Helen Maroulis and Xochitl Mota-Pettis, 22 are set to take the mat on Saturday in a wrestle-off for a spot on the 2023 World Team.
Xochitl Mota-Pettis, 22: A burgeoning star, Mota-Pettis won the 2023 Pan-Am championship at 59kg, was the 2023 US Open champion at 57 kg, and won the 2023 U23 National championships in the 59 kg division. Mota-Pettis recently won the 2023 Grand View Open at 130 pounds.
Helen Maroulis, 31: Her track record includes being crowned the 2021 World champion at 57 kg, achieving Olympic gold in the 53 kg category in 2016, and an array of other international accolades. Maroulis' presence at Final X is justified as she returns as the 2022 World silver medalist.
This will be the first-ever meeting between these two formidable competitors.
Mota-Pettis earned her spot at Final X by emerging victorious at the US Open. Notably, she secured her place by registering wins of 11-0 against Hania Halverson, 14-4 against Ashley Whetzal, a hard-fought 12-10 triumph over Amanda Martinez, and a dominant 10-0 victory over Alex Hedrick in the finals. Her recent victory at the Pan-Am Championships further solidifies her reputation as a top contender.
Maroulis' journey to Final X stems from her status as a returning 2022 World silver medalist. Despite her ninth-place finish at the Pan-Am Championships, Maroulis is the heavy favorite.
Who will win? You can make your fantasy picks and earn leaderboard points based on correct picks. The allocation of points is determined by the outcome of matches:
- Win by tech: 23 leaderboard points
- Win by pin: 20 leaderboard points
- Win by decision: 15 leaderboard points
The top 10 participants on the monthly leaderboard will share a $500 cash prize pool.