We’re days away from the U23 and Junior Nationals taking center stage at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska, on November 13-15. This event will feature a mix of elite high school, college, and Senior level wrestlers in both the Junior and U23 divisions.

Watch UWW Jr and U23 Nationals LIVE on FloWrestling

Friday, November 13 - Sunday, November 15

As many college events have been cancelled, in particular the Missouri Valley Open which has served as a multi-divisional test for NAIA and NCAA programs every fall, many of those programs are sending their best to this event to get their fall fix. 2019 WCWA & 2020 NAIA Champion Menlo, 2019 NWCA & 2020 NCAA Champion McKendree, Simon Fraser, King, Emmanuel, East Stroudsburg, Augsburg, North Central, Grand View, Colorado Mesa, and others are all sending women.

Many Senior women’s freestyle (WFS) ranked women are also entered, including #7 Emily Shilson and #8 Alleida Martinez at 50 kg in both Junior and U23; #5 Ronna Heaton and #10 Cheyenne Sisenstein at 53 kg in U23; #6 Alisha Howk, #7 Felicity Taylor, and #8 Tiare Ikei at 53 kg in both divisions. #4 Abby Nette is entered at 57 kg in U23, while #8 Xochitl “XMP” Mota-Pettis, #9 Emily Se (ranked at 53 kg) and #9 Cameron Guerin are all entered in both divisions at 57 kg. #6 Macey Kilty is at 62 kg in both divisions, #8 Desiree Zavala is entered at 62 kg in the U23 division, and #10 Michaela Beck is in at 62 kg in the Junior division. #3 Ashlynn Ortega is registered in the U23 division at 65 kg, and #5 Skylar Grote is entered in the U23 division at 68 kg. Rivals #3 Dymond Guilford and #4 Precious Bell are at 76 kg in U23, while #7 Yelena Makoyed and #10 Tristan Kelly are registered in both divisions at 76 kg.

Meanwhile, don’t forget about high school stars entering the fray, including #1 ranked Samara Chavez at 50 kg, and both #1 ranked Chloe Ogden and #1 ranked Kylie Welker in the 62 kg Junior division. Ogden is ranked in national high school rankings at 138 and Welker is ranked at 144. #1 ranked Kennedy Blades is at 72 kg in the Junior division, just coming off her first Senior level win last weekend over Hannah Gladden. Other high school names include #3 ranked Montana Delawder who is entered in both divisions at 55 kg, #3 ranked Devin Patton who is entered in the Junior division at 59 kg.

Both the U23 and Junior divisions will feature 10 weight classes, adding back in the weight classes we’d normally see in a non-Olympic year. Below is a quick weight by weight look at both divisions, including predictions and “dark horses.”

U23 DIVISION

50 kg

Who’s your pick in this group? The obvious favorite is Emily Shilson, one of the brightest young stars in the sport, but take a look at the depth at this weight. There’s so many that could make a run—2019 WCWA champ Asia Ray, 2020 NCWWC (NCAA) champ Pauline Granados (did anyone see her 5 in the national finals last year?), Wayland Baptist’s Nina Pham—who went undefeated last season before the NAIA Championships were cancelled by Covid-19, current #2 in NCAA Maria Vidales, #4 Brooke Thurber, #4 Jaclyn McNichols, #6 Aleeah Gould, #7 Anja Tschohl, or the NAIA’s Ashley Gooman, Alara Couch or Esther Walker—#9, #10 & #11, respectively, in FloWrestling’s multi-divisional rankings—or how about #1 high school wrestler Samara Chavez of Texas’ Spartan Wrestling Club that made so much noise last month at Senior Nationals? This group will provide plenty of entertaining matches even in the early rounds. Make sure you’re tuned in!

Prediction: Until I see Emily Shilson lose a match to someone other than Senior level national teamers, I can’t pick against her. Shilson runs the gauntlet and comes out on top.

Darkhorse: King’s Jaclyn McNichols is right with the top of the pack, though she might be slightly in the shadows of the national champions in this group. That said, don’t sleep on her.

