2020 Pan-Am Olympic Qualifier
Sarah Hildebrandt qualified the U.S. for the Olympics in the 50 kg weight class. Photo courtesy of Tony Rotundo / WrestlersAreWarriors.com
by Derek Levendusky, AWW Staff Writer
OTTAWA, CANADA - The U.S. Women got it done in Ottawa today as all six Olympic weights have now been qualified. The event was in jeopardy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, but tournament officials continued with the event under restrictions. Only 250 people were allowed in the room at a time, as even the other male U.S. athletes were sent back to their hotels to accommodate the regulations.
None of that affected the performance of the Team USA women who were there on a mission.
”Mission accomplished!” posted U.S. women’s head coach, Terry Steiner. “USA will have 6 spots in the Women’s Competition at the Olympic Games!”
After failing to qualify four of the six weights at the 2019 World Championships, the U.S. women’s team needed to find a way to get the final four weights qualified. Last month, wrestle-offs were held in Atlanta alongside the WCWA college national tournament to determine who would go to Ottawa to try to qualify the weights. 50 kg Sarah Hildebrandt defeated Whitney Conder, 53 kg Jacarra Winchester defeated Katherine Shai, and 57 kg Helen Maroulis, after beating Alli Ragan earlier in the day, downed Jenna Burkert for the spot. 62 kg Kayla Miracle had no challenger.
Today all four of these women made the finals in Ottawa in dominant fashion, rolling through their brackets to the finals. 2016 Olympic gold medalist Helen Maroulis put to rest any concerns about her competitiveness at the world level as she defeated 2019 World Champion Linda Morais of Canada by 12-2 tech fall in the first round.
50 kg Hildebrandt put her leg lace to use, hitting four straight to end the match in her semi gainst Canada’s Jessica MacDonald of Canada.
53 kg Winchester got three takedowns and an exposure to get the 8-4 win in her semi over Canadian Samantha Stewart, while 57 kg Maroulis seemed to have a fresh trust in her offense, with solid attacks and finishes all day against the field.
Miracle controlled the semifinal match against 2017 World Bronze Medalist Michelle Fazzari of Canada, getting the 12-3 victory with consistent and effective legs attacks, one finishing with a fireman’s carry.
68 kg World Champion Tamyra Mensah-Stock and 76 kg World Champion Adeline Gray both qualified their weights by virtue of their world titles at the 2019 World Championships.
The Olympic Team Trials have been postponed due to the COVID-19 crisis, but will be held at the Bryce Jordan Center on the Penn State campus on a date to be determined.
U.S. Women’s Freestyle Results - 2020 Pan-Am Qualifier
Ottawa, Canada - March 14, 2020
50 kg - Sarah Hildebrandt
Sarah Hildebrandt (USA) over Rita Rojas Chavez (Mexico) 10-0
Semifinals: Sarah Hildebrandt (USA) over Jessica MacDonald (Canada) 11-0
53 kg Jacarra Winchester
Jacarra Winchester (USA) over 2018 World bronze medalist Lienne de la Caridad Montero Herrera (Cuba) 6-2
Jacarra Winchester (USA) over Zeltzin Hernandez Guerra (Mexico) 10-0
Semifinals: Jacarra Winchester (USA) over Samantha Stewart (Canada) 8-4
57 kg - Helen Maroulis
Helen Maroulis (USA) over 2019 World Champion Linda Morais (Canada) 12-2
Helen Maroulis (USA) over Giullia Rodrigues Penalber de Oliveira (Brazil) 9-0
Helen Maroulis (USA) over Lissette Antes Castillo (Ecuador) 6-2
Semifinals: Helen Maroulis (USA) over Nes Marie Rodriguez Tirado (Puerto Rico) 11-0
62 kg Kayla Miracle
Kayla Miracle (USA) over Nathaly Josefina Griman Herrera (Venezuela) by fall
Kayla Miracle (USA) over Alejandra Romero Bonilla (Mexico) 5-1
Kayla Miracle (USA) over Jackeline Renteria Castillo (Columbia) 11-0
Semifinals: Kayla Miracle (USA) over Michelle Fazzari (Canada) 12-3