec 10-3)

Round 2

Heather Crull (IN) won by tech fall over Sterling Dias (NV) (TF 10-0)

53 kg – Best-of-three series

1st Place - Elena Ivaldi of CA

2nd Place - Jaslynn Gallegos of CO

Round 1

Elena Ivaldi (CA) won by fall over Jaslynn Gallegos (CO) (Fall 5:18)

Round 2

Elena Ivaldi (CA) won by decision over Jaslynn Gallegos (CO) (Dec 10-6)

55 kg – Best-of-three series

1st Place - Amani Jones of GA

2nd Place - Montana DeLawder of PA

Round 1

Amani Jones (GA) won by decision over Montana DeLawder (PA) (Dec 5-1)

Round 2

Amani Jones (GA) won by decision over Montana DeLawder (PA) (Dec 8-1)

57 kg – Best-of-three series

1st Place - Sofia Macaluso of NY

2nd Place - Carissa Qureshi of CA

Round 1

Sofia Macaluso (NY) won by fall over Carissa Qureshi (CA) (Fall 5:31)

Round 2

Sofia Macaluso (NY) won by fall over Carissa Qureshi (CA) (Fall 4:36)

59 kg – Best-of-three series

1st Place - Skye Realin of HI

2nd Place - YeLe Aycock of NM

Round 1

Skye Realin (HI) won by decision over YeLe Aycock (NM) (Dec 9-5)

Round 2

YeLe Aycock (NM) won by decision over Skye Realin (HI) (Dec 5-3)

Round 3

Skye Realin (HI) won by decision over YeLe Aycock (NM) (Dec 3-2)

62 kg – Best-of-three series

1st Place - Adaugo Nwachukwu of CO

2nd Place - Marisol Nugent of MA

Round 1

Adaugo Nwachukwu (CO) won by decision over Marisol Nugent (MA) (Dec 8-1)

Round 2

Adaugo Nwachukwu (CO) won by tech fall over Marisol Nugent (MA) (TF 12-0)

65 kg – Best-of-three series

1st Place - Aine Drury of CA

2nd Place - Alara Boyd of IL

Round 1

Aine Drury (CA) won by decision over Alara Boyd (IL) (Dec 6-1)

Round 2

Aine Drury (CA) won by decision over Alara Boyd (IL) (Dec 5-3)

68 kg – Best-of-three series

1st Place - Brooklyn Hays of UT

2nd Place - Nina Makem of MN

Round 1

Nina Makem (MN) won by decision over Brooklyn Hays (UT) (Dec 3-2)

Round 2

Brooklyn Hays (UT) won by fall over Nina Makem (MN) (Fall 5:12)

Round 3

Brooklyn Hays (UT) won by fall over Nina Makem (MN) (Fall 3:49)

72 kg – Best-of-three series

1st Place - Jasmine Robinson of TX

2nd Place - London Houston of WA

Round 1

Jasmine Robinson (TX) won by injury default over London Houston (WA) (Inj. 0:59)

Round 2

Jasmine Robinson (TX) won by injury default over London Houston (WA) (Inj. 0:00)

76 kg – Best-of-three series

1st Place - Tristan Kelly of CO

2nd Place - Bo Geibe of MI

Round 1

Tristan Kelly (CO) won by fall over Bo Geibe (MI) (Fall 0:34)

Round 2

Tristan Kelly (CO) won by fall over Bo Geibe (MI) (Fall 1:00)

50 kg

1st Place - Heather Crull of IN

2nd Place - Sterling Dias of NV

3rd Place - Makenize Smith of IN

4th Place - Avy Perez of CA

5th Place - Alexis Miller of OK

6th Place - Kayla McKinley-Johnson of WA

7th Place - Nizhoni Tallman-Olney of WA

8th Place - Madison Heinzer of CA

1st Place Match

Heather Crull (IN) won by tech fall over Sterling Dias (NV) (TF 10-0)

