2016 Olympian Augello among women to earn spot in Trials finals

Photo: Haley Augello (top), an Olympian in 2016, continued her comeback to the sport when she defeated Areana Villaescusa in the Challenge Tournament final at 53 kilos. She will meet Dom Parrish in the Saturday’s Best-of-3 Championship Series. (Photo by Sam Janicki)

Women’s Freestyle

The following are the highlights of the finals and semifinals of the Challenge Tournament of the 2024 Olympic Trials, which took place Friday at the Penn State Bryce Jordan Center. Saturday’s Best-of-3 Championships Series, which will finalize Team USA for the Paris Olympics, begins at 10 a.m. EDT.

50k/110 pounds

Audrey Jimenez (SKWC)n won the Challenge Tournament to earn a shot at Olympic/World medalist Sarah Hildebrandt in Saturday’s Best-of-3 Finals.

Championship

Audrey Jimenez (SKWC) dec. Sage Mortimer (TMWC), 10-6 — After Mortimer jumped out to a 4-0 lead, the high school wrestler from Arizona rallied six points off a takedown and two leg laces to lead 6-4 at the break. Jimenez added two more takedowns to one for Mortimer in the second period.

Semifinals

Audrey Jimenez (SKWC) won by TF over Erin Golston (NYAC), 10-0 — Jimenez’s takedown with 1:54 left in the first period, led to four straight leglaces that ended the bout eight seconds later.

Sage Mortimer (TMWC) won by TF over Samara Chavez (SMC) 16-6 — Mortimer trailed 6-4 with 1:45 left before a second takedown with 39 seconds left in the first period turned into five straight leglaces; the final one coming with two seconds left.

53k/116.5 pounds

2016 Olympian Haley Augello will get a chance to make her second Olympic team after winning the Challenge Tournament. She earned the chance to meet 2022 World champion Dom Parrish in Saturday’s Best-of-3 Finals.

Championship –

Haley Augello (IZZY / NYAC) dec. Areana Villaescusa (WCAP), 3-0 — Augello scored the bout’s only takedown with 1:23 left in the first period, then added a stepout with 1:13 left in the match.

Semifinals

Areana Villaescusa (WCAP) dec. Vayle Baker (WPWC / NYAC) 3-0 — Villaescusa scored the bout’s only takedown with 28 seconds left.

Haley Augello (IZZY / NYAC) dec. Katie Gomez (SKWC), 4-1 — Augello scored her first two points when Gomez was unable to score while on the shot clock; once in each period.

57k/125.5 pounds

Jacarra Winchester (TMWC) advances to Saturday’s Best-of-3 Finals against 2016 Olympic gold medalist and 2021 bronze medalist Helen Maroulis.

Championship

Jacarra Winchester (TMWC) dec. Alex Hedrick (TMWC), 4-2 — Leading 1-0 after the first, Winchester scored a takedown one minute into the second period, then held off Hedrick, who scored a takedown with 14 seconds left.

Semifinals

Alex Hedrick (TMWC) won by TF overe Xochitl Mota Pettis (Rise RTC) 14-3 — Trailing 3-0 with 1:40 left in the bout, Hedrick scored a takedown and added six successful guts for the technical fall.

Jacarra Winchester (TMWC) won by TF over Abigail Nette (WCAP), 11-0 — Winchester scored three takedowns in a minute to end the bout with 34 seconds left.

62k/136.5 pounds

Macey Kilty (SKWC) earned a rematch with Pan Am Qualifier and World medalist Kayla Miracle in Saturday’s Best-of-3 Championship Series. Miracle won the 2021 Olympic Trials after Kilty suffered an injury and was forced to default.

Championship

Macey Kilty (SKWC) dec. Jen Page (NLWC), 9-8  — Kilty scored the final point on a stepout with eight seconds left after Page rallied from a 4-2 first period deficit off two stepout and two takedowns; the final one coming with 10 seconds left.

Semifinals

 Jen Page (NLWC) dec. Mallory Velte (BDRTC / TMWC), 8-7 — In a battle between two World medalists, Page used a caution-and-2 in the final seconds of the first period to lead 6-4, then added a takedown midway through the second period to lead 8-4. Velte, who tallied a four-point takedown in the first period, scored the final three points on a takedown and stepout.

Macey Kilty (SKWC) dec. Adaugo Nwachukwu (WCAP), 6-2 — Kilty scored a takedown in each period and added another point when a Nwachukwu challenge was not upheld.

68k/149.5 pounds

Forrest Molinari (SKWC) earned the right to meet 2023 World champ Amit Elor in Saturday’s Best-of-3 Championship Series.

Championship

Forrest Molinari (SKWC) dec. Alex Glaude (BDRTC / TMWC), 4-3 — Molinari scored on a stepout with 14 seconds left to earn the victory after Glaude scored a takedown five seconds in the second period to lead 2-1.

Semifinals

Forrest Molinari (SKWC) pinned Aine Drury (NYAC) – A second takedown put Drury on her back and gave Molinari the fall with two minutes left.

Alex Glaude (BDRTC / TMWC) dec. Reese Larramendy (IWWC / CKWC), 9-1 – Down 1-0 with 49 seconds left in the first period, Glaude exploded with five points to end the frame, including a four-point takedown; then added a takedown and a pair of stepouts in the second period.

76k/167.5 pounds

Kennedy Blades (SKWC) will meet six-time World champion and 2021 Olympic silver medalist Adeline Gray in Saturday’s Best-of-3 Championship Series.

Championship

Kennedy Blades (SKWC) won by TF over Yelena Makoyed (CWC/TMWC), 11-0 — Blades scored four takedown in the first period to lead 9-0 before ending the bout with another takedown 49 seconds into the second period.

Semifinals

Kennedy Blades (SKWC) won by TF over Dymond Guilford (TMWC), 11-1 — A second four-point takedown by Blades ended the bout with 10 seconds left in the first period.

Yelena Makoyed (CWC/TMWC) dec. Kylie Welker (IWWC / SPAR / TMWC), 6-4 — Makoyed avenged a loss to Welker from the NCWWC tournament when the North Central All-American used a four-point takedown with 1:39 left in the first to build a 6-0 lead. That national champ from Iowa battled back with two takedowns in the second period.