Grote, Makoyed, Winchester to wrestle for women’s freestyle gold at Zagreb Open Ranking Event

ZAGREB, Croatia – Three women’s freestyle athletes are set to wrestle for gold after the first two sessions at the 2025 Zagreb Open Ranking Event in Zagreb, Croatia.

Skylar Grote went 3-0 in the morning session at 72 kg, outscoring her opponents 31-0. Grote went to work quickly in her opening match, defeating Noemi Osvath Nagy of Hungary, a two-time age-group World medalist, 10-0. In round two, Grote secured a takedown before tying up the leg lace and ending the match quickly against 2024 U17 World bronze medalist Zahra Karimzada of Azerbaijan.

Grote then defeated 2023 U17 World Champion Veronika Vilk of Croatia in a 10-0 technical fall in just 2:42. In round five, Grote will battle it out against Pauline Lecarpentier of France for gold. Lecarpentier is an experienced competitor and has competed at five age-group/Senior World Championships since 2014.

At 76 kg, Yelena Makoyed completed the first sessions of the day with two pins. Makoyed opened the tournament against Kamile Gaucaite of Lithuania, a 2023 U23 World bronze medalist and four-time Senior World Team member. She earned the victory 72 seconds into the match.

Makoyed continued her streak of dominance with a fall at 1:44 against Individual Neutral Athlete Valeriia Trifonova. Prior to the fall, she led 9-4 over 2024 U23 World bronze medalist Trifonova. While Makoyed competed and won a U23 World gold medal, the two did not meet in that tournament last fall.

In the next round, Makoyed matches up against Veronika Nyikos of Hungary, who went 0-2 in the first session. Nyikos is a two-time U20 World bronze medalist.

At 57 kg, Olympian and 2019 Senior World champion Jacarra Winchester is set two wrestle her first match of the day in the final session. There are only two athletes competing at 57 kg, and she will face Zhala Aliyeva of Azerbaijan, a 2024 U23 World Champion and 2023 U23 World silver medalist.

The action continues at noon EST with the women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman medal matches. For live updates, follow USA Wrestling on X and Threads. The tournament is streaming on FloWrestling, and the full schedule is below. Brackets and results are available on UWW Arena.

At Zagreb, Croatia, February 5-9, 2025

U.S. Women’s freestyle results

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

Vs. Zhala Aliyeva (Azerbaijan)

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

WIN Noemi Osvath Nagy (Hungary), 10-0

WIN Zahra Karimzada (Azerbaijan), 10-0

WIN Veronika Vilk (Croatia), 11-0

Vs. Pauline Lecarpentier (France)

76 kg – Yelena Makoyed (Orangevale, Calif./Titan Mercury WC), in gold medal match

WIN Kamile Gaucaite (Lithuania), fall 1:12

WIN Valeriia Trifonova (AIN), fall 1:44

Vs. Veronika Nyikos (Hungary)

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

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)