3rd Place Match

Makenize Smith (IN) won by fall over Avy Perez (CA) (Fall 2:17)

5th Place Match

Alexis Miller (OK) won by forfeit over Kayla McKinley-Johnson (WA) (FF)

7th Place Match

Nizhoni Tallman-Olney (WA) won by decision over Madison Heinzer (CA) (Dec 14-10)

53 kg

1st Place - Elena Ivaldi of CA

2nd Place - Jaslynn Gallegos of CO

3rd Place - Eden Hernandez of CA

4th Place - Chloe Ayres of CA

5th Place - Jasmine Howard of TX

6th Place - Carleigh Czerneski of MI

7th Place - Dianna Holmes of GA

8th Place - Katherine Heath of TX

1st Place Match

Elena Ivaldi (CA) won by decision over Jaslynn Gallegos (CO) (Dec 10-6)

3rd Place Match

Eden Hernandez (CA) won by decision over Chloe Ayres (CA) (Dec 10-2)

5th Place Match

Jasmine Howard (TX) won by decision over Carleigh Czerneski (MI) (Dec 6-2)

7th Place Match

Dianna Holmes (GA) won by tech fall over Katherine Heath (TX) (TF 10-0)

55 kg

1st Place - Amani Jones of GA

2nd Place - Montana DeLawder of PA

3rd Place - Ella Jauregui of CA

4th Place - Mateah Roehl of WI

5th Place - Mia Macaluso of NY

6th Place - Maya Davis of IL

7th Place - Catharine Campbell of IN

8th Place - Mikayla Garcia of CA

1st Place Match

Amani Jones (GA) won by decision over Montana DeLawder (PA) (Dec 8-1)

3rd Place Match

Ella Jauregui (CA) won by tech fall over Mateah Roehl (WI) (TF 14-4)

5th Place Match

Mia Macaluso (NY) won by fall over Maya Davis (IL) (Fall 1:50)

7th Place Match

Catharine Campbell (IN) won by decision over Mikayla Garcia (CA) (Dec 10-5)

57 kg

1st Place - Sofia Macaluso of NY

2nd Place - Carissa Qureshi of CA

3rd Place - Haley Narahara of HI

4th Place - Asia Nguyen-Smith of IL

5th Place - Sara Sterner of CA

6th Place - Ashley Whetzal of VA

7th Place - Rose Kaplan of IN

8th Place - Payton Stroud of WA

1st Place Match

Sofia Macaluso (NY) won by fall over Carissa Qureshi (CA) (Fall 4:36)

3rd Place Match

Haley Narahara (HI) won by decision over Asia Nguyen-Smith (IL) (Dec 10-6)

5th Place Match

Sara Sterner (CA) won by forfeit over Ashley Whetzal (VA) (FF)

7th Place Match

Rose Kaplan (IN) won by forfeit over Payton Stroud (WA) (FF)

59 kg

1st Place - Skye Realin of HI

2nd Place - YeLe Aycock of NM

3rd Place - Larissa Kaz of WI

4th Place - Ngao Shoua Whitethorn of WI

5th Place - Cindy Zepeda of CA

6th Place - Jazmene Molina of NY

7th Place - Tonya Flournory of NC

8th Place - Ashlee Palimoo of HI

1st Place Match

Skye Realin (HI) won by decision over YeLe Aycock (NM) (Dec 3-2)

3rd Place Match

Larissa Kaz (WI) won by forfeit over Ngao Shoua Whitethorn (WI) (FF)

5th Place Match

Cindy Zepeda (CA) won by fall over Jazmene Molina (NY) (Fall 1:20)

7th Place Match

Tonya Flournory (NC) won by decision over Ashlee Palimoo (HI) (Dec 5-3)

