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The 2023 installment of the famed Bill Farrell Memorial International competition saw glory as several of the spearheads of this competition won big. Like every year, his year?s installment also served a hoard full of thrill to its spectators. However, the wrestling community did not make it too late to choose the inevitable ones from the participants.?

This year?s semifinal at Bill Farrell Memorial International saw 13 USA women sneak into. Among those, several faces were regular members of the USA Senior National Time. In the 68 KG, the individual champion, Mallory Velte, has another identity. She has clinched two world championship bronzes and several medals in the Pan American Championships. However, in the 76 kg, the individual champion’s name has proved all previous assumptions wrong.?

Yelena Makoyed wins big at 76 Kg in the Bill Farrell Memorial

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?Yelena Makoyed’s childhood didn’t go as planned. Hailing from Russia, her family later moved to the USA. Therefore, Bill Farrell Memorial opened several possibilities for her. Getting the chance into the US National Wrestling team trial was one of those dream come true moment for her. The Russian wrestler did not let the meek possibility go aloof. In the 76 Kg final, she overpowered Skylar Grote by a scoreline of 9-5. Skylar Grote is a regular member of the US Senior National Wrestling team.

However, for Yelena Makoyed, the challenge was unsettling the whole tournament. In the quarter-final of her weight division, she faced Vianne Rouleau from Canada. Vianne has already appeared in the U23 World Championships this year and came 9th.

Nonetheless, Yelena came out victorious against this challenge. Now, after clinching the top spot in the Bill Farrell Memorial International, Yelena will camp with others for the US Olympic Team Trials. The trial will commence in April at Penn State.?

Foreign wrestlers won many weight divisions in the 2023 Bill Farrell Memorial?

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Wrestlers from other countries won a big time in this year’s Bill Farrell Memorial. The first four weight divisions, i.e. 50, 53,57, and 62 Kg went to them. In each of those categories, the finalists were from the USA. So, according to the rule, the runners-up from those divisions have achieved the chance to take part in the Olympic trials.?

Read more: Wrestling Years After Battling Torn ACL Former Penn State Wrestling Us Champion Returns Back to Mat, Eyeing 2024 Paris Olympics

However, the tone broke with the defeat of Tristan Kelly, the junior World Bronze Medalist. In the 76 Kg division, the 2019 Pan American champion grabbed the silver medal. However, that was not enough to take her through the Olympic trial for the senior team.

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But fortune broke all loose for Alexandria Glaude from the USA. Alexandria has made it to the trials even after getting defeated by Mallory Velte. As Mallory Velte has already made her place in the senior Olympic team for the USA, Alexandria won her maiden chance.?As of now, the competition is still going on to find the champions in the men’s category.?

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