With the U.S. Open behind us, our eyes now turn to the Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, Final X and World events. Some of the biggest questions remaining: Who is qualified for the WTT Challenge Tournament at this point? And who will represent Team USA at U23 Worlds and Senior Worlds?

Here’s the updated Final X card after the U.S. Open:

50 kg — Sarah Hildebrandt vs. Audrey Jimenez

53 kg — Dom Parrish vs. Katie Gomez

55 kg — Alisha Howk vs. TBD

57 kg — Helen Maroulis vs. Xochitl Mota-Pettis

59 kg — Michaela Beck vs. TBD

62 kg — Kayla Miracle vs. Adaugo Nwachukwu

65 kg — Mallory Velte vs. Macey Kilty

68 kg — Forrest Molinari vs. TBD

72 kg — Amit Elor vs. Joye Levendusky

76 kg — Kennedy Blades vs. TBD

There are four weights left to be wrestled at the WTT Challenge Tournament to determine who will complete the Final X card — 55 kg, 59 kg, 68 kg and 76 kg. The other weights were set at the U.S. Open, as those weight classes had returning World medalists who accepted berths to Final X, meaning the U.S. Open winner earned the second spot in the domestic Super Bowl of Senior-level wrestling.

Expect 76 kg to be a wild ride. At the bottom of the article, those qualified for the Challenge Tournament are listed, and you’ll find that even though Kennedy Blades now sits at Final X, 76 kg is still a shark tank at World Team Trials with names still in the mix like Adeline Gray, Dymond Guilford, Yelena Makoyed, Precious Bell, Tristan Kelly, Sydnee Kimber and Kylie Welker.

The 2023 Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament is set for May 20-21 at Discovery Canyon High School in Colorado Springs.

U23 World Team

Of course, there are Senior World Team spots on the line at Final X, but what about U23 Worlds?

The U23 qualification process can be confusing, but here are basics: U23 Nationals in Spokane was only relevant to a degree, as ultimately the U23 World teamer will be determined by “the highest-ranked, age-eligible athlete from [the] 2023 Senior Women’s Freestyle National Team.” So then, the Final X champion, the Final X runner-up, and the third overall Senior athlete determined by the U.S. Open finish or the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament earns the U23 World team spot before anyone else.

The qualifications go on to say: “If no age-eligible national team athlete accepts the opportunity to compete at U23 World Tournament or if U23 Champion declines, second- and third-place finisher at the U23 trials following rank order will be selected for the U23 World Championships.”

For example, at 50 kilograms, Audrey Jimenez is the U23 World teamer this year since she’s facing Sarah Hildebrandt who is age-ineligible for the U23 division. However, if Jimenez declines or can’t wrestle for an unforeseen reason, since the #3 on the team ladder is age-ineligible Erin Golston, the spot would fall to Emily Shilson, who won U23 Nationals. The Spokane event becomes even more irrelevant at weights where a Final X spot is still being contested at the WTT Challenge Tournament, as the possibility exists of a different age-eligible wrestler taking the #3 spot on the Senior National Team than the athlete that won U23 Nationals.

Here’s the current U23 World team member ladder at each weight or the contenders per weight class if it hasn’t been decided:

50 kg: #1 Audrey Jimenez, #2 Emily Shilson, #3 Sage Mortimer, #4 Anaya Falcon

53 kg: #1 Katie Gomez, #2 Samara Chavez, #3 Felicity Taylor, #4 Estrella Dorado-Marin

55 kg: Alisha Howk or WTT winner if age-eligible, #3-#4 next highest age-eligible athletes at WTT or U23 Nationals depending on who makes National Team.

57 kg: #1 Xochitl Mota-Pettis, #2 Montana Delawder, #3 Payton Stroud, #4 Ngao Shoua Whitethorn

59 kg: Michaela Beck or WTT winner if age-eligible, #3-#4 next highest age-eligible athletes at WTT or U23 Nats depending on who makes National Team.

62 kg: #1 Adaugo Nwachukwu, #2 Marisol Nugent, #3 Yele Aycock, #4 Paige Wehrmeister

65 kg: #1 Macey Kilty, #2 Emma Bruntil, #3 Maya Letona, #4 Grace Stem

68 kg: Final X winner or Final X runner-up if age-eligible depending on result vs. Molinari, #2-#4 next highest age-eligible athletes on National Team or U23 Nationals.

