By Zack Chavez
USA Wrestling

BUDAPEST, Hungary – The U.S. women’s freestyle team has received its opening-round draws for the 2026 Polyák Imre, Varga János & Kozma István Memorial in Budapest, Hungary. The U.S. will maximize its tournament participation by entering 12 athletes in eight weight classes, all of which will be contested at BOK Hall beginning July 16.

Women’s freestyle begins on July 16 with the 50 kg and 55 kg brackets, followed by the remaining weight classes on July 17.

At 50 kg, Katie Gomez and Samara Chavez will both start in the round of 16. Chavez faces China’s Anqi Bao in her opener, while Gomez takes on Priyanshi Prajapat.

Areana Villaescusa returns to international competition at 55 kg after winning bronze at February’s Zagreb Open Ranking Series event. She will look to avenge a 2-1 loss to Karla Godinez Gonzalez, after narrowly falling to the Canadian at the Zagreb Open.

Three 2026 World Team members—Abigail Nette (59 kg), Cristelle Rodriguez (53 kg), and Adaugo Nwachukwu (62 kg)—take the mats on Friday. The U.S. faces a tough opening-round matchup at 59 kg, as Nette and Alexis Janiak open against each other. Nwachukwu will begin against Eniko Elekes of Hungary, who recently finished seventh at the European Championships. Rodriguez will start against Azerbaijan’s Nargiz Samadova in the round of 16.

Dymond Guilford is the lone U.S. entrant in the 76 kg bracket, which features 18 competitors. She will face Kazakhstan’s Alina Yertostik, the runner-up at this year’s U23 Asian Championships. Guilford took third at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series event in February and continues competing in the lead-up to her upcoming Final X matchup, which will determine the 76 kg spot on the 2026 World Team.

Wednesday and Thursday’s women’s freestyle matches begin at 10:30 a.m. local time/4:30 a.m. ET.

The full schedule for the 2026 Polyák Imre, Varga János & Kozma István Memorial Ranking Series, along with the complete roster and first-round matchups for the U.S. women’s freestyle team, is listed below.

A live stream of the Polyák Imre, Varga János & Kozma István Memorial will be available to the U.S. audience through FloWrestling. Brackets and updated results will be hosted on UWW Arena.

2026 Polyák Imre, Varga János & Kozma István Memorial Ranking Series  

At Budapest, Hungary, July 15-19 

Quick Links  

• Events Website

• Brackets and results

• Live Stream

Event Schedule   

Thursday, July 16   

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. – Repechages

6:00 p.m. – Medal matches

Friday, July 17  

WFS 59-62-65-68 kg, GR 67-77 kg  

10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds

12:30 p.m. – Semifinals

1:30 p.m. – Repechages

6:00 p.m. – Medal matches

Saturday, July 18  

WFS 53-57-72-76 kg, GR 72-87 kg  

10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds

1:30 p.m. – Semifinals

2:30 p.m. – Repechages

6:00 p.m. – Medal matches

Sunday, July 19  

GR 55-60-63-82-97-130 kg  

10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds

1:30 p.m. – Semifinals

2:30 p.m. – Repechages

6:00 p.m. – Medal matches

*All times listed local to Budapest, Hungary, which is located six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.

U.S. Women’s Freestyle Draws  

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

VS Priyanshi Prajapat (India)

50 kg – Samara Chavez (Arlington, Texas/Army WCAP)

VS Anqi Bao (China)

53 kg – Cristelle Rodriguez (Crete, Neb./Tiger WC/Titan Mercury WC)

VS Nargiz Samadova (Azerbaijan)

53 kg – Sydney Petzinger (Kingston, Pa./Lehigh Valley Wrestling RTC)

VS Andreea Ana (Romania)

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

VS Karla Godinez Gonzalez (Canada)

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

VS Georgiana Lirca (Romania)

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

VS Alexis Janiak (United States)

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

VS Abigail Nette (United States)

62 kg – Adaugo Nwachukwu (Colorado Springs, Colo./Army WCAP)

VS Eniko Elekes (Hungary)

65 kg – Jennifer Page (Bellefonte, Pa./Titan Mercury WC)

VS Virginia Jimenez Fernandez (Chile)

65 kg – Reese Larramendy (Reno, Nev./Hawkeye WC)

VS Birgul Soltanova (Azerbaijan) or Maria Pantiru (Romania)

76 kg – Dymond Guilford (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC)

VS Alina Yertostik (Kazakhstan)