Featured photo of Kylie Welker by Jim Thrall, MatFocus Photo.

Lincoln, Nebraska - - Junior World Champion Kylie Welker has now made every possible World team that she’s age-eligible for in 2021. After a busy spring season, Welker bounced right from a Junior national title in Fargo, to earning a gold medal at the Junior World Championships in Russia and has now made the Senior World Team after a weekend of work in Nebraska.

The young star from Waterford Wisconsin will wrestle at the Senior World Championships in Oslo, Norway the first week of October. “Stay hungry for more is what Titan Mercury always says and that’s what I feel every day; I just want to go out and bring the best I can to the table,” Welker said in an interview after the semis. “. . .this year’s been very successful and I’m excited about it.” Welker will also compete at the U23 World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia in November.

She shared the following on Instagram: “I am so grateful for my coaches, family and @titan_mercury for getting me where I needed to be to make this happen! This has been a goal of mine for as long as I can remember and I am truly blessed to be a part of Team USA. I will be competing in Oslo, Norway at the beginning of October!”

Rnd of 16: K. Welker receives a bye
Quarters: K. Welker VFA M. Deede, 0:37
Semis: K. Welker VFA Y. Makoyed, 0:39
Best 2 of 3: K. Welker VPO1 K. Blades, 4-4; K. Welker VIN K. Blades, 4:02

Although Welker was the only current WWF team member to wrestle at the Senior World Team Trials in Lincoln, there were multiple alumni vying for a chance to represent the United States in Oslo.

Making his second Senior World team is Olympian Ben Provisor (82 kg). In his post-match interview, Provisor said he’s been working to calm down in his matches and that if he’s relaxed and in good position he won’t be scored on. Provisor, a native of Stevens Point, said he’s made a lot of life changes—he now attends school and wrestles at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa and shared that he’d like to coach. “I’ve had so many people give me so much in wrestling that I’d be doing the world wrong if I didn’t go and help the future generation of athletes,” he said. “Grand View was about the right people, the right coaches, and the right team.” Provisor, a two-time Olympian, said he leads by example for the Vikings.

Quarters: B. Provisor receives a bye
Semis: B. Provisor VSU R. Carlson, 9-0
Best 2 of 3: B. Provisor VPO1 S. Woods, 7-1; B. Provisor VPO1 S. Woods, 4-2

Also hailing from central Wisconsin are Senior WTT Greco finalists Brady Koontz (55 kg) and Fritz Schierl (77kg). Both are rostered at Ohio State and represent Titan Mercury Wrestling Club. Benji Peak, a 2021 U23 World team member, wrestled in the best of three series at 72 kg.
   
Placing 4th was Olympian Jesse Thielke (67 kg) and Dylan Koontz (60 kg). Aidan Nutter (60 kg), Alston Nutter (67 kg) and Tyler Hannah (87 kg) competed in the Greco division.

Alex Dieringer, a two-time Junior world team member and World silver medalist, faced Olympian Jordan Burroughs in the best of three series at 79 kg in men’s freestyle. The three-time NCAA champion for Oklahoma State had wins over Josh Shields (SKWC) and David McFadden (TMWC). Dieringer said he’s happy to be wrestling again and that he’s always wanted to wrestle Burroughs. He shared the following on Instagram: “It felt great getting back to doing what I love. Didn’t end how I envisioned but this is all leading me to where I need to go. It was a pleasure and honor sharing the mat with this legend. Thank you for setting the bar and giving us all something to strive for. I am going to continue to give my all to this sport until my final whistle blows. I still got some goals to attain and that motivates me every single day. Thank you all so much for the support. I feel very blessed and loved.”

In women’s freestyle, Alyssa Lampe and Alisha Howk wrestled at 53 kg. The pair met in the quarterfinals where Lampe, a two-time World bronze medalist came out victorious. Howk made the move from Blue Springs Missouri to Wisconsin in 2017 and wrestled as part of the WWF for two years while finishing her high school career in River Falls. Howk—a past Cadet and Junior world team member—has been a National Team Coach with the WWF since 2019. Alyssa Lampe trains at the Beaver Dam RTC in Corvallis, Oregon.

Congratulations to our Wisconsin competitors, and good luck to Welker, Provisor and Team USA at the Senior World Championships! Stay tuned for updates from Oslo, Norway, October 2- 10.

2021 Senior World Team

Women’s Freestyle
50 kg – Sarah Hildebrandt
53 kg – Amy Fearnside
55 kg – Jenna Burkert
57 kg – Helen Maroulis
59 kg – Maya Nelson
62 kg – Kayla Miracle
65 kg – Forrest Molinari
68 kg – Tamyra Mensah Stock
72 kg – Kylie Welker
76 kg – Adeline Gray

Greco Roman
55 kg – Max Nowry
60 kg – Dalton Roberts
63 kg – Sam Jones
67 kg – Peyton Omania
72 kg – Patrick Smith
77 kg – Jesse Porter
82 kg – Ben Provisor
 87 kg – Alan Vera
97 kg – G’Angelo Hancock
130 kg – Cohlton Schultz

Men’s Freestyle
57 kg – Thomas Gilman
61 kg – Daton Fix
65 kg – Yianni Diakomihalis
70 kg – James Green
74 kg – Kyle Dake
79 kg – Jordan Burroughs
86 kg – David Taylor
92 kg – J’den Cox
97 kg – Kyle Snyder
125 kg – Nick Gwiazdowski

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