Marietta, Georgia, January 31, 2020 – The Life University women’s wrestling team will officially host the WCWA National Championships at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta, Georgia on February 7-8, 2020. The event will also play host to a special wrestle-off for the women’s freestyle Pan American Olympic Qualifier spots.

The WCWA individual champions will automatically be qualified for the 2020 United States Olympic Team trials to be held at Penn State University in the beginning of April. Alongside the WCWA Championships, the Pan American wrestle-offs will take place on Saturday, February 8. Six of the eight athletes competing at the event are former WCWA participants. All coverage will be provided by FloWrestling and can be viewed here: 2020 WCWA/Pan Am FloWrestling Video Coverage.

Per the 2020 Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier procedures for women’s freestyle, the 2019 Senior World Team Member (Olympic weights) will be the U.S. representative; however, a Senior World medalist, at any weight, within this quad (2017-2019) will be given the opportunity to challenge the 2019 Senior World Team Member for the spot.

Four past Senior World medalists from this quad have confirmed their intentions to wrestle off for one of the four eligible weights, including 2018 Senior World silver medalist Sarah Hildebrandt, 2019 World champion Jacarra Winchester, 2017 World silver medalist Alli Ragan and 2017 World champion Helen Maroulis.

Hildebrandt will challenge five-time World Team member Whitney Conder for the 50 kg spot in a best-of-three series.

At 53 kg, there will be a three-woman wrestle-off for the spot. Because Hildebrandt vacated her spot at 53 kg, Winchester, who is moving down from 55 kg, will advanced to the finals of the bracket as a returning World champ. Winchester will face the winner of a prelim bout between 2019 National Team members No. 2 Katherine Shai and No. 3 Haley Augello.

Another three-woman wrestle off will play out at 57 kg. As the 2019 World Team member, Jenna Burkert will sit in the finals. Burkert will face the winner of a prelim match between 2016 Olympic champion and 2017 World champion Helen Maroulis and two-time World silver medalist Alli Ragan.

The preliminary rounds will feature one match at the respective weights, and all finals will be a best-of-three series. Read the full story from Team USA here: Special Wrestle-Offs set for women’s freestyle Pan Am Olympic Qualifier spots on Feb. 8.

Below is the schedule for the Pan Am wrestle-offs:

50kg

4:00 p.m. – Whitney Conder vs. Sarah Hildebrandt (Best of 3 series)

53kg

9:00 a.m. – Katherine Shai vs. Haley Augello (prelim match)
4:00 p.m. – Shai/Augello winner vs. Jacarra Winchester (Best of 3 series)

57kg

9:00 a.m. – Helen Maroulis vs. Alli Ragan (prelim match)
4:00 p.m. – Maroulis/Ragan winner vs. Jenna Burkert (Best of 3 series)

The full event schedule can be found below:
Thursday, February 6

  • Brackets released in the evening. Story to follow

Friday, February 7

  • 8:00 a.m. – Doors open to the public.
  • 9:00 a.m. – WCWA wrestling begins.
  • Blood rounds to advance will take place later in the day.

Saturday, February 8

  • 8:00 a.m. – Doors open to the public.
  • 9:00 a.m. – One mat will be used for Pan Am wrestle-off prelims.
  • Following the Pan Am prelims, WCWA semifinals will begin.
  • Approximately 1:00 p.m. – WCWA Medal Rounds will begin.
  • 4:00 p.m. – Pan Am Wrestle offs (best of 3). Three weight classes, one mat.
  • 6:00 p.m. – Finals for WCWA (will begin at the end of Pan Am wrestle-offs).
  • Award Ceremony to follow.

Tickets for the event will be sold at the door. The prices are as follows:

$20 – Weekend Pass
$20 – Individual Day Pass
Group rates for six or more will be available at the door.

Wyndham Garden Marietta Atlanta North and the Hampton Inn and Suites Atlanta/Marietta are the official hotel sponsors of the event. Mention Life University for the discounted rate, or follow the links provided. Following the link will automatically input the discounted rate.

Wyndham Garden Marietta Atlanta North
455 Franklin Gateway SE
Marietta GA 30067 P: (770) 425-9977
Website with Discounted Rate

Hampton Inn and Suites Atlanta/Marietta
2136 Kingston Court
Marietta, GA 30067
P: (678) 460-1160
Website with Discounted Rate

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