62 kg

1st Place - Adaugo Nwachukwu of CO

2nd Place - Marisol Nugent of MA

3rd Place - Claire DiCugno of WA

4th Place - Alexandra Szkotnicki of MD

5th Place - Emmily Patneaud of CA

6th Place - Niya Gaines of IL

7th Place - Emma Grimm of IA

8th Place - Samantha Barragan of CA

1st Place Match

Adaugo Nwachukwu (CO) won by tech fall over Marisol Nugent (MA) (TF 12-0)

3rd Place Match

Claire DiCugno (WA) won by tech fall over Alexandra Szkotnicki (MD) (TF 11-0)

5th Place Match

Emmily Patneaud (CA) won by decision over Niya Gaines (IL) (Dec 4-4)

7th Place Match

Emma Grimm (IA) won by decision over Samantha Barragan (CA) (Dec 11-10)

65 kg

1st Place - Aine Drury of CA

2nd Place - Alara Boyd of IL

3rd Place - Emma Walker of TN

4th Place - Viktorya Torres of WA

5th Place - Jordan Suarez of TX

6th Place - Amelia Fawcett of AK

7th Place - Alexandra Lopez of CA

8th Place - Aevri Ciha of WI

1st Place Match

Aine Drury (CA) won by decision over Alara Boyd (IL) (Dec 5-3)

3rd Place Match

Emma Walker (TN) won by fall over Viktorya Torres (WA) (Fall 0:48)

5th Place Match

Jordan Suarez (TX) won by tech fall over Amelia Fawcett (AK) (TF 11-1)

7th Place Match

Alexandra Lopez (CA) won by tech fall over Aevri Ciha (WI) (TF 10-0)

68 kg

1st Place - Brooklyn Hays of UT

2nd Place - Nina Makem of MN

3rd Place - Riley Aamold of WA

4th Place - Liv Wieber of ID

5th Place - Celina Cooke of NV

6th Place - Chloe Ogden of FL

7th Place - Ferny Hernandez of IA

8th Place - Stephanie Chavez of CA

1st Place Match

Brooklyn Hays (UT) won by fall over Nina Makem (MN) (Fall 3:49)

3rd Place Match

Riley Aamold (WA) won by tech fall over Liv Wieber (ID) (TF 11-0)

5th Place Match

Celina Cooke (NV) won by injury default over Chloe Ogden (FL) (Inj. 0:00)

7th Place Match

Ferny Hernandez (IA) won by forfeit over Stephanie Chavez (CA) (FF)

72 kg

1st Place - Jasmine Robinson of TX

2nd Place - London Houston of WA

3rd Place - Aspen Barber of CO

4th Place - Noelle Gaffney of NJ

5th Place - Lydia Krauss of MI

6th Place - Skylah Chakouian of RI

7th Place - Emma E Matera of NJ

8th Place - Desiree Jones of CA

1st Place Match

Jasmine Robinson (TX) won by injury default over London Houston (WA) (Inj. 0:00)

3rd Place Match

Aspen Barber (CO) won by decision over Noelle Gaffney (NJ) (Dec 3-3)

5th Place Match

Lydia Krauss (MI) won by fall over Skylah Chakouian (RI) (Fall 2:51)

7th Place Match

Emma E Matera (NJ) won by forfeit over Desiree Jones (CA) (FF)

76 kg

1st Place - Tristan Kelly of CO

2nd Place - Bo Geibe of MI

3rd Place - Kalila Shrive of CA

4th Place - Shenita Lawson of TX

5th Place - Liliana Vergara of CA

6th Place - Nikita Dhaliwal of CA

7th Place - Grace Doering of IN

8th Place - Katelyn Lewis of WI

1st Place Match

Tristan Kelly (CO) won by fall over Bo Geibe (MI) (Fall 1:00)

3rd Place Match

Kalila Shrive (CA) won by tech fall over Shenita Lawson (TX) (TF 12-1)

5th Place Match

Liliana Vergara (CA) won by injury default over Nikita Dhaliwal (CA) (Inj. 0:00)

7th Place Match

Grace Doering (IN) won by decision over Katelyn Lewis (WI) (Dec 5-1)

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