2025 Final X Preview: 50 kg WFS Audrey Jimenez vs. Erin Golston

It’s about that time! In the past couple of weeks, we’ve spent time loosely discussing Final X; however, it’s time to start talking about the individual matches themselves. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll break down all 20 Final X matchups - leading into the event itself on June 14th, from Newark, New Jersey. In the first women’s weight class we’ll preview, it has a pair of women on the opposite ends of their careers looking to breakthrough and wrestle at the Senior World Championships for the first time. Prior Previews 50 kg men’s freestyle 50 kg Women’s Freestyle Audrey Jimenez vs. Erin Golston This is the classic matchup between a rising star and a veteran who has been near the top of the food chain for about a decade. While both are highly decorated at the age group level, each seeks their first berth on a Senior world team. Jimenez is a two-time U20 world silver medalist and a 2023 U23 world silver medalist. She also advanced to the finals of the 2024 Olympic Team Trials before falling in two consecutive matches to the eventual gold medalist Sarah Hildebrandt. Golston was a three-time Junior (U20) world medalist from 2011-13. She’s been a fixture on the Senior level since 2014. She has been a member of the national team on six occasions and is always in the mix for a spot on the World/Olympic Team. How they got here Jimenez: With Hildebrandt retired and on the US coaching staff, the winner at the 2025 US Open would earn the first slot in Final X. A year removed from a berth in the Olympic Trials finals, Jimenez earned the top seed at the Open. That ended up being Jimenez as she blew through the Open field with four techs and a fall. Jimenez was not scored upon in any of her five matches, nor did her opponents make it out of the first period. The last of those opponents was Golston who fell 11-0 in the championship bout. Golston: Losing in the Open finals meant that Golston would have to go to the World Team Trials (and win) if she held out hopes of making the 2025 World Team. Golston downed Indiana high school star Heather Crull in only :43 seconds in the Trials semifinals - setting up a match with North Central national champion Kendra Ryan with a trip to Final X hanging in the balance. Ryan struck first; however, Golston secured the only two takedowns of the contest for a 4-2 win and her first trip to Final X. Recent Form Jimenez: Just over a week after winning the Open, Jimenez headed to Mexico for the Pan-American Championships. In the semifinals, she posted one of her most impressive wins to date, over 2024 Olympic silver medalist Yusneylis Guzman Lopez of Cuba (18-8). In the finals, she pinned Canada’s Madison Parks for her first Senior continental title. The Open and the Pan-American Championships are Jimenez’s only competitions of 2025; however, she has been extremely sharp in both. Golston: In addition to the Open and the Trials, Golston traveled to Turkey earlier this year and was a bronze medalist at their Rankings Series Event. Domestically, Golston was very dominant in her run to the Open finals with falls over Ava Bayless and Emily Shilson in the quarterfinals and semis, respectively. Also in 2024-25, Golston was a part of Randi Miller’s coaching staff at Texas Women’s University. Prior History This series has been one-sided in favor of the youngster, Jimenez. She’s won all three previous meetings and earned tech falls in each instance. The other two clashes took place in the semifinals of the 2024 Olympic Team Trials and in the semifinals of the 2023 US Open. Keys to Victory Jimenez: Keep doing what works. Golston hasn’t seriously threatened her in their three previous meetings, so why try to reinvent the wheel. Jimenez is rather methodical in her attacks and has a great sweep single that she finishes at a high rate. Her leg lace is capable of ending a match in an instant. Golston did well at defending it for most of their Open match; however, on one transition it was available and Jimenez pounced. Golston: Win the hand fight. In general, Golston has been able to overwhelm her domestic opponents not named Jimenez. What happens in those other bouts is she is able to win the handfight and put herself in good position to hit her sweep single (also very potent). Everything starts from the hand fight. If she wins that and gets a takedown, it’s less time she’ll have to spend defending a leg lace. For the first half of the first period of the Open finals, Golston was attempting to sit out or even stand up to avoid the lace. We’ll monitor whether that continues in Newark.

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2025 Final X Preview: 50 kg WFS Audrey Jimenez vs. Erin Golston

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