Team Francis

Team: Francis
Coach: Ashley Sword, head coach at Life University
Pool B: Team Francis wrestles on Saturday vs Team Hildebrandt at 7pm CT and Team Mensah-Stock at 8pm CT.

Victoria Francis (TMWC) drafted a team of top-ranked college wrestlers and fierce domestic competitors: Emily Shilson (Augsburg/TMWC/TCRTC, NCAA No. 1 at 109), Felicity Taylor (McKendree, NCAA No. 1 at 116), Desiree Zavala (Wayland, NAIA No. 1 at 136) and Emma Bruntil (McKendree, NCAA No. 1 at 136) are all ranked No. 1 at their respective college weights. Skylar Grote is ranked No. 5 in Flowrestling’s domestic rankings and Francis is ranked No. 3. Plus, every wrestler on this roster has competed in one or more card-style events this season. Most recently, Skylar Grote went head-to-head with Olympian and African Champ Enas Ahmed at Summit 1 at the end of January. At 53 kg, Felicity Taylor replaced NAIA No. 1 Peyton Prussin. 

Individual Bios

76 kg Victoria Francis (captain)
Titan Mercury Wrestling Club Athlete
Assistant Coach at Life University (WSF Tara VanDerveer Fellow)
Lindenwood University Alumni (2016)

• Ranked No. 3 domestically (Flowrestling)
• Two-time Senior World Team member (2017, 2019)
• Fifth at 2019 World Championships at 72 kg
• Silver at 2020 Pan American Championships
• 2017 U.S. Open champion
• Three-time Senior Nationals runner-up (2019, 2020)
• Bronze at 2014 Junior World Championships 

50 kg Emily Shilson
Sophomore at Augsburg University; wrestles for Titan Mercury WC and the Twin Cities RTC.

• Ranked No. 7 domestically (Flowrestling)
• Two-time U23 Nationals champion (2019, 2020)
• 2020 Junior Nationals champion
• 2018 Cadet World champion
• 2018 Youth Olympic Games champion
• Silver at 2017 Cadet World Championships
• Five-time Fargo champion

53 kg Felicity Taylor
Junior at McKendree University; NCAA No. 1 at 116 pounds.

• Ranked No. 9 domestically (Flowrestling)
• Second at 2020 Junior Nationals
• Fourth at 2020 U23 Nationals
• Second at 2020 Women’s College National Championship
• 2019 U23 World Team member
• Second at 2019 WCWA Nationals

57 kg Desiree Zavala
Senior at Wayland Baptist University; NAIA No. 1 at 136 pounds.

• Ranked No. 8 domestically at 62 kg (Flowrestling)
• 2020 U23 Nationals champion
• 2019 National Team member
• Second at 2019 U23 Nationals
• Seventh at 2019 Senior Nationals 
• Second at 2018 U.S. Open 

62 kg Emma Bruntil
Sophomore at McKendree University; NCAA No. 1 at 136 pounds.

• Ranked No. 5 domestically (Flowrestling)
• 2020 Women’s College National champion
• 2019 Senior Nationals champion
• Two-time Junior Fargo champion (2017, 2018)
• 2017 Junior Pan Am champion

68 kg Skylar Grote
Senior at Brock University; wrestles for Lehigh Valley WC and New York AC.

• Ranked No. 5 domestically (Flowrestling)
• 2020 U23 Nationals champion
• Second at 2020 Senior Nationals
• Bronze at 2018 Bill Farrell International 
• Two-time Junior Pan American champion