Janiak, Robinson among finalists at USMC U20 Women’s Nationals

Saturday afternoon marked the start of the U20 women's freestyle events at the 2024 U.S. Marine Corps Women's National Championships in Spokane, Washington. All matches up to the semifinals were contested, setting up the medal rounds and best-of-three finals set for Sunday morning.

At 50 kg, Anaya Falcon of California has had one of the strongest tournaments in the field so far. Falcon, who placed third in the U23 division at last year’s event, used two falls, two decisions and a technical fall. Falcon defeated U23 champion Heather Crull in the quarterfinals by fall at 4:53. She faces Nyla Valencia of California in the finals. Valencia, a 2022 U23 World Team member, reached the finals with a fall and three technical falls.

Clare Booe of Florida, a 2023 Fargo champion and seventh place finisher at December 2023 Senior Nationals, will face Brianna Gonzalez of California. Gonzalez is a 2021 U17 Pan American Championships gold medalist. Booe’s route to the finals included two technical falls, a pin and a 9-4 semifinal decision. Gonzalez’s path included two falls and a technical fall.

At 55 kg, Zao Estrada of South Carolina will see Cristelle Rodriguez of California in the best-of-three series. Estrada, a 2019 U15 Pan American Championships bronze medalist, saw her tournament begin with three consecutive technical falls. In the semifinals, Estrada pinned her opponent at 1:55. Rodriguez is a two-time age-group World Team member and earned a silver medal at the 2019 U17 World Championships.

Everest Leydecker of Arizona, the 57 kg champion from the U17 division, is back in the finals. Leydecker is a 2023 U17 World Team member and used three technical falls and a fall in the quarterfinals to return to the best-of-three series at the U20 level. She meets Carissa Qureshi of California, who was a finalist in the U23 division, in the finals series.

2023 U20 World bronze medalist Alexis Janiak of Illinois faces off against 2023 Fargo champion Aubre Krazer of Pennsylvania in the finals series at 59 kg. Krazer navigated a tough bracket that included a win over 2023 U20 Pan American Championships gold medalist Sarah Savidge in the semifinals.

At 62 kg, 2023 U17 Pan American Championships gold medalist Cadence Diduch of Illinois squares off against 2019 U17 World silver medalist Skylar Hattendorf of New Hampshire in the best-of-three championship series. Diduch recorded three technical falls and one close 8-8 criteria decision to advance to the finals. On the other side, Hattendorf saw two technical falls and two decisions, going 4-0 on the first day of U20 action.

Reese Larramendy of Nevada faces Ella Schmit of Iowa in the finals series at 65 kg. Larramendy, a 2022 U20 World Team member, placed third in the tournament last year. Schmit returns to the finals after placing second at last year’s event in the same weight class and division.

It’s Destiny Rodriguez of Oregon facing Caitlyn Davis of South Carolina in the finals series at 68 kg. Rodriguez, a 2022 U20 World Team member, went 3-0 on the first day of action. Davis is a 2024 NAIA Women Cascade Collegiate Conference champion for Southern Oregon.

At 72 kg, U23 National champion Jasmine Robinson of Texas is back in the finals. Robinson, a 2023 U17 World bronze medalist, won the U17 division last year and bumped up to compete in both the U20 and U23 divisions at this event. Her best-of-three finals opponent is Shannon Workinger of Washington. Workinger placed fifth at this tournament last year, and used three quick falls and a decision in the quarterfinals to advance.

In the championship series at 76 kg, Naomi Simon of Iowa matches up against Kalila Shrive of California. Simon, a 2023 Fargo champion, logged three falls and one technical fall on day one. In the round of eight, Simon pinned U23 finalist Bo Geibe of Michigan to advance. She faces a tough opponent in Shrive, who has held her opponents to just two points this tournament.

The finals are slated to begin at 10 a.m. (PDT) on Sunday in Spokane. For full results and updated brackets, click here. The tournament will be broadcast live online at FloWrestling.com (subscription required). Brackets and live results will be hosted on Trackwrestling.com.