2020 Senior Nationals Women’s Freestyle Preview
It’s been a long time since many of the best wrestlers in the United States have stepped foot on a competition mat. The wait is finally over and the US Open will begin on Friday, October 9th in Coralville, Iowa. Three weight classes will compete on Friday and three will compete on Saturday. It will mark the first national tournament held by USA Wrestling since the Covid-19 pandemic forced competitions to be postponed or canceled.
The US Open was added to the schedule in the summer months following the delay of the 2020 Olympic Games. This weekend will feature the six Olympic weight classes in Men’s Freestyle, Women’s Freestyle and Greco-Roman.
The entry lists are small in the women’s division, however, they’re not void of great competitors and most of the top-ranked senior wrestlers. Guidelines and scheduling hurdles kept most of the female college wrestlers from registering.
The biggest name on the pre-registration list is 5-time World champion Adeline Gray (76 kg). Gray (NYAC) is no stranger to national championships, but she hasn’t participated in the previous two US Opens because she earned the right to sit out with her success at the World Championships. In her absence, Precious Bell (TMWC) has captured those two titles. With Bell at the second seed, and past World Team member and US Open champion Victoria Francis (TMWC), 76 kg is the premier weight class at this year’s Open.
Sarah Hildebrandt (NYAC) earned the top seed at 50 kg. She won a silver medal at the 2018 World Championships and is a three-time world team member. There was a lot of conversation about the weight class Hildebrandt would choose for the Olympic Trials. In January, she announced it would be 50 kg. She’s competed at this weight overseas, however, this will be the first time we get to see her showcase her talent on American soil at this weight class and it could set-up a showdown with Alyssa Lampe, the second-seeded wrestler. Lampe (SKWC) is a 5-time world team member and two-time world bronze medalist (2012 and 2013). She took a significant amount of time off the mat following the 2016 season and burst back onto the scene last year. She was named Outstanding Wrestler at the 2019 US Open in Texas. Amy Fearnside (TMWC) and Cadet World Champion Emily Shilson (TMWC) are the 3rd and 4th seeds, respectively.
Two-time World silver medalist Alli Ragan (SKWC) tops the list at 57 kg. She’s represented the US at the World Championships at 59 and 60 kg and made the drop to 57 in anticipation of the 2020 Olympic Trials. Similar to Hildebrandt, she’s competing domestically for the first time at her new weight class. She won a bronze medal at the Matteo Pellicone Tournament in Italy all the way back in January. Lauren Louive (NYAC) is the only other wrestler seeded at 57 kg.
Other notable entrants include veteran Katherine Shai (#1 seed, 53 kg), Cadet World Champion and Junior World Silver Medalist Macey Kilty (#1 seed, 62 kg) and two-time World Team Member Forrest Molinari (#1 seed, 68 kg).
View the updated schedule and full list of pre-registrants on our hub for the 2020 Senior Nationals.
Wrestling starts Friday morning at 10 am CT and can be streamed live on Flowrestling.
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