US women win World team title, first since 1999
Everest Leydecker's 4-1 win at 55kg sealed the second women's team title in American history.
Team USA won the women's freestyle team title at the Senior World Championships in Astana, finishing with 137 points to Japan's 135 and China's 121, per USA Wrestling. It is the second women's freestyle team title in program history and the first since 1999.
Team USA 馃嚭馃嚫 wins its second team title in women's freestyle at the Senior World Championships (1999) and its first since women's wrestling became an Olympic sport.
Everest Leydecker clinched it with gold at 55kg, beating Ukraine's Nataliia Klivchutska 4-1. The 19-year-old Hawkeye gave up four points across four matches on the week and pinned her way through the quarterfinals.
As Justin Basch put it, "She gave up ONE point per match, all tournament long."
She gave up ONE point per match, all tournament long.
The medal haul
Basch listed the week in Astana as two golds and three bronzes. Adaugo Nwachukwu took 62kg gold alongside Leydecker at 55kg. Helen Maroulis took bronze at 57kg, with Dymond Guilford bronze at 76kg and Kennedy Blades bronze at 68kg.
Abigail Nette was still wrestling for gold at 59kg when the team title was clinched, which means the final US point total came in with another final still to go.
Why it lands
USA Wrestling framed the result as the first women's team title since women's wrestling became an Olympic sport. The 1999 title predates the discipline's Olympic debut, so this is the first time the American women have finished the Senior World Championships on top in the Olympic era.
The margin tells the rest of it. Two points separated the United States from Japan, the standard in women's freestyle for most of the last two decades, and Leydecker's gold was the difference on the scoreboard as much as on the podium.
For a 19-year-old to be the one who closes it out is the part that will get replayed. Four matches, four points allowed, a fall in the quarters and a 4-1 decision in the final. No opponent in Astana scored more than once on her.
What to watch
Nette's 59kg final, which was still ahead when the title was secured.
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