53 kg

This group is—what do the kids call it these days?—sick! Let’s start with rival Senior level opponents #5 ranked Ronna Heaton—who was recently the runner-up at Senior Nationals—and #6 ranked Alisha Howk. Heaton has the most recent win, an 8-2 victory in the semis last month. Add 2019 WCWA champ Alleida Martinez of Menlo, who is up from 50 kg at a new weight, 2019 U.S. Open winner Tiare Ikei, McKendree’s 2x national runner-up Felicity Taylor, 2019 Senior Nationals breakout Marissa Gallegos of Colorado Mesa, and King hammer Cheyenne Sisenstein, and this weight class will be a blast to watch.

Prediction: This one is hard to pick, because I could go with any one of seven wrestlers. That said, after what I saw at Senior Nationals, I’m going with Ronna Heaton.

Darkhorse: Cheyenne Sisenstein could win this whole thing. She’s a fierce competitor who doesn’t care who she’s wrestling and goes out expecting to win. Just the kind of mentality needed to win an event like this. She’s also down from 57 kg, which means she’ll be big for this class. That said, Martinez, Ikei, Taylor, or Gallegos also have shock’em power.

55 kg

King’s Allison Petix and Augsburg All-American Vayle Baker seem to be the class of this weight, but don’t sleep on a field that includes Petix’ teammate Makayla Welch, WCWA All-American Jamayia Blackston from Jamestown, 3x high school All-American Grace Pauls who is now on the roster at East Stroudsburg, and #3 ranked high school senior & Fargo champ Montana Delawder. Iowa’s Tateum Park and Minnesota’s Ngao Shoua Whitethorn are also top 25 high school wrestlers. Interesting note: Petix defeated her teammate Welch by fall in an intrasquad match just last weekend.

Prediction: Money on Petix for this one. A Petix-Baker final could be a good match.

Darkhorse: Sometimes Jamayia Blackston’s results can be puzzling, but she is capable of having a big day and pulling upsets. If she’s on her game, no one is safe.

57 kg

Another stacked weight class, though the obvious favorite is Abby Nette, a competitor ranked #4 at Senior level who has won everything recently, including Senior Nationals in 2019 and the 2020 Patricia Miranda Medal, the equivalent of the Hodge trophy for college women. She has her hands full though, especially with Titan Mercury’s Cameron Guerin entered, an athlete that took 3rd at Senior Nationals 2019 and only lost to Nette 11-9 in the semis at that event. Guerin is currently ranked #9 at the Senior level. #9 ranked Emily Se is also at this weight, though she’s ranked at 53 kg. And the impressive list of entries gets longer in what might be one of the deepest weight classes of the tournament—Koral Sugiyama, the Campbellsville star that was a 4x WCWA All-American, Xochitl “XMP” Mota-Pettis, who recently took 2nd at Senior Nationals 2020 with an upset win over Alli Ragan, 2020 NCAA champ Alexia Ward, 2019 Cadet Pan Am champion Mia Macaluso of East Stroudsburg, NCAA runner-up Amanda Martinez of Cardinal Wrestling Club, Menlo freshman sensation Nanea Estrella, and college All-Americans Lauren Mason, Serena Cervantes, and Sierra Brown Ton.

Prediction: Love Guerin, but going Nette. And it’s very close.

Darkhorse: Who else? Gotta go XMP. She did it at Senior Nationals. She could do it again here. If she does, maybe she shouldn’t be the dark horse next time?

59 kg

#8 Senior level ranked Desiree Zavala stands tall in this group, though she’ll meet her match in Grace Figueroa, the 2019 WCWA champion. Jerzie Estrada, a 4x Fargo finalist and Fargo champion, not only shocked the wrestling community by entering the tournament—it appeared she may have retired in 2019—but she entered at 59 kg. Estrada was 3rd in the Junior division and runner-up in the U23 division in 2019 at 68 kg & 72 kg, respectively. Estrada at 59 kg in 2020 seems like it could be Jerzie Estrada 2.0. We’ll see how she stacks up against this field in her return to the mat. #4 at 123 in NCAA Phoenix Dubose and #4 at 130 Alyssa Aceval are also contenders in this group.

