Wrestle-offs for two weight classes for the 2024 U.S. U23 Women’s Freestyle Team will be held at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Thursday, June 27.

According to the Team Selection Process for the 2024 U23 Women’s World Team, in the non-Olympic weight classes (55 kg, 59 kg, 65 kg, 72 kg), there is the possibility for a Wrestle-off under these conditions:

Non-Olympic Categories: 55kg / 59kg / 65kg / 72kg

1. The age eligible Olympic Team Trials National Team member (top 4) at the six (6) Olympic weight categories can adjust weights and challenge the 2024 U23 National Champion for the U23 World Team spot at a Senior National Team Camp, June 23-29, 2024.

o If there is more than one challenger in a weight, there will be a single elimination tournament to determine who will challenge the 2024 U23 National Champion.

o There will be a best of three series between the 2024 U23 National Champion and the challenger to determine who will earn the spot.

Based upon these rules, there will be U23 World Team Wrestle-offs at 65 kg and 72 kg.

At 65 kg, 2024 U23 Nationals champion Aine Drury of King University will be challenged by Senior National Team members Adaugo Nwachukwu of WCAP and Claire DiCugno of King University. Nwachukwu is No. 3 on the Senior National Team at 62 kg, while DiCugno is No. 4 on the Senior National Team at 62 kg.

All three were successful college wrestlers in 2024. Drury was second in 2024 NCWWC Nationals for King University at 143 pounds. Nwachukwu is a three-time NAIA national champion, winning her title this year for William Penn at 136 pounds, while winning her first two for Iowa Wesleyan. DiCugno was a 2024 NCWWC Nationals champion at 136 pounds. Nwachukwu was named 2024 USA Wrestling Women’s College Wrestler of the Year.

Nwachukwu won a 2022 U20 World bronze medal and also competed on the 2023 U23 and U20 World Teams. DiCugno was a member of the 2021 U.S. U20 World Team.

There will be one match between Nwachukwu and DiCugno, with the winner facing Drury in a best-of-three series.

At 72 kg, 2024 U23 Nationals champion Jasmine Robinson of Texas will be challenged by Senior National Team member Kylie Welker of TMWC/Iowa Women’s WC. Welker is No. 4 at the Senior National Team at 76 kg.

Robinson is one of the nation’s top high school stars, a graduating senior who is No. 4 in the Pound-For-Pound rankings in the most recent National Girls High School Rankings. Welker was a 2024 NCWWC Nationals champion for the University of Iowa at 170 pounds.

Both athletes are past age-group World medalists. Welker was a 2021 U20 World champion, a 2023 U23 World bronze medalist and a 2019 U17 World bronze medalist. She also competed on the 2021 Senior World Team. Robinson was a 2023 U17 World bronze medalist and a member of the 2022 U17 World Team.

There will be a best-of-three series between Robinson and Welker to determine the team berth.

The final roster for the U23 Women’s World Team will be announced after the Wrestle-offs.

The 2024 U23 World Championships are set for Tirana, Albania, October 21-27.

U23 WOMEN’S WORLD TEAM WRESTLE-OFFS

At U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, Colo., June 27

Event Schedule

Thursday, June 27

11:00 am – Session One

65 kg preliminary - Adaugo Nwachukwu vs. Claire DiCugno

5 :00 pm Session Two (Best of Three series match order)

65 kg – Bout One – Aine Drury vs. winner of Nwachukwu/DiCugno

72 kg – Bout One - Jasmine Robinson vs. Kylie Welker

65 kg – Bout Two - Aine Drury vs. winner of Nwachukwu/DiCugno

72 kg - Bout Two - Jasmine Robinson vs. Kylie Welker

65 kg – Bout Three (if necessary) - Aine Drury vs. winner of Nwachukwu/DiCugno

72 kg - Bout Three (if necessary) - Jasmine Robinson vs. Kylie Welker

U23 Women’s World Team Wrestle-offs at 65 kg and 72 kg set for Colorado Springs, Colo., June 27

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