Steve Combs Remembers Fellow Distinguished Members Bobby Douglas, J Robinson

Editor’s Note:
Steve Combs served as executive director of the United States Wrestling Federation beginning in 1974 and later played a key role in the formation of USA Wrestling. A Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (1985), Combs offers a personal reflection on fellow honorees Bobby Douglas and J Robinson. 

Gutierrez, Hruby Win Beach Wrestling Gold at U17 Pan American Championships

PANAMA CITY, Panama – Aubree Gutierrez and Matilda Hruby closed out the 2026 U17 Pan American Championships as double gold medalists after capturing championships during Sunday’s beach wrestling competition at Ciudad Deportiva Irving Saladino.

Coming off gold medal performances in women’s freestyle on Friday, Gutierrez and Hruby found success in the sand, going unbeaten. Hruby picked up three wins at 75 kg and blanked her opponents to claim gold. At 55 kg, Gutierrez went 4-0 and outscored her opponents 14-2.

USA Wrestling Women’s Nationals Back To The Podium in Spokane, Wash., April 9-12

The 2026 USA Wrestling Women’s National Championships are set for a return appearance to The Podium in Spokane, Wash., with the best young athletes in the country vying for national titles and selections to U.S. World and Pan American Teams. 

The competition is set for April 9-12 with women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments offered in the USA Wrestling 8U, 10U, 12U and 14U age groups, on top of the UWW U15, U17, U20 and U23 women’s freestyle divisions. 

U.S. Greco-Roman Wins Seven Gold Medals, Team Title at U17 Pan American Championships

PANAMA CITY, Panama – Team USA capped off the sweep of the Olympic discipline team titles at the 2026 U17 Pan American Championships behind seven gold medals for 230 total points in Greco-Roman at Centro de Alto Rendimiento Luis Tejada.

The 230 points from the U.S. were 89 points ahead of second-place Mexico. Puerto Rico rounded out the top three with 111 points.

Each of Team USA’s gold medalists on Saturday finished as double Pan American champions. Rylen Wax, Lucas Forman, Evan Restivo, Cooper Mathews, Ryder Schulte, Salah Tsarni and Lucas Feuerbach all won gold in both Greco-Roman and freestyle.

U.S. Women’s Freestyle Wins Eight Gold Medals at U17 Pan American Championships

PANAMA CITY, Panama – Team USA’s women’s freestyle team won eight gold medals at the 2026 U17 Pan American Championships at Centro de Alto Rendimiento Luis Tejada. Four of the U.S. gold medals came via pin, and Team USA finished with a medal in each of the 10 weight classes.

In the team standings, the U.S. finished with a tournament-best 235 points. Mexico finished second with 170 points and Canada was third with 133 points.

Kylie Welker Accepts 76 kg Women’s Freestyle Berth at 2026 Final X, Presented by Kerberos Capital Management

Two-time World bronze medalist Kylie Welker (Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC) has accepted her automatic bid to 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, and will battle for the women’s freestyle 76 kg spot on the 2026 U.S. World Team. Final X is set for Friday, June 19 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. 

She is a three-time women’s college national champion, having just completed her junior campaign for the University of Iowa. Welker was the 180-pound champion at the inaugural NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships held in March. 

Audrey Jimenez Wins 2026 USA Wrestling Anthony-Maroulis Trophy

Audrey Jimenez, who was the Arizona and West Region winner of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award in 2024, was voted the recipient of the 2026 USA Wrestling Anthony-Maroulis Trophy, which is presented annually to the nation’s best women’s college wrestler. 

The sophomore at Lehigh University completed her first season of varsity competition for the Mountain Hawks as the NCAA champion at 110 pounds with a perfect 21-0 record. She posted a remarkable 100% bonus rate, with seven pins, eight technical falls, six forfeits and no match going to a decision. 

Your Link to Florida Chapter Honors Weekend on August 28-29