72 kg: #1/#2 Amit Elor or #1/#2 Joye Levendusky, #3 Rose Cassioppi, #4 Kaylynn Albrecht

76 kg: Kennedy Blades or WTT winner if age-eligible, #3-#4 next highest age-eligible athletes on National Team or U23 Nationals

Here are the four weights* that will be wrestled at the WTT Challenge Tournament and all the qualifiers at those weights:

55 kg

Already Qualified for Final X: Alisha Howk (Sunkist Kids)

World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Qualifiers

2021 Senior WFS World Team member — Jenna Burkert (US Army WCAP)

2022 Senior WFS National Team member #1 — Jacarra Winchester (TMWC)

2022 Senior WFS National Team member #3 — Lauren Mason (Brunson UVRTC)

2022 U20 World WFS medalist — Sofia Macaluso (NY/ESU)

2022 Bill Farrell International WFS highest U.S. medalist — Marissa Gallegos (Colorado Mesa)

2023 Senior Pan American Championships WFS medalist —

2023 U.S. Open WFS third place at 55 kg — Areana Villaescusa (Army WCAP)

2023 U.S. Open WFS fifth place at 55 kg — Amani Jones (Cardinal WC)

2023 U.S. Open WFS sixth place at 55 kg — Gabrielle Skidmore (Minnesota Gold/Storm)

2023 U.S. Open WFS seventh place at 55 kg — Virginia Foard (New York AC)

Non-World Championship weights

2023 NAIA champion at 123 pounds — Carolina Moreno (Southern Oregon)

59 kg

Already Qualified for Final X: Michaela Beck (Sunkist Kids)

World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Qualifiers

2021 Senior WFS World Team member — Maya Nelson (Sunkist Kids)

2022 Senior WFS National Team member #1 — Abigail Nette (Army WCAP)

2022 Senior WFS National Team member #2 — Lexie Basham (Spartan Mat Club)

2022 Bill Farrell International WFS highest U.S. medalist — Amanda Martinez (Illinois)

2023 Senior Pan American Championships WFS medalist —

2023 U.S. Open WFS third place at 59 kg — Brenda Reyna (Army WCAP)

2023 U.S. Open WFS fifth place at 59 kg — Sarah Savidge (Army WCAP)

2023 U.S. Open WFS seventh place at 59 kg — Lauren Louive (New York AC)

Non-World Championship weights

2023 NCWWC champion at 130 pounds — Cameron Guerin (McKendree/TMWC)

68 kg

Already Qualified for Final X: Forrest Molinari (Sunkist Kids)

World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Qualifiers

2021 Senior WFS World Team member — Tamyra Mensah Stock (TMWC)

2022 Senior WFS National Team member #2 — Sienna Ramirez (Southern Oregon RTC)

2022 Senior WFS National Team member #3 — Solin Piearcy (Menlo WC)

2022 Bill Farrell International WFS highest U.S. medalist — Chloe Ogden (Tar Heel WC)

2023 Senior Pan American Championships WFS medalist —

2023 U.S. Open WFS runner-up at 68 kg — Alexandria Glaude (Titan Mercury WC/Beaver Dam RTC)

2023 U.S. Open WFS sixth place at 68 kg — Isabella Mir (Iowa Women’s WC)

2023 U.S. Open WFS seventh place at 68 kg — Nina Makem (Minnesota Gold/Storm)

Non-World Championship weights

2023 NCWWC champion at 143 pounds — Katie Lange (Augsburg/Twin Cities RTC)

2023 NCWWC champion at 155 pounds — Marlynne Deede (Augsburg/Twin Cities RTC)

2023 NAIA champion at 143 pounds — Emily Se (Southern Oregon)

2023 NAIA champion ag 155 pounds — Kaylynn Albrecht (Baker)

76 kg

Already Qualified for Final X: Kennedy Blades (Sunkist Kids)

World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Qualifiers

2021 Senior WFS World Team member — Adeline Gray (New York AC)

2022 Senior WFS National Team member #1 — Dymond Guilford (Titan Mercury WC)

2022 Senior WFS National Team member #2 — Yelena Makoyed (Titan Mercury WC/Cardinal WC)

2022 Senior WFS National Team member #3 — Precious Bell (Titan Mercury WC)

2022 U20 World WFS medalis t— Tristan Kelly (Army WCAP)

2023 Senior Pan American Championships WFS medalist —

2023 U.S. Open WFS fifth place at 76 kg — Kylie Welker (Titan Mercury WC/Iowa’s Women’s WC)

2023 U.S. Open WFS seventh place at 76 kg — Ashley Lekas (Minnesota Gold/Storm)

Non-World Championship weights

2023 NCWWC champion at 191 pounds — Sydnee Kimber (McKendree/Bearcat WC)

2023 NAIA champion at 191 pounds — Grace Kristoff (Southern Oregon)

* Info as reported in USAW article “Updated 2023 Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Qualifiers After U.S. Open (As of April 30)” by Gary Abbott.