91°µÍø

USAW
International
Women
High School & Youth

Draws Announced for Women’s Freestyle at 2026 U17 World Championships

Share:

²ú²âÌýDavid Gerhart, 91°µÍø

Marlee Solomon celebrates national title at the 2026 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals at the FARGODOME in Fargo, N.D.

Marlee Solomon celebrates national title at the 2026 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals at the FARGODOME in Fargo, N.D.

BAKU, Azerbaijan – The women’s freestyle draws at the 2026 U17 World Championships have been released. Women’s freestyle action begins on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. local time/2:30 a.m. ET from the National Gymnastics Arena.


Two-time U17 World champion Taina Fernandez opens her run for a third-straight title against Taniya of India during the second day of women’s freestyle competition on Thursday at 69 kg.


Returning U17 World silver medalist Epenesa Elison is in action on Tuesday against U15 Asian champion Rion Suzuki of Japan in the first round of the 57 kg weight class. Fellow 2025 U17 World medalist Madison Healey is back on the World stage and faces Gulnoza Zakirdjanova of Uzbekistan in her first match at 46 kg.


Kaili Manuel is also making her second U17 World Championships appearance after competing in 2024. At 73 kg, Manuel faces Kazakhstan’s Bagzhan Kurmanbay in her first match.


Joining Elison and Manuel in action on Wednesday are Lilly Lundy (43 kg), Isla Silva (49 kg) and Eve Skrocki (65 kg). Lundy opens competition against Mukhlisa Masharipova of Uzbekistan, who competed at last year’s U17 World Championships at the same weight class. Silva faces Olena Kolubai of Ukraine, who is making her third U17 Worlds appearance. Skrocki received a bye and takes on the winner of Aisha Abdimalik of Kazakhstan and Szonja Veres of Hungary.


At 53 kg, Marlee Solomon was also awarded a bye and takes on either Zuzanna Sokolowska of Poland or reigning U17 World bronze medalist Mariia Zhytovoz of Hungary.


Rounding out the women’s freestyle draws for the U.S. is Sophia Valdez at 40 kg, who begins the championships against Kazakhstan’s Aiaru Iliyas, and Landri Von Gonten, who battles Avanshika of India, in her first match at 61 kg.


A full event schedule for the women’s freestyle competition, along with the complete U.S. women’s freestyle draws, is available below. 


Live streams and archived matches will be available on  in the U.S. market. Brackets and results will be hosted on .

 

For live results and updates from the U17 World Championships, follow along with 91°µÍø’s social channels and .

2026 U17 World Championships

At Baku, Azerbaijan, July 27-August 2

Reference Links


Women’s Freestyle Event Schedule


Wednesday, July 29

10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (WFS 43 kg, 49 kg, 57 kg, 65 kg, 73 kg)

5 p.m. – Semifinals (WFS 43 kg, 49 kg, 57 kg, 65 kg, 73 kg)

Thursday, July 30

10:30 a.m. – Repechages (WFS 43 kg, 49 kg, 57 kg, 65 kg, 73 kg)

10:30 a.m. – Qualification rounds (WFS 40 kg, 46 kg, 53 kg, 61 kg, 69 kg)

5 p.m. – Semifinals (WFS 40 kg, 46 kg, 53 kg, 61 kg, 69 kg)

6 p.m. – Finals (WFS 43 kg, 49 kg, 57 kg, 65 kg, 73 kg)

Friday, July 31

10:30 a.m. – Repechages (WFS 40 kg, 46 kg, 53 kg, 61 kg, 69 kg)

6 p.m. – Finals (WFS 40 kg, 46 kg, 53 kg, 61 kg, 69 kg)


*All times local. Azerbaijan, Baku, is located eight hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern Time Zone.



U.S. Women’s Freestyle Draws


40 kg – Sophia Valdez (Colorado Springs, Colo./Betterman Elite Wrestling)

VS Aiaru Iliyas (Kazakhstan)


43 kg – Lilly Lundy (Monument, Colo./Motown Wrestling)

VS Mukhlisa Masharipova (Uzbekistan)


46 kg – Madison Healey (Luzerne, Pa./Wyoming Seminary)

VS Gulnoza Zakirdjanova (Uzbekistan)


49 kg – Isla Silva (Pittsburgh, Pa./Team Pennsylvania)

VS Olena Kolubai (Ukraine)


53 kg – Marlee Solomon (McDonald, Pa./Wrestling Chix)

VS Zuzanna Sokolowska (Poland) or Mariia Zhytovoz (Hungary)


57 kg – Epenesa Elison (La Puente, Calif./Monster Garage Wrestling)

VS Rion Suzuki (Japan)

61 kg – Landri Von Gonten (Spring, Texas/Boneyard Wrestling Academy)

VS Avanshika (India)


65 kg – Eve Skrocki (Phoenix, Ariz./Valiant WC)

VS Aisha Abdimalik (Kazakhstan) or Szonja Veres (Hungary)


69 kg – Taina Fernandez (Bowie, Md./Titan Mercury WC)

VS Taniya (India)


73 kg – Kaili Manuel (Washington, Mich./Michigan Wrestling Academy)

VS Bagzhan Kurmanbay (Kazakhstan)