Winchester, Welker, Drury among women’s freestylers to advance to World Team Trials Championship Series

OMAHA, Neb. – 2019 World champion Jacarra Winchester and 2021 World Team member Kylie Welker were among the women’s freestyle stars who have advanced to Sunday’s best-of-three Championship Series at the World Team Trials after strong performances in Saturday’s Championship Series.

Winchester scored a 10-0 technical fall in her Challenge Tournament 59 kg semifinals match over Bridgette Duty to advance to Sunday’s finals series. She will battle past U.S. Open champion Michaela Beck in the finals, who also won by technical fall in the semifinals over Zoe Nowicki.

Welker won a 72 kg Challenge Tournament semifinals match over 2022 Pan American champion Skylar Grote in a 12-1 technical fall. Welker, a NCWWC nationals champion for Iowa, was also a 2021 U20 World champion.

Welker’s opponent in the Championship Series will be No. 1 seed Yelena Makoyed, who scored a 10-0 technical fall over Gretchen Donally in the semifinals. Welker and Makoyed have wrestled many times in the past, with Makoyed winning the most recent match at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, 6-4.

Aine Drury, a 2024 NCWWC Nationals runner-up for King University, upset 2023 World bronze medalist Jennifer Page in the Championship finals at 65 kg, by a 4-0 margin.

Drury advances to the 65 kg Championships Series finals against 2023 World silver medalist Macey Kilty, who advanced directly to finals series based upon the World Team procedures, by winning a medal at this weight class at the 2023 Senior Worlds.

The 55 kg Championship Series will feature the top two seeds, No. 1 seed Amanda Martinez against No. 2 seed Areana Villaescusa. Neither have made a previous Senior World Team. Martinez blasted Vayle Baker, 11-0 in her Challenge Tournament semifinals match, while Villaescusa shut out Felicity Taylor, 5-0.

The first round of the best-of-three Championship Series will be held alongside the men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman series at 10:00 a.m. CT. The second match, and third if necessary, in each series are scheduled for the 2:00 p.m. session CT.

The event is being broadcast live on FloWrestling https://flosports.link/3XCeNF6.

2024 Senior World Team Trials

Sept. 14, Omaha, Neb.

Best-of-three championship series matchups

Women’s freestyle

55 kg – Amanda Martinez (Cardinal WC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Areana Villaescusa (Army WCAP)

59 kg – Jacarra Winchester (USOPTC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Michaela Beck (USOPTC/Titan Mercury WC)

65 kg – Macey Kilty (Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Aine Drury (Team Tornado WC/New York AC)

72 kg – Yelena Makoyed (Cardinal WC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Kylie Welker (Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC)

Challenge tournament final results

Women’s freestyle

65 kg – Aine Drury (Team Tornado WC/New York AC) dec. Jennifer Page (Titan Mercury WC), 4-0

Challenge tournament semifinal results

Women’s freestyle

55 kg

Amanda Martinez (Cardinal WC/Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Vayle Baker (West Point WC/New York AC), 11-0

Areana Villaescusa (Army WCAP) dec. Felicity Taylor (Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC), 5-0

59 kg

Jacarra Winchester (USOPTC/Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Bridgette Duty (Army WCAP), 10-0

Michaela Beck (USOPTC/Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Zoe Nowicki (Bulldog WC), 12-0

65 kg

Jennifer Page (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Clarie DiCugno (Team Tornado WC), 10-0

Aine Drury (Team Tornado WC/New York AC) tech. fall Skylar Hattendorf (New York AC), 11-0

72 kg

Yelena Makoyed (Cardinal WC/Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Gretchen Donally (Colorado Mesa WC), 10-0

Kylie Welker (Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Skylar Grote (USOPTC/Titan Mercury WC), 12-1