There were some interesting entries in the women's division of the last chance Olympic trials. The winners in each weight class will qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials, which will be held April 19 and 20 at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pennsylvania.
Athletes who have already qualified for the Olympic Trials are not eligible to compete in the Last Chance.
Below is a list of the six weight classes and the athletes most likely to earn a final Olympic selection spot based on who is registered.
2024 Last Chance OTT Qualifier
schedule
April 6th (Saturday) Senior Women's Freestyle
10 a.m. ET: Qualifiers, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Repechage
4:00 PM ET: Repechage to Repechage Semifinals and 3rd Place
6:30pm: EST: Finals and 3rd Place
50 kilograms (110 pounds)
A balanced field with Starling Diaz and Neela Valencia both playing for the Hawkeyes. Diaz finished second in the 101-pound division at the recent National Collegiate Championships, but moved up nine points to compete in the lightest international division. Valencia did not compete during her college season, so this will be her first test in over a year.
Nina Pham was a two-time NAIA champion (2021-22) at Wayland Baptist at 101, while Natalie Reyna Rodriguez was a four-time All-American at McKendree/Southern Oregon at 109. . Charlotte Fowler is also a 2021 NAIA National Finalist.
53 kilograms (116 pounds)
North Central's Jaslyn Gallegos and Iowa's Brianna Gonzalez enrolled after their college seasons. Gallegos is a six-time All-American (1 WCWA, 5 NCWWC) and went 2-2 at the 2020 Olympic Trials. She competed at 109 pounds throughout her college season, but she is trying to get back to the 53 kilograms she usually competes in.
Gonzalez placed second in the 116-pound weight class at the 2024 National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships, losing to teammate Felicity Taylor, who she defeated 9-3 in the regional finals.
King's Deanna Holmes did not compete in the 2024 collegiate season, but placed third at 109 pounds at the 2023 National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships. High school stars Claire Boo and Riley Leyome also have entries.
57 kg (125.5 lbs)
This is the weight Bridget Duty should win at, but she'll have competition. King University stars Virginia Ford and Montana DeRoder split four games during the college season, with Ford finishing second and DeRoder third at nationals.
Sofia Macaluso missed the college season, but has a 2022 U20 World Championship silver medal on her resume. Look out for Carly Brooks as she is in high school. The future Hawkeye trained at the Elite Accelerator program in Colorado Springs, where she placed fifth at the 2023 U17 World Championships.
62 kg (136.5 lbs)
Lauren Ruib reached Final X in 2019 and won the U.S. title in 2020. Skylar Hattendorf, the 2019 U17 World Championship silver medalist, is likely to use her throwing and judo background to advance.
Five-time All-American and All-American champion Anna Luciano will be key for King, as will McKendree's Alexandra Skotnicki and high school star Cadence Diduk.
68 kg (149.5 lbs)
King's Cheyenne Bowman placed second in the 2023 U.S. Championship finals, qualifying her for the Olympic Trials, but her result was not considered because she did not weigh in. She recently placed second to Iowa State's Marlin Deed at the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships.
Jackie Catalin has a wealth of experience at senior level, including a third-place finish at the 2016 Olympic Trials. High schooler Jasmine Robinson has come a long way, as evidenced by his bronze medal at the U17 World Championships in 2017.
76 kilograms (167 pounds)
Sacred Heart All-American teammates Maddie Sundquist and Kara Broadus are competing here. Southern Oregon's Shenita Lawson placed fourth at the 2024 NAIA Championships, while Liliana Vergara placed fourth last year. King's Alexa Garcia finished fourth at this year's National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships with 191 points, moving her down the rankings.
High school student Naomi Simon is a four-time Iowa state champion and is ranked No. 3 in the nation at 170 pounds.
