Rodriguez, Janiak among skilled women’s freestyle team set for U20 World Championships

The U20 World Championships kick off on September 2, with women’s freestyle action to begin on September 4 in Pontevedra, Spain. Team USA is bringing a talented squad, led by several past age-group World medalists.

Cristelle Rodriguez, slated to compete at 55 kg in Spain, has extensive experience on the World stage. Rodriguez secured a silver medal at the 2019 U17 World Championships, and placed 12^th at the 2023 U20 World Championships. This year, Rodriguez won the U20 Women’s Nationals and picked up a silver medal at the Grand Prix of Spain, a senior level tournament. She will be a standout contender for the United States in Pontevedra.

2023 U20 World bronze medalist Alexis Janiak is another athlete with significant experience who looks to finish higher on the podium this year. Janiak has continued to excel in 2024, winning the U20 Women’s Nationals and securing another bronze at the Grand Prix of Spain in July.

Two-time age-group World Team member Jasmine Robinson has been on a rise, capturing titles in both the U20 and U23 divisions at Women’s Nationals in April. Robinson earned a bronze at the 2023 U17 World Championships, and a bronze at the Grand Prix of Spain earlier this year. Robinson will compete at 72 kg at the U20 World Championships.

At 65 kg, Reese Larramendy brings both experience and recent success to the 65 kg division. Larramendy placed fifth at the 2022 U20 World Championships, and has built a nice resume since that event. She placed fourth at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Challenge Tournament and fourth at the Grand Prix of Spain.

Cadence Diduch, set to compete at 62 kg, is another athlete rising through the ranks, securing a gold medal at the 2023 U17 Pan American Championships. In 2024, Diduch claimed the U20 Women’s Nationals title and won bronze at the Grand Prix of Spain.

In 2024, Brianna Gonzalez captured the U20 Women’s Nationals title and finished fifth at the Grand Prix of Spain. Gonzalez’s past success and current form makes her a strong contender at  53 kg.

Carissa Qureshi has been on a steady rise, earning a bronze medal at the Grand Prix of Spain and a U20 Women’s Nationals title in 2024. Qureshi will compete at 57 kg next week.

Competing at 50 kg, Anaya Falcon will be making her World Championships debut. Falcon has one international tournament under her belt, placing seventh at the Grand Prix of Spain. Naomi Simon, the U.S. representative at 76 kg, joins Falcon as another athlete on her first World team. Simon placed fifth at the Grand Prix of Spain and looks to build on her international experience in Pontevedra. Caitlyn Davis, competing at 68 kg, also had a notable finish at the Grand Prix of Spain, where she placed fifth.

The 2024 U20 World Championships begin on September 2, and all of the action can be broadcast live on FloWrestling. USA Wrestling will provide updates on social media and themat.com. The full schedule is listed below, and Pontevedra, Spain, is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time.

At Pontevedra, Spain, September 2-8

50 kg: Anaya Falcon (Yorba Linda, Calif./Walnut HS Wrestling)

53 kg: Brianna Gonzalez (Baldwin, Calif./Iowa Women’s WC)

55 kg: Cristelle Rodriguez (Fresno, California/Titan Mercury WC)

57 kg: Carissa Qureshi (Irvine, Calif./Surfside RTC)

59 kg: Alexis Janiak (Plainfield, Illinois/SPAR Wrestling Academy)

62 kg: Cadence Diduch (Freeport, Ill./Alber Athletics WC)

65 kg: Reese Larramendy (Reno, Nev./Hawkeye WC)

68 kg: Caitlyn Davis (Hilton Head Island, S.C./Daughters of Zion Wrestling)

72 kg: Jasmine Robinson (Allen, Texas/Army WCAP)

76 kg: Naomi Simon (Decorah, Iowa/Iowa Women’s WC)

Coach: Jessica Medina

Coach: Randi Miller

Coach: Ashley (Sword) Flavin

Personal Coach: Camilo Ramirez

Personal Coach: Clarissa Chun

Personal Coach: Dana Vote

Personal Coach: Pete Escandon

Personal Coach: Justin Pearch

Personal Coach: Joshua Alber

Personal Coach: Jan Rosenberg

Personal Coach: Bruce Robinson

Athletic Trainer: Chad Smidt

Athletic Trainer: Lauren Werner

Medical Doctor: Ryan Hadden

Official: Randall Balch

Official: Ron Fazio

Official: James Stinson

Team Leader: Zac Dominguez

Men’s freestyle Team Leader: Tim Manning

Men’s freestyle Chaplain: Darryl Colbert

Women’s freestyle Chaplain: Andrea Shuler

NF Official: Christian Flavin

NF Official: Josh Schamberger

NF President: Bruce Baumgartner

NF Sec. General: Rich Bender

NF Media: Crescenzo Fano

*all times listed are local to Pontevedra, Spain, six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern

Monday, September 2

10:00 a.m. - Greco-Roman Qualification rounds: 55 kg, 63 kg, 77 kg, 87 kg, 130 kg

5:00 p.m. - Opening Ceremony

6:00 p.m. - Greco-Roman Semifinals: 55 kg, 63 kg, 77 kg, 87 kg, 130 kg

Tuesday, September 3

10:00 a.m. - Greco-Roman Repechage: 55 kg, 63 kg, 77 kg, 87 kg, 130 kg and Qualification rounds: 60 kg, 67 kg, 72 kg, 82 kg, 97 kg

4:45 p.m. - Greco-Roman Semifinals: 60 kg, 67 kg, 72 kg, 82 kg, 97 kg

6:00 p.m. - Greco-Roman Finals and Awards: 55 kg, 63 kg, 77 kg, 87 kg, 130 kg

Wednesday, September 4

10:00 a.m. - Greco-Roman Repechage: 60 kg, 67 kg, 72 kg, 82 kg, 97 kg and Women’s freestyle Qualification rounds: 50 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 68 kg, 76 kg

4:45 p.m. - Women’s freestyle Semifinals: 50 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 68 kg, 76 kg

6:00 p.m. - Greco-Roman Finals and Awards: 60 kg, 67 kg, 72 kg, 82 kg, 97 kg

Thursday, September 5

10:00 a.m. - Women’s freestyle Repechage: 50 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 68 kg, 76 kg and Women’s freestyle Qualification rounds: 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 65kg and 72 kg

4:45 p.m. - Women’s freestyle Semifinals: 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 65kg and 72 kg

6:00 p.m. - Women’s freestyle Finals and Awards: 50 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 68 kg, 76 kg

Friday, September 6

10:00 a.m. - Women’s freestyle Repechage: 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 65kg and 72 kg and Men’s freestyle Qualification rounds: 57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg and 97 kg

4:45 p.m. - Men’s freestyle Semifinals: 57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg and 97 kg

6:00 p.m. - Women’s freestyle Finals and Awards: 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 65kg and 72 kg

Saturday, September 7

10:00 a.m. - Men’s freestyle Repechage: 57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg and 97 kg and Men’s freestyle Qualification rounds: 61 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg and 125 kg

4:45 p.m. - Men’s freestyle Semifinals: 61 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg and 125 kg

6:00 p.m. - Men’s freestyle Finals and Awards: 57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg and 97 kg

Sunday, September 8

4:00 p.m. - Men’s freestyle Repechage: 61 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg and 125 kg

6:00 p.m. - Men’s freestyle Finals and Awards: 61 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg and 125 kg