Villaescusa wins bronze medal to jump start U.S. women’s freestyle at Zagreb Open Ranking Event

ZAGREB, Croatia – Team USA had one U.S. athlete competing in women’s freestyle on Thursday at the Zagreb Open Ranking Event, and she came home with a medal. 2024 Senior World Team member Areana Villaescusa powered to a bronze medal at 55 kg to get the U.S. team rolling.

Villaescusa was dominant in her bronze-medal match, scoring a 13-2 technical fall over three-time age-group World medalist Ekaterina Verbina, an Individual Neutral Athlete who hails from Russia. Trailing 2-0, Villaescusa nailed a four-point single leg takedown for a 4-2 lead. She added two more takedowns, then closed out the victory with two slick tilts. An AIN challenge was denied, making it a 13-2 final score.

Villaescusa fell in a 4-4 criteria decision in her first match to 2024 Senior World bronze medalist Tatiana Debien of France, who was the eventual champion.

There were two weight classes contested on Thursday, 55 kg and 50 kg. In spite of just one entry, the USA is in fourth place with 15 points among 11 nations, plus Individual Neutral Athletes who do not score team points. France leads with 40 points.

Four U.S. women athletes compete at the Zagreb Open Ranking Event on Friday morning as 59 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg and 68 kg will be held. 2024 Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades wrestles on Friday. On Saturday, three U.S. women compete, as action will be at 53 kg, 57 kg, 72 kg and 76 kg.

The tournament is streaming on FloWrestling, and the remaining schedule is below. Results and brackets are available on UWW Arena.

2025 Zagreb Open Ranking Event

At Zagreb, Croatia, February 5-9, 2025

Women’s freestyle results

50 kg

Gold - Nadezhda Sokolova (AIN)

Silver - Gabija Dilyte (Lithuania)

Bronze - Emma Luttenauer (Germany)

4^th - Kamila Barbosa Vito da Silva (Brazil)

Luttenauer (France) dec. Barbosa Vito Da Silva (Brazil), 9-4

Sokolova (AIN) tech fall Dilyte (Lithuania), 10-0

Dilyte (Lithuania) pin Barbosa Vito Da Silva (Brazil), 2:23

Sokolova (AIN) tech fall Luttenauer (France), 12-2

Sokolova (AIN) tech fall Barbosa Vito Da Silva (Brazil), 10-0

Dilyte (Lithuania) dec. Luttenauer (France), 5-3

55 kg

Gold –Tatiana Debien (France)

Silver - Samantha Stewart (USA)

Bronze – Areana Villaescusa (USA)

Bronze – Roza Szenttamasi (Hungary)

5^th - Ekaterina Verbina (AIN)

5^th - Elnura Mamadova (Azerbaijan)

7^th - Gerda Terek (Hungary)

8^th - Mariana Dragutan (Moldova)

Gold –Tatiana Debien (France) dec. Samantha Stewart (USA), 6-2

Bronze – Areana Villaescusa (USA) tech fall Ekaterina Verbina (AIN), 13-2

Bronze – Roza Szenttamasi (Hungary) pin Elnura Mamadova (Azerbaijan), 2:22

U.S. Women's freestyle results

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

LOSS Tatiana Debien (France), 4-4

WIN Ekaterina Verbina (AIN), tech fall. 13-2

Women's freestyle standings, after two weight classes

1. France, 40

2. Canada, 20

2. Lithuania, 20

4. United States, 15

5. Hungary, 15

(of 11 nations, plus AIN entries)

Remaining Schedule

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

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)