Kennedy Blades is a Wyoming Seminary wrestler from Chicago, Illinois who shocked the wrestling world by making the finals of the 68-kg Olympic Trials at the age of 17. She defeated two-time Senior-level World team member Forrest Molinari in dominant fashion before losing in the finals to 2019 World Champion and eventual 2020 Olympic gold medalist Tamyra Mensah-Stock.
Although Blades did not earn the Olympic spot, she still earned spots on the 2021 Junior and U23 World teams. These are her second and third age-level teams that she has made, as she was a Cadet World team member in 2019.
As of summer 2021, Blades is already a three-time Fargo national champion. She was able to win a 16U title in 2018 and won double titles in 2019. Also in 2019, she took home a Pan-Am gold medal.