By David Gerhart
USA Wrestling

ZAGREB, Croatia – 2025 Senior World Team members Kennedy Blades, Macey Kilty and Alex Glaude lead Team USA’s 16-woman squad into UWW’s first Ranking Series event of 2026 at the Zagreb Open in Croatia.

Reigning World bronze medalist and 2024 Olympic Silver medalist, Blades highlights the 68 kg bracket with a contest against Hungary’s Karolina Pok, who has competed at four age-group World Championships, finishing as high as fifth place.

At 62 kg, the two-time World medalist Kilty begins her international season against two-time age group World medalist Anastasiia Sidelnikova of UWW. Sidelnikova was fifth at last year’s World Championships at 59 kg.

Glaude starts her run at 72 kg two-time age-group World medalist and 2024 Asian champion Mahiro Yoshitake of Japan.

Former senior World Team members Abigail Nette (2022) and Areana Villaescusa (2024) are also in the field this week. Villaescusa represents the U.S. at 55 kg and takes on Türkiye’s Tuba Demir, who is a four-time age-group World medalist, in the opening round. At 59 kg, Nette opens against experienced competitor Erika Bognar of Hungary.

A pair of notable age-group stars are in the mix with high-stakes round one matches. Two-time age-group World medalist Amani Jones has drawn 2022 World bronze medalist Karla Godinez Gonzalez of Canada at 55 kg. Three-time age group medalist Alexis Janiak is up against 2024 World bronze medalist Elena Brugger of Germany at 59 kg.

At 50 kg, Kendra Ryan is the lone American in the bracket. She opens the tournament against reigning U23 World champion Haruna Morikawa of Japan. The U.S. also has a reigning age-group World champion at 53 kg in U20 gold medalist Everest Leydecker. Leydecker’s first match comes against India’s Anjali Kachhawa.

All opening round matchups for the U.S. women and a complete event schedule are listed below.

Women’s freestyle action takes place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Arena Zagreb. Competition each day begins at 10:30 a.m. local time/4:30 a.m. ET.

Matches will be streamed live on FloWrestling. Live results and brackets are available on UWW Arena.

2026 Zagreb Open 

At Zagreb, Croatia, February 4-8 

Quick Links 

• Events Website

• Brackets

• Live Stream
  

Event Schedule 

Thursday, February 5 

MFS 79-92-97-125 kg, WFS 50-55 kg

10:30 a.m. – Qualification Rounds

12:30 p.m. – Semifinals

1:30 p.m. – Repechage

6 p.m. – Finals 

Friday, February 6 

WFS 59-62-65-68 kg, GR 63-67 kg

10:30 a.m. – Qualification Rounds

12:30 p.m. – Semifinals

1:30 p.m. – Repechage

6 p.m. – Finals 

Saturday, February 7 

WFS 53-57-72-76 kg, GR 77-87 kg

10:30 a.m. – Qualification Rounds

1:30 p.m. – Semifinals

2:30 p.m. – Repechage

6 p.m. – Finals

Sunday, February 8 

GR 55-60-72-82-97-130 kg

10:30 a.m. – Qualification Rounds

1:30 p.m. – Semifinals

2:30 p.m. – Repechage

6 p.m. – Finals

*All times reference local time in Zagreb, Croatia, which is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.

U.S. Women’s Freestyle Draws 

50 kg – Kendra Ryan (Winfield, Ill./ Cardinal WC) 

VS Haruna Morikawa (Japan)

53 kg – Katie Gomez (Van Nuys, Calif./Titan Mercury WC) 

VS Gerda Terek (Hungary)

53 kg – Everest Leydecker (Phoenix, Ariz./Thorobred WC) 

VS Anjali Kachhawa (India)

53 kg – Sydney Petzinger (Naperville, Ill./Cardinal WC) 

VS Emma Luttenauer (France)

55 kg – Areana Villaescusa (Fountain, Colo./Army WCAP) 

VS Tuba Demir (Türkiye)

55 kg – Amani Jones (Jonesboro, Ga./Cowgirls WC) 

VS Karla Godinez Gonzalez (Canada)

57 kg – Amanda Martinez (Riverside, Ill./Cardinal WC/Titan Mercury WC) 

VS Tamara Dollak (Hungary)

59 kg – Abigail Nette (Colorado Springs, Colo./Army WCAP) 

VS Erika Bognar (Hungary)

59 kg – Alexis Janiak (Plainfield, Ill./Titan Mercury WC) 

VS Elena Brugger (Germany)

62 kg – Alara Boyd (Muncie, Ind./Cardinal WC) 

VS Bhagyashree Fand (India)

62 kg – Marilyn Garcia (Van Nuys, Calif./Beat The Streets – Los Angeles/Titan Mercury WC) 

VS Eniko Elekes (Hungary)

62 kg – Macey Kilty (North Liberty, Iowa/Iowa Women’s WC) 

VS Anastasiia Sidelnikova (UWW)

68 kg – Solin Piearcy (San Jose, Calif./Titan Mercury WC) 

VS Pauline Lecarpentier (France)

68 kg – Kennedy Blades (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC) 

VS Karolina Pok (Hungary)

72 kg – Alex Glaude (Menlo Park, Calif./California RTC/Titan Mercury WC) 

VS Mahiro Yoshitake (Japan)

76 kg – Tristan Kelly (Erie, Colo./Army WCAP) 

VS Kendra Dacher (France)