Prediction: Gracie Figueroa gets by Zavala.

Darkhorse: Can you call Jerzie Estrada a dark horse? Well, either way, she can be a comeback story. Watch Midland’s Paige Respicio too.

62 kg

I think people forget that Macey Kilty is still very young. She’s been a presence—and a force—on the Senior level for the past few years, getting wins domestically and internationally that earned her a #6 ranking on the Senior level. Kilty was the 2019 World silver medalist, and it’s hard to believe she’ll take a loss at this event, even in a group that includes 2x King All-American Ana Luciano and 2018 Junior Pan Am champ Brianna Csontos. There’s some talented young college wrestlers in the field too. Keep your eye on Salome Walker, Emmily Patneaud, and Viktorya Torres.

Prediction: Look for someone else to pick against Kilty. With this field, I’m not doing it. And just maybe she’s got a new chip on her shoulder after that close finals loss at Senior Nationals. I don’t think she gives up a point in either division. Kilty: Lots of points, The field: 0

Darkhorse: I’d say Ana Luciano, but it’s hard to call a 2x All-American a dark horse. Let’s go with Salome Walker. She’s been in what might be the best college wrestling room in the country as far as depth goes—McKendree. Showed flashes of greatness last year. Never know!

65 kg

Ashlynn Ortega has had some huge wins over the last year, beating Canada’s Michelle Fazzari, a world bronze medalist, and getting a win over 2x national champion Alex Glaude. She’s qualified for Olympic Team Trials next year, and currently ranked #3 at the Senior level at 68 kg. There’s some tough competitors in this group, but it looks like this one is Ortega…and everyone else. We’ll see what young talent like Marisol Nugent or Amor Tuttle can do in this field.

Prediction: Ashlynn Ortega. That’s all.

Darkhorse: I’ve heard great things about high schooler Amor Tuttle. Maybe we’ll see it this weekend.

68 kg

#5 Senior level ranked Skylar Grote just came off a 2nd place finish at Senior Nationals to U.S. national team powerhouse Forrest Molinari. She seeks to follow up her Senior Nationals performance with a U23 national title.

Prediction: Skylar Grote.

Darkhorse: I just don’t see Grote losing this.

72 kg

Joye Levendusky was 4th at the NCAA event last season—the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships—and is a 2x All-American for McKendree. She also made the Junior National Team with a 3rd place finish in 2019. Augsburg’s Marlynne Deede was also became an All-American last season and is currently ranked #5 in recent NWCA’s NCAA rankings. Levendusky beat Deede last March at nationals in a competitive match. Look for those two to battle for the U23 title.

Prediction: This one will come down to Levendusky vs. Deede.

Darkhorse: Gianna Anaya was a top 25 wrestler in high school and is now in a solid college program at Emmanuel. Maybe the freshman could pull an upset?

76 kg

The Guilford-Bell rivalry is compelling, with #4 ranked Bell getting the decisive win over Guilford at Senior Nationals last December, but #3 Guilford got the upper hand last month at Senior Nationals 2020 with a fall over Bell. Meanwhile, Yelena Makoyed of Cardinal Wrestling Club is in the group, who lost a razor-thin 5-4 decision to Bell last December in the semis. Makoyed is ranked #1 in the NCAA preseason rankings. Tristan Kelly, ranked #10 in Senior WFS, a young talent that split matches with Guilford at Senior Nationals last month, looks to make her mark, while 3x All-American Myranda Velazquez from Jamestown is also in this group.

Prediction: Guilford gets this one done. Not easy though. If she wrestles Makoyed, it’s going to be close.

Darkhorse: Myranda Velazquez. Sneaky skills. Upset potential.

