South Carolina’s Zao Estrada claims USA Wrestling National Recruiting Showcase title
National Champ
Zao Estrada - South Carolina (Champ at 112)
Estrada had an 18-8 tech fall over Ava Purifoy (VA), an 19-8 tech fall over Abbygale Duke of Wyoming Seminary 19-8, and a 10-0 tech fall over Rose Ann Marshall of Wisconsin to advance to the finals. In the finals, Estrada faced Janavi Alejandro of Nevada. Alejandro got up 6-4 after the 1st period (remember the girls are wrestling Freestyle), but Estrada scored 6 to go up 10-5. Alejandro made a run but couldn’t get the turn at the end and Estrada claimed the 112 lb. title with a wild 11-10 decision.
All Americans
Clare Booe - Florida (7th at 110)
Booe rebounded from a 13-12 1st round loss to Erica Pastoriza of Arizona to win 3 in a row and make the podium. She dropped her consi quarter to Emma Baerthein 17-12 before avenging her earlier loss to Pastoriza by fall to finish 7th at 100 lbs.
Juliana Diaz - Florida (5th at 117)
Diaz downed fellow Floridian Hannah Hall 5-0 and Haley Vann of Oregon 10-0 before dropping her quarterfinal match to Valerie Hamilton of IL 10-4 (Hamilton finished 2nd). Diaz bounced back with wins over Brooke Crawley of WI and Taylin Long of IL before falling to Leah Gaitan of CA in the consi semis. Diaz took an injury default over Lexy Beadles of CA to finish 5th.
Kailey Rees - Florida (6th at 122)
Rees had a fall, an 11-1 tech fall, and a 2:12 fall to advance to the semis vs. Berlin Brodie Kiddoo of IL. Rees was winning the match 5-0 after the 1st period, but gave up 2 in the 2nd period and then the fall to drop to the consis. Rees dropped her next two matches - a fall to Larissa Kaz of WI and a fall to Emily Alvis of OR to finish 6th.
Genevieve An - Georgia (6th at 127)
An got into some wild matches on the championship side. She won with a 10-0 tech fall to start, but then outlasted Emily Gruenhagen of WI 20-16 in a match where she was up 17-9 after the 1st period only to watch her lead slip away … she finished strong and advanced to the quarters where she met Catharine Campbell of IN. In another wild one - An come out on top 9-8 to advance to the semis. She lost to eventual Champ Lexi Janiak to drop to the consis. An dropped her final two matches - a fall to Katie Ward of NV and a tech fall to Carina Giangeruso of NJ to finish 6th.
Jada Llamido - Florida (3rd at 138)
Llamido had a 50 second fall, an 11-0 tech fall, and a 2:18 fall to cruise into the semis at 138. She then lost a tough one to eventual Champ Savannah Gomez of CA 12-8. She fought back from being down 8-1 after the 1st period to come within striking distance, but couldn’t get the W. Llamido easily took care of business on the backside with an 11-0 tech fall and a 10-0 tech fall to finished 3rd.
Maggie Graham - Tennessee (3rd at 152)
Graham cruised into the 152 semis with an 11-1 tech fall of Cass Freundilich (NV) and an 18-7 tech fall of Brooklyn Hays of Utah before falling to eventual Champ Haley Ward (MO) in an 8-5 thriller. Graham out the first points on the board, but Ward fought back to take a 3-2 lead into the intermission. Graham got the first 3 points of the 2nd period and led 5-3, but Ward scored the final 5 to take the W. Graham rebounded with a 9-8 decision of Stella Steigler of Virginia and an 11-0 tech fall of Anna McDougal of Oregon to take 3rd.
Andrea Smith - Florida (3rd at 200)
Smith beat Tara Henes of Ohio by fall before losing to Sam Calkins of California in the semis. She rebounded with a win over Grace Grey of Iowa and Sydney Bentley of Nevada to finish 3rd.
Valerie Smith - Tennessee (2nd at 225)
Smith pinned Julia Richey of California before losing to Eliana Bommarito of Michigan in the finals at 225.
Justina ChongNee - Tennessee (4th at 225)
Justina pinned California’s Tatianna Herrera before losing to eventual champ Eliana Bommarito in the semis. ChongNee beat Omastewin Foster of Montana before losing to Julia Richey of California and finishing 4th.