Women's Wrestling 6/18/2018 10:33:00 AM Jordan Alves

Kayla Miracle falls in Final X 62kg Championship; Mallory Velte earns U.S. World Team spot

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Mallory Velte rallied in the best-of-three Final X over the weekend to upset United World Wrestling's No. 1 Kayla Miracle in the 62kg championship.

The win for Velte, a 2017 U.S. World Team member, secures her spot for the second straight year, while Miracle comes up just short.

The 62kg match was the first of the championship on the women's side and Miracle took the opening round with a 4-2 decision. She started with a takedown to lead 2-0 and later a single leg to take a 4-0 advantage. Velte battled back with a takedown of her own to cut into the lead, 4-2, but Miracle held on to take that advantage into the second period.

Looking to close it out like she did against Velte in the U.S. Open finals, Miracle's first shot in the second period was stalemated. Velte then countered by snatching a single led and chased Miracle down for her first two points of the match.

Leading 4-2, Miracle had to hold on for the final 100 seconds and was able to do so in the first round of the best-of-three series.

In the second match, Miracle once again scored first with a fireman's carry and switched to a double led finish to lead 2-0 after one period.

In the second, Velte was able to battle back. She attempted a single leg but couldn't get the back trip and settled for a takedown to knot the match, 2-2, and holding the lead via criteria.

Miracle attempted multiple moves but Velte countered with a clutch go-behind with less than 10 seconds left to win, 4-2.

Moving into the third match, neither wrestler earned a point in the first 70 seconds but an armdrag into a blast double gave Velte a 2-0 lead. Miracle challenged the call and it was confirmed on the mat and Velte led, 3-0.

Trailing now for the first time all tournament, Miracle was unable to get her offense going. In the final minute of the match, Velte allowed a shot clock point and Miracle shot for a leg but simply ran out of gas late. Velte was able to pick up another two points and won, 7-1, to earn a spot on the U.S. World Team at 62kg and will compete in Budapest.

Information from Andrew Spey on Flo Wrestling.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Kayla Miracle: Senior; Campbellsville, Ky.

Players Mentioned

Kayla Miracle
: Senior; Campbellsville, Ky.