U.S. women's freestyle team has high expectations for World Championships
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by Craig Sesker
Women's World Championships Photo Gallery
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Clarissa Chun is the lone person on the seven-member 2008 U.S. Women's World Team who has competed at international wrestling's highest level.
Chun wrestled in the 2000 World Championships and placed fifth at the 2008 Olympic Games.
But even without that top-level experience, the American squad still has high expectations for the World Championships for women's freestyle. The event is scheduled for Oct. 11-13 at Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.
The World Championships are being held in the seven women's freestyle weight classes, because only four women's weights were contested at the Olympic Games.
Chun, who wrestles at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., is joined on the U.S. squad by a promising young group of athletes who have fared well at the international level.
Two-time World University champion Stephany Lee will compete at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. 2008 World University champion Elena Pirozhkov will wrestle at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. Two-time Junior World medalist Tatiana Padilla will take the mat at 55 kg/121 lbs.
Also in the lineup are 2008 World University medalist Alaina Berube at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., 2008 Junior World medalist Helen Maroulis at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. and Deanna Rix at 59 kg/130 lbs.
"We have a lot of girls with international experience - most of them just haven't been to the World stage before," U.S. Coach Terry Steiner said. "We have World University champions and Junior World medalists, and we have an Olympian who was very close to winning a medal in Beijing. We can compete with anyone. We are going in there with the right attitude, the right mindset and the right focus."
The 17-year-old Maroulis, a high school senior, is the youngest U.S. World Team member since Kristie Marano won a World silver medal as a 17-year-old in 1996.
Rix, the 2005 ASICS Girls High School Wrestler of the Year, beat 2007 World Team member Leigh Jaynes to make her first World Team.
Japan is expected to field a strong team, although it likely will be without the Icho sisters. Kaori Icho is a two-time Olympic champion and five-time World champion at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Chiharu Icho is a two-time World champion at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. She placed second at the 2008 Olympics. The Ichos are expected to skip the event because of injuries.
"Japan will have most of their horses there," Steiner said. "I think some of the other countries will have some of their younger athletes competing as they start looking ahead to 2012. I think we have the type of team that can accomplish a lot in this tournament."
U.S. WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ROSTER
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York AC)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Tatiana Padilla, Azusa, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
59 kg/130 lbs. - Deanna Rix, River Falls, Wis. (New York AC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Alaina Berube, River Falls, Wis. (New York AC)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Elena Pirozkhov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stephany Lee, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Coaches - Terry Steiner (Colorado Springs, Colo.); Vladislav Izboinikov (Colorado Springs, Colo.); Levi Weikel-Magden (Colorado Springs, Colo.); Keith Wilson (Colorado Springs, Colo.); Ron Tirpak (Swarthmore, Pa.)
WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE, OCT. 11-13, TOKYO, JAPAN
Saturday, Oct. 11
10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Qualification rounds (51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
5:30-7 p.m. - Repechage (51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
7-9 p.m. - Finals (51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
Sunday, Oct. 12
10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Qualification rounds (48 kg, 63 kg)
5:30-7 p.m. - Repechage (48 kg, 63 kg)
7-9 p.m. - Finals (48 kg, 63 kg)
Monday, Oct. 13
10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Qualification rounds (55 kg, 72 kg)
5:30-7 p.m. - Repechage (55 kg, 72 kg)
7-9 p.m. - Finals (55 kg, 72 kg)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Clarissa Chun is the lone person on the seven-member 2008 U.S. Women's World Team who has competed at international wrestling's highest level.
Chun wrestled in the 2000 World Championships and placed fifth at the 2008 Olympic Games.
But even without that top-level experience, the American squad still has high expectations for the World Championships for women's freestyle. The event is scheduled for Oct. 11-13 at Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.
The World Championships are being held in the seven women's freestyle weight classes, because only four women's weights were contested at the Olympic Games.
Chun, who wrestles at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., is joined on the U.S. squad by a promising young group of athletes who have fared well at the international level.
Two-time World University champion Stephany Lee will compete at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. 2008 World University champion Elena Pirozhkov will wrestle at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. Two-time Junior World medalist Tatiana Padilla will take the mat at 55 kg/121 lbs.
Also in the lineup are 2008 World University medalist Alaina Berube at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., 2008 Junior World medalist Helen Maroulis at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. and Deanna Rix at 59 kg/130 lbs.
"We have a lot of girls with international experience - most of them just haven't been to the World stage before," U.S. Coach Terry Steiner said. "We have World University champions and Junior World medalists, and we have an Olympian who was very close to winning a medal in Beijing. We can compete with anyone. We are going in there with the right attitude, the right mindset and the right focus."
The 17-year-old Maroulis, a high school senior, is the youngest U.S. World Team member since Kristie Marano won a World silver medal as a 17-year-old in 1996.
Rix, the 2005 ASICS Girls High School Wrestler of the Year, beat 2007 World Team member Leigh Jaynes to make her first World Team.
Japan is expected to field a strong team, although it likely will be without the Icho sisters. Kaori Icho is a two-time Olympic champion and five-time World champion at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Chiharu Icho is a two-time World champion at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. She placed second at the 2008 Olympics. The Ichos are expected to skip the event because of injuries.
"Japan will have most of their horses there," Steiner said. "I think some of the other countries will have some of their younger athletes competing as they start looking ahead to 2012. I think we have the type of team that can accomplish a lot in this tournament."
U.S. WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ROSTER
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York AC)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Tatiana Padilla, Azusa, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
59 kg/130 lbs. - Deanna Rix, River Falls, Wis. (New York AC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Alaina Berube, River Falls, Wis. (New York AC)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Elena Pirozkhov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stephany Lee, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Coaches - Terry Steiner (Colorado Springs, Colo.); Vladislav Izboinikov (Colorado Springs, Colo.); Levi Weikel-Magden (Colorado Springs, Colo.); Keith Wilson (Colorado Springs, Colo.); Ron Tirpak (Swarthmore, Pa.)
WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE, OCT. 11-13, TOKYO, JAPAN
Saturday, Oct. 11
10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Qualification rounds (51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
5:30-7 p.m. - Repechage (51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
7-9 p.m. - Finals (51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
Sunday, Oct. 12
10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Qualification rounds (48 kg, 63 kg)
5:30-7 p.m. - Repechage (48 kg, 63 kg)
7-9 p.m. - Finals (48 kg, 63 kg)
Monday, Oct. 13
10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Qualification rounds (55 kg, 72 kg)
5:30-7 p.m. - Repechage (55 kg, 72 kg)
7-9 p.m. - Finals (55 kg, 72 kg)
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