Contact: Matthew Eaker, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, mreaker@noctrl.edu

Results 
Brackets 

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (May 1, 2023) - The Cardinal Wrestling Club (CWC) sent nine wrestlers to Las Vegas for the 2023 US Open Wrestling Championships where six wrestlers finished within the top-eight of their respective weight classes. 

The US Open is one of the most anticipated events of the year where wrestlers from all around the country come to compete for a spot to represent the World Team. In the senior division, weights where there is a returning world championships medalist, the winner of the US Open will advance directly to Final X on June 9th where they will wrestle the returning world medalist in a best of three for the senior world team spot. At weights where there is not a returning world championships medalist, the winner of the US Open will advance directly to Final X and await the winner of the May 21st World Team Trials tournament for a best of three series. At those weights, wrestlers who place in the top seven at the US Open are qualified for the May 21 World Team Trials event. 

At 50 kg, Kendra Ryan kicked off the tournament with a dominant 10-0 technical fall win over Charlotte Fowler of Boilermaker RTC. Ryan followed up that win with another technical fall, defeating Natalie Reyna-Rodriguez of Southern Oregon RTC before falling to Erin Golston of New York Athletic Club by a 13-5 decision. In the consolation bracket, Ryan bounced back with her third technical fall win of the event, defeating Arelys Valles of Grand View Wrestling Club 14-4. Ryan would keep her momentum going as she knocked off Ava Bayless of Iowa Women's Wrestling Club by a 9-7 decision to push her into the placement matches. Ryan would fall in her next two matches to take home sixth place and punch her ticket to the World Team Trials in Colorado Springs. 

Sydney Petzinger only needed 25 seconds to earn her first win in teh 53 kg bracket as she pinned Jade Cabrera of California before defeating Kiely Tabaldo of Royalty Wrestling Club by an 11-0 technical fall. Petzinger would fall to the consolation bracket after losing to Felicity Taylor of Iowa Women's Wrestling Club but would bounce back with two technical fall wins over Josie Bartishofski of Wisconsin and Vanessa Ramirez of Army WCAP. Petzinger would move into the third place match with a forfeit win over Amy Fearnside of UWSOPTC but would fall to Taylor once again to take home fourth place. With her fourth place finish, Petzinger has qualified for the World Team Trials in Colorado on May 21. 

U20 World Team member, Amani Jones, looked to build off her success from her last tournament but would fall in the first round of the 55 kg bracket to Isabella Ngo of California. Despite a first round loss, Jones would win four straight matches in the consolation bracket to move into the place matches. Jones knocked off Hannah Hall of Colorado by a narrow 11-8 decision before defeating Paige Chafin of La Grande Mat Club by a 12-0 technical fall. Jones would come out on top of a high-scoring duel against Vayle Baker of Team Tornado Wrestling Club, defeating Baker by an 18-10 decision. Jones would win her fourth match in a row as she defeated Ella Jaureui of California by an 8-2 decision but would fall to Areana Villaescusa of Army WCAP to fall into the fifth place match. Jones would claim fifth place and qualify for the World Team Trials as she defeated Gabby Skidmore of Minnesota Gold/Storm by a 5-2 decision. 

At 57 kg, Amanda Martinez kicked off her tournament with two 10-0 technical fall wins over Katrina Kling of New York City RTC and Emma Truex of Northwest Wrestling Club. Martinez would fall by a narrow 12-10 decision to Xochitl Mota Pettis of Rise RTC, putting her in the consolation bracket. Martinez would pick up her third technical fall win of the tournament as she defeated Carolina Morena of Arizona 11-0 before claiming third place with a 12-2 technical fall win over Shelby Moore of White River Hornets Wrestling Club. Martinez's third place finish qualifies her for the World Team Trials in May in Colorado Springs. 

London Houston picked up a 12-0 technical fall win over Kayani Ayala of Texas in the first round of the 68 kg bracket before falling to Alexandria Glaude of Beaver Dam RTC, putting her in the consolation bracket. Houston would bounce back with another technical fall win, defeating Liv Wieber of The Factory Wrestling Club 10-0 but would fall in her next two matches to take home eighth place. 

At 76 kg, Yelena Makoyed kicked off the tournament by pinning Alexis Tipuola of Argo Wrestling Club before pinning Precious Bell of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club. In the semifinals, Makoyed faced No. 2-seed Kennedy Blades of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club with a trip to face six-time World Champion Adeline Gray in the finals. Makoyed would escape a first period scare but Blades would counter Makoyed's single leg to pin her. Makoyed would defeat Kylie Welker of Iowa Women's Wrestling Club in the consolation semifinals by a 11-6 decision before claiming third place with a win by forfeit. Makoyed will look to secure her spot at Final X as she qualified for the World Team Trials in Colorado Springs. 

Five wrestlers will head to Colorado Springs, Colo. to compete in the World Team Trials on May 21. Jones and Makoyed will look to secure their spot at Final X with a win at the event as there are no returning medalists at their respective weight classes. 

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