JUNIOR DIVISION

50 kg

Some big college names in this group! From WCWA & NCAA champ Emily Shilson to NCAA champ Pauline Granados to 2x college runner-up Felicity Taylor, this weight class will be fun to watch. College All-Americans Anja Tschohl and Ashley Gooman are also in. Add in some top high school talent like #1 ranked Samara Chavez, 2019 Super 32 champ Chloe Ayres, Preseason Nationals champ Salyna Shotwell, #6 ranked Sydney Petzinger, #7 ranked Ava Bayless, or recent top college recruits Rayana Sahagun (Jamestown) and Lizette Rodriguez (McKendree), and there will be good matches throughout this bracket. Maybe we’ll get the match we all wanted to see at Beat the Streets when Taylor had to back out due to NCAA compliance—Shilson vs. Taylor?

Prediction: Broken record. Shilson wins. Haven’t seen her lose recently to anyone outside of the top 5 Senior level women, and they’re not here. If the match happens, #7 Senior WFS ranked Felicity will be a tough match, especially since she’s coming down in weight and will be bigger in this weight class.

Darkhorse: Samara Chavez. She was amazing at Senior Nationals and will turn some heads here. Can’t really call Granados a dark horse in this division, but like I mentioned in U23, keep an eye on her!

53 kg

Ranked #6 at the Senior level Alisha Howk is still Junior eligible. Just like in the U23 division, she’ll have 2019 U.S. Open winner Tiare Ikei, the #8 Senior in WFS rankings, and Colorado Mesa All-American Marissa Gallegos, to contend with. Other top young women in this class include Jamestown’s Josie Bartishofski, currently ranked #8 in FloWrestling/AWW’s multi-divisional college rankings, along with top young college recruits Camille Fournier and Melanie Mendoza, and top 15 high school wrestlers Allison Hynes, Rose Ann Marshall, and Caitlyn Thorne.

Prediction: Marissa Gallegos catches fire and pulls the upset for the title. And it’ll be fun to watch her matches while she’s doing it.

Darkhorse: Camille Fournier. What she was oh-so-close to doing at Senior Nationals, she’ll be able to do here—win the close ones.

55 kg

North Central’s #5 NCAA ranked Asia Nguyen-Smith had an 8-2 win over Augsburg All-American Vayle Baker last March at the inaugural NCAA event in Adrian, Michigan. Could this be the finals at Junior Nationals? There’s lots of others with upset power. Keep your eye on Fargo champ, the Pennsylvania senior Montana Delawder, the #12 ranked high school wrestler Ngao Shoua Whitethorn of Minnesota, #13 Claire DiCugno of Washington, #21 ranked Tateum Park of Iowa, and 3x high school All-American Grace Pauls who is now on the roster at NCAA program East Stroudsburg. Jamestown’s Arianna Marrufo is also a top 25 college wrestler.

Prediction: Asia Nguyen-Smith has an impressive day and wins it all.

Darkhorse: Tateum Park. Great wrestling state. Might be ranked too low in high school rankings. Wrestles tough against the Iowa boys. Definitely a wildcard at this event.

57 kg

We saw what XMP can do against top Senior level women. You’d think she’d be the favorite in this Junior level group if it wasn’t for Cameron Guerin, who took 3rd at Senior Nationals last December in Texas. XMP was in that group and had some nice wins, but DNP’ed. She’s ranked #8 in Senior level freestyle rankings, and Guerin is right behind her at #9, and don’t forget Emmanuel’s Emily Se, ranked #3 in the NCAA and #9 at the Senior level. 2019 Cadet Pan Am Champ Mia Macaluso, top 15 college wrestler Isabella Gonzalez, Colorado Mesa’s star recruit Holly Beaudoin, and Hawaii’s Nanea Estrella will also have their say as to who ends up on top of this talented weight class.

Prediction: Cameron Guerin gets it done with superior wrestling.

Darkhorse: Mia Macaluso can win matches and isn’t unfamiliar with the big stage. Watch her go far in the bracket. Estrella will shine too.

