Radecki and Mathers unbeaten on day one of U17 action at Klippan Lady Open

KLIPPAN, Sweden - All three U.S. U17 women’s freestyle wrestlers entered in the Klippan Lady Open today have advanced to the second day of competition.

Unbeaten after the first day of the U17 competition are Natalie Radecki (43 kg) and Reagan Mathers (49 kg)

Radecki is unbeaten, winning both of her Pool B matches by pin, putting away Nina Majchrzak of Poland in 1:06 and Leja Schubler of Germany in 1:00. There will be one more round of Pool competition held to determine her next opponent.

Radecki was second in the 2024 16U Nationals, and third in the 2024 U17 Nationals.

Mathers won three straight matches in Pool A of her weight class. She opened with a pin of Patrycia Bukowski of Poland in 2:52, then scored decisions over Emmy Nerrell of Sweden, 5-3 and Denise Karlsson of Sweden, 6-3.

Mathers’ next opponent on Saturday in Pool A is Kari Bjerge of Norway, who went 2-0 on the first day. Berge was second in the 2024 Nordic U17 Championships.

Mathers burst onto the national scene in women’s freestyle this fall when she won a Super 32 title at 112 pounds. She was also a champion at the PNL event in Salt Lake City.

Finishing with a 2-1 record after the first day, but still alive in the hunt for a medal, is Emma Grimes (57 kg).

Grimes was pinned in her opening bout, then rallied with two straight pins of her own, decking Moa Westberg of Sweden in 1:29 and Carla Christiansen of Denmark in 1:43. Her next opponent will be determined Saturday morning.

Grimes was a runner-up at the 2023 U15 National Championships and placed third in the 2023 U14 National Championships.

All three were featured in the most recent National Girls High School rankings, with Mathers at No. 4 at 110 pounds, Grimes at No. 14 at 125 pounds and Radecki at No. 18 at 100 pounds.

The U17 division competition will conclude on Saturday morning, February 15. The Senior division starts on Saturday afternoon, February 15 and concludes on Sunday, February 16. There will be 11 U.S. entries in the Senior division,

Klippan, Sweden is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone. In the past, the hosts in Sweden have streamed this event.

KLIPPAN LADY OPEN

At Klippan, Sweden, Feb. 14

U.S. U17 division roster

43 kg - Natalie Radecki, Newark, Del.

WIN Nina Majchrzak (Poland), pin 1:06

WIN Leja Schubler (Germany), pin 1:00

Next opponent TBA

49 kg - Reagan Mathers, Phoenix, Ariz. (Thorobred WC/Valiant Prep)

WIN Patrycia Bukowski (Poland), pin 2:52

WIN Emmy Nerrell (Sweden), 5-3

WIN Denise Karlsson (Sweden), 6-3

Vs. Kari Bjerge (Norway)

57 kg - Emma Grimes, Plains, Pa. (Wyoming Seminary WC)

LOSS Albina Salymbekova (Kyrgyzstan), pin 2:30

WIN Moa Westberg (Sweden), pin 1:29

WIN Carla Christiansen (Denmark), pin 1:43

Next opponent TBA

Remaining Event Schedule (local time)

Klippan is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time

Saturday, February 15

9:00 a.m. – U17 competition to conclusion

1:00 p.m. – Senior competition

5:00 p.m. – Senior competition

Sunday, February 16

10:00 a.m. – Senior competition

1:00 p.m. – Senior finals