USA Wrestling Captains’ Cup draft ...

Captains’ Cup draft eligible athletes at 53 kg released

By Taylor Miller, USA Wrestling | Jan. 17, 2021, 12:15 p.m. (ET)

Next week, six team captains will draft their teams for the Captains’ Cup presented by Titan Mercury Wrestling Club, a dual event that will showcase the top women’s freestyle athletes in the United States competing for $50,000. The draft is set for January 23 live on FloWrestling.org.

The plan is to have the women who qualified the USA for the Olympic Games serve as the captains: Sarah Hildebrandt (50 kg), Jacarra Winchester (53 kg), Helen Maroulis (57 kg), Kayla Miracle (62 kg), Tamyra Mensah-Stock (68 kg) and Adeline Gray (75 kg), pending confirmation of their participation.

The competition will take place February 13-14, broadcasted by FloWrestling.

As the draft date approaches, USA Wrestling will periodically release draft eligible athletes by weight.

Today, we take a look at draft eligible athletes at 53 kg/117 lbs.

Marissa Gallegos

  • Student at Colorado Mesa University
  • Second at 2020 U23 Nationals
  • Fourth at 2020 Junior Nationals
  • Third at 2020 Women’s College National Championships
  • Sixth at 2019 Senior Nationals

Ronna Heaton

  • 2020 U23 Nationals champion
  • Second at 2020 Senior Nationals
  • Five-time age-group World Team member
  • Silver at 2016 Cadet World Championships
  • 2015 Cadet World champion

Alex Hedrick

  • 2020 Women’s College Nationals champion
  • 2019 Pan American champion
  • Fifth at 2019 Senior Nationals
  • Two-time Junior World Team member (2018, 2019)
  • 2018 U.S. Open champion

Tiare Ikei

  • EAP athlete at the USOPTC
  • 2020 Junior Nationals champion
  • Third at 2020 U23 Nationals
  • 2019 U.S. Open champion
  • Silver at 2019 Junior Pan Ams
  • Bronze at 2018 Cadet World Championships

Peyton Prussin

  • Student at Life University
  • Fifth at 2019 U.S. Open
  • 2019 Junior Fargo champion
  • 2018 Junior Fargo runner-up
  • Second at 2018 Cadet World Team Trials

Katherine Shai

  • Six-time National Team member
  • Bronze at 2020 Matteo Pellicone International
  • 2019 Final X runner-up
  • Four-time U.S. Open runner-up (2009, 2013, 2014, 2019)
  • 2008 University World champion

Felicity Taylor

  • Student at McKendree University
  • Second at 2020 Junior Nationals
  • Fourth at 2020 U23 Nationals
  • Second at 2020 Women’s College National Championship
  • 2019 U23 World Team member
  • Second at 2019 WCWA Nationals

Areana Villaescusa

  • 2019 National Team member
  • Second at 2019 Senior Nationals
  • Seventh at 2019 World Military Games
  • Second at 2018 U.S. Open

Also to be featured at 53 kg is 2019 World champion Jacarra Winchester, who will be a team captain.

Keep an eye for more Captains’ Cup news coming soon!