By Richard Immel
USA Wrestling

SPOKANE, Washington – Day one is in the book at the 2026 USA Wrestling Women’s Nationals, with an exciting batch of quarterfinals now set in the U20 division. 

Six members of last year’s U20 World Team remain in contention for a repeat bid—Abbi Cooper at 53 kg, Everest Leydecker at 55 kg, Haylie Jaffe at 62 kg, Daniella Nugent at 68 kg, Jasmine Robinson at 72 kg and Naomi Simon at 76 kg. 

Leydecker (2025) and Robinson (2024) are past U20 World Champions and remain heavy favorites to represent Team USA at the 2026 U20 World Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia, this August. Both women had two matches on Thursday, with each result being a shutout technical fall. 

A pair of worthy challengers has emerged to oppose the Leydecker, Robinson duo. 2025 U17 World silver medalist Epenesa Elison posted a pair of 10-0 technical falls on Friday and would meet Leydecker in the finals if she can win two more bouts tomorrow morning. Similarly, 2025 U17 World bronze medalist Ella Poalillo, who posted a pin and a technical fall, needs two wins to make it to Robinson. 

Longtime rivals Morgan Turner and Jaclyn Bouzakis appear to be on a collision course for the 50 kg spot. Turner is a two-time U17 World champion and three-time U17 World medalist. Bouzakis has a pair of U17 World bronze medals to her name. 

Two-time U17 World champion Taina Fernandez went 10-0, 10-0 on the day. If seeds hold, Fernandez would face Nugent in the 68 kg best-of-three finals. 

2023 U17 World champion and newly minted NAIA champion Piper Fowler notched 10-0 and 12-0 wins, with her sights set on a potential finals matchup against Simon. 

Chalk held for most of the day, with every No. 1 and No. 2 seed winning out. However, it was a tough day for the three line. Four No. 3’s dropped prelim matches, with a stunner coming at 50 kg—Oklahoma’s Addie Morse downed 2023 U17 World bronze medalist Heather Crull, 4-2, in the round of 64. Crull was the No. 1 seed at last month’s NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships. 

The USA Wrestling Women’s Nationals continues at 10 a.m. (PT) on Friday with the U20 quarterfinals and the start of the U15 division. Moreover, 14U, 12U, 10U and 8U freestyle athletes will take the mats tomorrow afternoon. 

Watch the action from Spokane live or on-demand on FloWrestling. Brackets and live results are available on USA Bracketing.

2026 USA Wrestling Women’s Nationals 

April 9, The Podium, Spokane, Washington  

Reference Links 

• Event website

• Live stream

• Brackets

• Photos 

U20 Women  

Quarterfinal Matchups 

50 kg 

Morgan Turner (All I See Is Gold Academy/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Rianne Murphy (Iowa Women’s WC)

Katey Valdez (Army WCAP) vs. Eva Zimmerman (Sanderson Wrestling Academy)

Addie Morse (Oklahoma) vs. Christina Estrada (Dethrone WC)

Sarissa Tucker (Legacy Dragons Wrestling) vs. Jaclyn Bouzakis (Wyoming Seminary) 

53 kg 

Abbi Cooper (Lehigh Valley Wrestling RTC) vs. Mikayla Garcia (Cardinal WC)

Aubree Gutierrez (Surfside X Wrestling) vs. Harlee Hiller (Iowa Women’s WC)

Taylor Whiting (Wisconsin) vs. Calli Gilchrist (Bears RTC)

Libby Roberts (Laker WC) vs. Isabella Marie Gonzales (Iowa Women’s WC) 

55 kg 

Everest Leydecker (Thorobred/NYAC) vs. Leiannah Landreth (Tiger Den WC)

Savannah Witt (Eagle WC) vs. Stevie Joyce Martin (ZM Grappling Academy)

Riley Rayome (Cardinal WC) vs. Marlee Solomon (Team Pennsylvania)

Annesley Day (Dragon WC) vs. Epenesa Elison (Monster Garage Wrestling) 

57 kg 

Karlee Brooks (Iowa Women’s WC) vs. Raenah Smith (Team Pennsylvania)

Martynique Davis (Thorobred WC) vs. Marie Sharp (New Jersey)

Madilyn Peach (Wisconsin) vs. Molly Allen (Cowgirls WC)

Morgan Maschmann (Tiger Den WC) vs. Aspen Blasko (Laker WC) 

59 kg 

Kailey Benson (Cowgirls WC) vs. Persaeus Gomez (Valiant WC)

Emma Bacon (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Gigi Bragg (Cowgirls WC)

Abigail Mozden (Samurai WC) vs. Caley Graber (Summit Wrestling Academy)

Willow White (Gladiator Wrestling) vs. Sobina Clendaniel (Marathon WC) 

62 kg 

Haylie Jaffe (Bearcat WC) vs. Sophia Ball (SPAR)

Mika Yoffee (Legends of Gold Las Vegas) vs. Carley Ceshker (B.A.M. Training Center)

Naima Ghaffar (M3 wrestling academy) vs. Mia Collins (Columbia University)

Jacinda Espinosa (Missouri) vs. Bella Williams (Iowa Women’s WC) 

65 kg 

Violette Lasure (Team Pennsylvania) vs. Hayden Newberg (Warrior RTC)

Maddie Marsh (Red Cobra Wrestling Academy) vs. Ryen Hickey (Mile High WC)

Riley Hanrahan (Team Nazar Training Center) vs. Louise Juitt (Hornets WC)

Vivienne Gitke (Betterman Elite Wrestling) vs. Cadence Diduch (Iowa Women’s WC) 

68 kg 

Daniella Nugent (Cowgirls WC) vs. May Cuyler (Vision Wrestling)

Nora Akpan (Pinnacle WC) vs. Sydney Perry (Cardinal WC)

Reagan Knapp (Cowgirls WC) vs. Olivia Davis (Somar WC)

Annelise Obermark (Storm RTC) vs. Taina Fernandez (Titan Mercury WC (TMWC) 

72 kg 

Jasmine Robinson (Army WCAP) vs. Kiley Dillow (Chanute WC)

Kaylie Hall (Vision Wrestling) vs. Belicia Manuel (Michigan Wrestling Academy)

Gretchen Donally (Colorado Mesa WC) vs. Olivia Georges (Cordoba Trained)

Elizabeth Rosenstiel (Cardinal WC) vs. Ella Poalillo (Iron Horse WC) 

76 kg 

Naomi Simon (Iowa Women’s WC) vs. Kathryn Hingano (Raider WC)

Jael Miller (Cardinal WC) vs. Samaria Barnett (Pioneer WC)

Alexandria Alli (USOPTC) vs. Isabella Phillips (Gannon University)

Irelynn Laurin (Mayhem WC) vs. Piper Fowler (Statesman WC)