U.S. Women’s freestyle team receives draws for 2025 Zagreb Open Ranking Event in Croatia

The draw has been announced for women’s freestyle at the Zagreb Open Ranking Event, which will be held in Zagreb, Croatia this week. Team USA will be represented in women’s freestyle by eight athletes, including several past World and Olympic medalists.

2024 Olympic silver medalist and three-time age-group World medalist Kennedy Blades opens her tournament against Kendra Dacher of France, a two-time U23 World medalist and three-time Senior World Team member.

Senior World Champion Jacarra Winchester is set to compete at 57 kg. Winchester matches up against Zhala Aliyeva of Azerbaijan, a 2024 U23 World Champion and 2023 U23 World silver medalist. There are only two athletes in this bracket, and Winchester’s only match will be a gold medal match.

Yelena Makoyed, a 2024 U23 World Champion, will see Kamile Gaucaite of Lithuania in the first round of action. Gaucaite is a 2023 U23 World bronze medalist and four-time Senior World Team member.

Also competing at 55 kg, 2024 Senior World Team member Areana Villaescusa will face Tatiana Debien of France to start her tournament. Debien has been competing internationally since 2008, and is a 2024 Senior World bronze medalist and 2023 European Championships bronze medalist.

At 59 kg, U23 World Team member Sofia Macaluso is set to face 2024 U17 World bronze medalist Hiunai Hurbanova of Azerbaijan in her first match. Two-time Senior Pan American Championships medalist and two-time age-group World Team member Michaela Beck will see Erika Bognar of Hungary in the first round, Bognar is a 2017 Cadet World bronze medalist and two-time Senior World Team member.

Adaugo Nwachukwu, a 2022 U20 World bronze medalist and 2024 World Military Championships gold medalist, battles 2022 U23 World Team member Nikoletta Szabo of Hungary in her first match of the tournament.

Competing at 72 kg, Skylar Grote sees Noemi Osvath Nagy of Hungary, a two-time age-group World medalist, in her opening match in Zagreb.

Women’s freestyle will be contested over three days, beginning on Thursday. Villaescusa will open the tournament for the United States on Thursday at 55 kg. Four athletes start their runs at the Zagreb Open Ranking Event on Friday morning as 59 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg and 68 kg will begin action. On Saturday, athletes competing at 53 kg, 57 kg, 72 kg and 76 kg start their tournament.

Below is the first round draws for all of the USA athletes.

View the Zagreb Open brackets on UWW Arena. The full schedule is posted below.

Ranking Series events are part of the process which determine seeds at the Olympic Games and World Championships, as well as year-end awards given by United World Wrestling.

The event will broadcast live on FloWrestling. USA Wrestling will provide updates on our social platforms, X and Threads.

At Zagreb, Croatia, February 5-9, 2025

U.S. Women’s freestyle first round pairings

55 kg – Areana Villaescusa (Fountain, Colo./Army WCAP)

Vs. Tatiana Debien (France), 2024 Senior World bronze medalist, 2023 European Championship bronze medalist

57 kg – Jacarra Winchester (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC)

Vs. Zhala Aliyeva (Azerbaijan), 2024 U23 World Champion, 2023 U23 World silver medalist

59 kg – Sofia Macaluso (Otisville, N.Y./West Point WC)

Vs. Hiunai Hurbanova (Azerbaijan), 2024 U17 World bronze medalist

59 kg – Michaela Beck (New York, N.Y./Titan Mercury WC)

Vs. Erika Bognar (Hungary), 2017 Cadet World bronze medalist, two-time Senior World Team member

62 kg – Adaugo Nwachukwu (Fountain, Colo./Army WCAP)

Vs. Nikoletta Szabo (Hungary), 2022 U23 World Team member

68 kg – Kennedy Blades (Chicago, Ill./Izzy Style Wrestling/Titan Mercury WC)

Vs. Kendra Dacher (France), two-time U23 World medalist, three-time Senior World Team member

72 kg – Skylar Grote (Newton, N.J./Titan Mercury WC)

Vs. Noemi Osvath Nagy (Hungary), two-time age-group World medalist (bronze at 2024 U20 World Championships, bronze at 2021 U17 World Championships)

76 kg – Yelena Makoyed (Orangevale, Calif./Titan Mercury WC)

Vs. Kamile Gaucaite (Lithuania), 2023 U23 World bronze medalist, four-time Senior World Team member

*all times listed local to Zagreb, Croatia, which is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time

Thursday, February 6

10:30 a.m. – Qualification Rounds (MFS 79 kg, 92 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg, WFS 50 kg, 55 kg)

12:30 p.m. – Semifinal Rounds (MFS 79 kg, 92 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg, WFS 50 kg, 55 kg)

1:30 p.m. – Repechage (MFS 79 kg, 92 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg, WFS 50 kg, 55 kg)

6:00 p.m. – Finals (MFS 79 kg, 92 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg, WFS 50 kg, 55 kg)

Friday, February 7

10:30 a.m. – Qualification Rounds (WFS 59 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg, 68 kg, GR 63 kg, 67 kg)

12:30 p.m. – Semifinal Rounds (WFS 59 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg, 68 kg, GR 63 kg, 67 kg)

1:30 p.m. – Repechage (WFS 59 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg, 68 kg, GR 63 kg, 67 kg)

6:00 p.m. – Finals (WFS 59 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg, 68 kg, GR 63 kg, 67 kg)

Saturday, February 8

10:30 a.m. – Qualification Rounds (WFS 53 kg, 57 kg, 72 kg, 76 kg, GR 77 kg, 87 kg)

12:30 p.m. – Semifinal Rounds (WFS 53 kg, 57 kg, 72 kg, 76 kg, GR 77 kg, 87 kg)

1:30 p.m. – Repechage (WFS 53 kg, 57 kg, 72 kg, 76 kg, GR 77 kg, 87 kg)

6:00 p.m. – Finals (WFS 53 kg, 57 kg, 72 kg, 76 kg, GR 77 kg, 87 kg)

Sunday, February 9

10:00 a.m. – Qualification Rounds (GR 55 kg, 60 kg, 72 kg 82 kg, 97 kg, 130 kg)

12:30 p.m. – Semifinal Rounds (GR 55 kg, 60 kg, 72 kg 82 kg, 97 kg, 130 kg)

1:30 p.m. – Repechage (GR 55 kg, 60 kg, 72 kg 82 kg, 97 kg, 130 kg)

6:00 p.m. – Finals (GR 55 kg, 60 kg, 72 kg 82 kg, 97 kg, 130 kg)