2024 Olympic Team Trials Women's Freestyle Preview (50, 53, 57kg)

It’s almost here! The field has been set and the eyes of the American wrestling world are ready to collectively focus on State College, Pennsylvania, the setting of the 2024 US Olympic Team Trials. The Trials are always incredible and a must-see for fans; however, this one is a bit more special after the most recent Trials. Delayed by a year, because of COVID, the 2020(1) Trials were moved to Fort Worth, Texas, and did not have the type of crowd that is expected to pack the Bryce Jordan Center this time. 

Our previews have been broken down to half of a particular style at a time. Earlier in the week, we started with men's freestyle - now we're on to women's freestyle. The good news is that all six weights have been qualified for women's freestyle - either at the 2023 World Championships or at the 2024 Pan-American Olympic Qualifier. In a rule unique only to women's freestyle, the wrestler who earned the allocation bid for the United States can sit out until the best-of-three finals. 

For each weight, we’ll mention the qualifiers, along with how they qualified, and notes about each of the participants, followed by a finals prediction.

50 kg qualifiers

2023 Senior World medalist at Olympic weight: Sarah Hildebrandt

2023 U20/U23 World silver medalist: Audrey Jimenez

2023 Bill Farrell Runner-Up: Erin Golston

Senior National champion: Sage Mortimer

Senior National runner-up: Samara Chavez

Senior National third place: Kendra Ryan

Senior National fourth place: Kaelani Shufeldt

Senior National fifth place: Mia Palumbo

Last Chance Qualifier champion: Nyla Valencia

2024 NCWWC national champion: Emilie Gonzalez

2024 NCWWC national champion: Ava Bayless

While some of her teammates get more attention and acclaim, Sarah Hildebrandt is putting together one of the best careers of an American woman…ever. Hildebrandt is seeking to make her second consecutive Olympic team and her eighth world/Olympic squad. During that time, she’s come away with five medals - including a bronze medal at the 2020(1) Olympics. Domestically, it’s been a long time since Hildebrandt has been seriously tested. She’s the only wrestler who has appeared in every Final X event and has yet to surrender a single point (64-0 in six matches). At the Olympic Trials, she had 12-2 and 10-0 techs. 

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