The 2023 U23 World Championships are live on FloWrestling October 23-28 in Tirana, Albania, on October 25-27. Here is what you need to know about this year’s women’s freestyle team.

Roster And Key Credentials

50 kg: Audrey Jimenez
— 2023 US Open champion
— 2022 U20 World silver medalist
— 2021 Cadet World bronze medalist

53 kg: Katie Gomez
— 2023 US Open champion
— 2022 U20 World bronze medalist
— 2021 Cadet World champion

55 kg: Alisha Howk
— 2023 US Open champion
— 2022 U23 World bronze medalist
— 2018 Junior World team (5th place)

57 kg: Xochitl Mota-Pettis
— 2023 US Open champion
— 2023 U23 National champion
— 2023 Pan-Am champion

59 kg: Nichole Moore
— 2023 U23 National Championships runner-up
— 2022 U23 National champion
— Two-time NAIA All-American (6-5)

62 kg: Adaugo Nwachukwu
— 2023 US Open champion
— 2022 U20 World bronze medalist
— Two-time NAIA champion (2022 and 2023)

65 kg: Macey Kilty
— 2023 Senior World silver medalist
— 2023 US Open champion
— 2018 Cadet World champion

68 kg: Katie Lange
— 2023 NCWWC (NCAA) champion
— 2023 U23 National champion
— 2021 Junior Pan-Am champion

72 kg: Amit Elor
— 2023 Senior and U20 World champion
— 2022 Senior, U23, and U20 World champion
— 2021 Cadet and Junior World champion

76 kg: Kennedy Blades
— 2023 US Open champion
— 2023 U20 World bronze medalist
— 2021 Junior World champion

Schedule

October 25
Qualification Rounds (50-55-59-68-76 kg)
Semifinals (50-55-59-68-76 kg)

October 26 
Qualification Rounds (53-57-62-65-72 kg)
Repechage (50-55-59-68-76 kg)
Semifinals (53-57-62-65-72 kg)
Finals (50-55-59-68-76 kg)

October 27
Repechage (53-57-62-65-72)
Finals (53-57-62-65-72)

Will Amit Elor’s Gold Rush Continue?

Elor has a staggering World gold medal haul that includes two in 2021 (Cadet and Junior), three in 2022 (U20, U23, and Senior) and two in 2023 (U20 and Senior). Elor will add her eighth World title over the past three years if she wins in Tirana. 

The Walnut Creek, California, native already owns two pieces of wrestling history. She is the youngest Senior World champion in U.S. history (18) and she is the only American to win three World gold medals in the same year. 

If she wins the U23 World Championships, Elor would become the first American to win three World gold medals twice. And she’s only 19 years old.

Does Final X Mark The Spot?

Eight members of this year’s U23 World team reached Final X — the best-of-three series that determines the U.S. Senior World team. Kilty and Elor won their series, while the other six fell in the finals. 

Reaching Final X was an important step in making the team, though. The highest-placing age-eligible wrestler at each weight earns a spot on the U23 World team. Winning a U23 National title only matters if a member of the National Team (top three at each weight) is not age-eligible. 

Where’s Michaela Beck?

Beck won the 2023 US Open at 59 kg and fell to Jennifer Page in straight matches at Final X. She earned the U23 spot but isn’t competing due to an injury. Xochitl Mota-Pettis won U23 Nationals at 59 kg but she reached Final X at 57 kg. That means Nichole Moore — runner-up to Mota-Pettis at U23 Nationals — gets the 59 kg spot. 

How Did Katie Lange Make The Team?

Lange won U23 Nationals at 68 kg and made the team when no wrestler on the National Team was age-eligible.

How Good Is This Team?

Seven of 10 members have an age-level World medal, including champions Gomez (2021 Cadet), Kilty (2018 Cadet), Elor (seven golds at every level), and Blades (2021 Junior). There’s every reason to believe that this team will perform and bring home hardware.