Kayla Miracle of Sunkist Kids Regional Training Center in Tempe qualified for the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday night at the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials.

Miracle split 8-4 and 4-3 with Macey Kilty in a best-of-three final then advanced by injury default 32 seconds into their decisive third round, winning the women’s freestyle 62kg weight class in Fort Worth, Texas.

Her weight class already is qualified for the Olympics so Miracle will be on the U.S. team in Japan, July 23-Aug. 8.

Miracle, 24, is one of several women’s wrestlers who moved to Arizona from Iowa in 2020 to continue training with Mark Perry, now Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club coach.

She will be making her Olympic debut and was on the 2019 U.S. World team.

Miracle came into the trials already qualified for the finals through her past results. That meant she was not required to wrestle in the challenge bracket Friday, instead waiting while No. 2 seed Kilty and others competed for the right to face her Saturday.

Two others trials finalists from the Sunkist Kids RTC lost Saturday.

Arizona State redshirt freshman Cohlton Schultz fell to Adam Coon, 10-1 and 3-3 on criteria, in the 130kg Greco-Roman final. Coon still must qualify that weight class for Tokyo by finishing in the top two at an international meet in Bulgaria, May 6-9.

Victoria Anthony also lost in her final to 2018 World silver medalist Sarah Hildebrandt, 12-2 and 10-0, at women’s 50kg.

Three Sunkist Kids RTC wrestlers finished third — Zahid Valencia at men’s freestyle 86kg, Abby Nette at women’s 57kg and Forrest Molinari at women’s 68kg – putting them on the USA Wrestling National team in addition to the local finalists.

ASU freshman Cohlton Schultz reaches finals of U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials

Arizona State redshirt freshman Cohlton Schultz advanced to the Greco-Roman heavyweight finals Friday at the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials.

No. 2-seeded Schultz, representing Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club, won 3-0 over Donny Longendyke and 4-3 over No. 3 seed Jacob Mitchell in Fort Worth, Texas. 

He will compete in a best-of-three finals Saturday against No. 1 seed Adam Coon. 

Coon won 10-5 over Schultz in early March at the Matteo Pellicone ranking series meet in Italy.

Schultz finished fourth for ASU at the NCAA Championships, helping the Sun Devils to earn a fourth-place trophy. 

“Cohlton did a fantastic job today,” ASU coach Zeke Jones said. “Putting himself in the finals of the U.S. Olympic Trials makes him one step closer to a dream he’s had since he was a little kid. He’s done the work this year and is prepared for tomorrow. I know he’s grateful for the opportunity he has and will be ready for the moment.”

Others from Sunkist Kids Regional Training Center in Tempe still in contention for the Tokyo Games going into Friday’s night session are Victoria Anthony (women’s 50kg), Alli Ragan (women’s 57kg), Kayla Miracle (women’s 62kg) and Forrest Molinari (women’s 68kg). 

No. 1 seed Molinari then lost in the challenge final, 11-1 to No. 3 seed Kennedy Blades. No. 2 seed Ragan was pinned in 2:12 by No. 1 seed Jenna Burkert. 

Miracle already was through to the finals Saturday based on previous results. She will face No. 2 seed Macey Kitty on Saturday. Kitty won the challenger bracket final 5-0 over No. 1 seed Maya Nelson. 

Sunkist Kids RTC wrestlers eliminated from Tokyo Olympics contention Friday were Zahid Valencia (men’s freestyle 86kg), Frank Molinaro (men’s freestyle 65kg), Tanner Hall (men’s freestyle 125kg), Garrett Ryan (men’s freestyle 125kg) and Abby Nette (women’s 57kg). 

Molinaro, a 2016 Olympian and now ASU assistant coach, retired after his quarterfinal loss, leaving his shoes on the mat in a traditional retirement farewell to the sport.

Nick Suriano (men’s freestyle 57kg) was unable to wrestle due to a positive COVID test.

Valencia, a two-time NCAA champion during his ASU career, was No. 2 seed in his weight class. He won 6-3 over No. 10 seed Aaron Brooks before losing 12-5 to No. 6 Bo Nickal in the semifinals. 

More: Valencia, Miracle head Arizona contenders at wrestling Olympic Trials

More: Olympic postponement brings elite women’s wrestlers to new home with Sunkist Kids in Arizona

More: Building Team Arizona for Tokyo Olympics: Local connections in Summer Games

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602-444-8053. Follow him on Twitter @jeffmetcalfe.

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