59 kg

Senior WFS #10 Michaela Beck is the likely favorite, but again, just like in the U23 division, 4x Fargo finalist & Fargo champ Jerzie Estrada is in. She was third in the Junior division at 68 kg in May of 2019. After graduating from high school and disappearing from the scene for a year and a half, she resurfaces at this event at 59kg. #4 in NCAA Phoenix Dubose of King is also a contender. There’s four top 10 high school girls also entered: #3 Devin Patton from the Texas Pride Wrestling Club, #5 Amor Tuttle from the Twin Cities RTC, #8 Madison Sandquist of Rise Wrestling, and #9 Tiera Jimerson from California. 3x Hawaii state champ Paige Respicio is also in this group, now on the roster at Midland. She finished her high school career ranked #7 in USA Wrestling’s high school poll.

Prediction: Michaela Beck grinds her way to a title.

Darkhorse: Paige Respicio shows why she was 3x state champ in Hawaii.

62 kg

Wait, Macey Kilty is still Junior eligible? Yep. It will be interesting to see if anyone in this group can challenge her, and don’t think that’s not possible, as the group includes two #1 high school wrestlers, Chloe Ogden (138) and Kylie Welker (144). High-ranked recruits are also in the field, as McKendree incoming freshman Emmily Patneaud’s final high school ranking was #6 in the country, and King freshman Viktorya Torres finished ranked #7. 2018 Junior Pan Am champ Brianna Csontos is also in the field, entered in both Junior and U23 divisions.

Prediction: Still Macey.

Darkhorse: Emmily Patneaud shows early returns on being in the McKendree program.

65 kg

McKendree sophomore Salome Walker seems poised to break out after a solid freshman campaign that earned her a #16 ranking in our multi-divisional college rankings. But she’ll have to take out 2020 National Prep champion Marisol Nugent of the Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club, who finished her career at #4 in national high school rankings, to do it. There’s no record of either of them facing each other. California’s Ellisa Jimenez has had some success in California but remains a bit of a mystery at the national level, though she did make All-American in folkstyle.

Prediction: Salome Walker wins it. Nugent shines but falls short in a competitive final.

Darkhorse: Ellisa Jimenez, one of California’s secrets, can win matches.

68 kg

Top 10 college wrestler Alexis Gomez, the 2017 Fargo champion and sister of Iowa State’s Austin Gomez, is going to be hard to beat. Texas’ Leilani Hernandez, a top 10 ranked high school wrestler, has some fight, but it’s doubtful there’s enough firepower from anyone in the field to take down Gomez.

Prediction: Alexis Gomez dominates the field. Makes it look easy. I only wish Gomez was in U23s so we could see Gomez-Grote.

Darkhorse: Leilani Hernandez.

72 kg

Wyoming Seminary student Kennedy Blades, just off her first-ever Senior level match—and win—where she shockingly defeated Hannah Gladden by fall at the MyHouse Fall Brawl, a competitor that currently holds the #3 spot on the U.S. Senior National Team. No one who has followed Blades’ career was shocked, however, as the 2x Fargo champ & Cadet world teamer has been a dominant force on the mats for years. Blades has several college All-Americans in her way to win the Junior national title. She’ll have to get by 2x All-American Joye Levendusky, co-captain of the national champion McKendree Bearcats, and Marlynne Deede, an All-American from Augsburg University. Should be fun to watch the high school phenom in a group of college wrestlers.

Prediction: Look for a Blades vs. Levendusky final, which is a compelling match.

Darkhorse: Since entering the college scene, Marlynne Deede has been steadily improving and is capable of winning matches at an event like this.

76 kg

This group features the #1 in the NCAA, North Central’s Yelena Makoyed, and the #1 in the NAIA, Wayland Baptist’s Kaylynn Albrecht. That very possibly could be the final, though not if Colorado Mesa’s Tristan Kelly has anything to say about it. Kelly placed 4th at Senior Nationals last month, including an upset over #3 Senior WFS Dymond Guilford. Super 32 champ Brittyn Corbishley, a Texas Wesleyan commit, is also registered at this weight.

Prediction: Kaylynn Albrecht takes the title.

Darkhorse: Brittyn Corbishley is a tough bring-it-to-you wrestler, a style that’s needed at an event like this.

Action will begin on Friday the 13th on FloWrestling with the Junior division. U23 action begins on Saturday the 14th.

Follow Derek on Twitter and catch more women's wrestling coverage at the appropriately named American Women's Wrestling website.