2026 Final X Preview: 53 kg WFS Cristelle Rodriguez vs. Elena Ivaldi

It’s about that time! In the past couple of weeks, we’ve spent time having loose discussions about 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 19th, from Newark, New Jersey.

Prior Previews

57 kg MFS

61 kg MFS

92 kg MFS

50 kg WFS

53 kg women’s freestyle

Cristelle Rodriguez and Elena Ivaldi are both up-and-coming talents on the women's freestyle scene. Now, they will be squaring off at Final X for a spot on the Senior team. Last year, Rodriguez was up at 55 kg and took over the U23 spot by virtue of her place on the national team. Ivaldi was at 53 kg on the 2024 team. 

Rodriguez is no stranger to international competition. She was a U20 world champion in 2024 and a U17 silver medalist in 2019. She is also familiar with the bright lights of Final X, as she participated in the 2025 version of the event and defeated rising star Everest Leydecker for a place on her first Senior World Team. In 2026, Rodriguez finished up her highly decorated career at Doane University with her third NAIA national title. She was also named the NAIA Wrestler of the Year.

In addition to her U23 team berth in 2025, Ivaldi was also on the U17 world team in 2022. Her best placement at an international event thus far was her bronze medal performance at the U23 Pan-American Championships in 2024.

How They Got Here

Rodriguez: Since 2025 53 kg world team member Felicity Taylor did not earn a medal at the World Championships, there was no one waiting in Final X at this weight. Rodriguez advanced to the US Open finals for a massive matchup with 2024 Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hildebrandt, who was back in action after a brief retirement. Rodriguez looked great in the early going; however, Hildebrandt suffered an injury and was ultimately unable to continue. That result sent Rodriguez to Final X.

Ivaldi:  Ivaldi had the misfortune of drawing Hildebrandt in the first round of the Open. After a loss to Hildebrandt, Ivaldi reeled off seven straight wins to finish third at the weight. At the World Team Trials, Ivaldi pinned Isabella Marie Gonzales in the semifinals, setting up a match with Sydney Petzinger for the Final X berth. Petzinger and Ivaldi clashed last year in the best-of-three finals of the U23 Trials, won by Ivaldi. At the end of the day, Ivaldi’s WTT finals win over Petzinger came via tech; however, it was 23-12, so there was a ton of action and scoring by both women.

Recent Form

Rodriguez: Aside from the Open, Rodriguez’s only international competition in 2026 was the Pan-American Championships, where she took the bronze medal. Rodriguez’s lone loss at that event came to returning world silver medalist Lucia Yepez Guzman of Ecuador. As mentioned above, she did finish up her collegiate career and was incredibly dominant during those competitions.

Ivaldi:  Ivaldi has proven to be very resilient during her recent wrestling career. That was on display during her consi run at the US Open and in-match during her shootout with Petzinger. Also in 2026, Ivaldi lost in the semis of the U23 Trials, but responded with two resounding wins to claim third. From a mental standpoint, she could be a competitor who loses the first match of a best-of-three series and brushes it off quickly to win the matches that follow.

Keys to Victory

Rodriguez: Use your creativity. Rodriguez seems to be at her best when there’s action and 50/50 flurries. Whether by convention or unconventional methods, she tends to come out with the points in those situations. In both her US Open finals and semifinals, she scored four points, pulling a high gut backwards from a quadpod position. Against Hildebrandt, she put herself in that position by using a slick drag to escape from a front headlock and got behind her opponent. Rodriguez isn’t someone who is going to give up and concede points easily.

Ivaldi: Control the center, get to her ties. When Ivaldi is at her best, she is dominating the center of the mat and planting herself in the middle, usually working for an underhook. Those situations usually lead to an opponent using a whizzer. Ivaldi does well at continuing to fight for a takedown in those exchanges.