Maroulis, Rix still alive, have chance to come back and win bronze medals at Women's World Championships
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by Craig Sesker
TOKYO, Japan - The United States women's freestyle team started quickly with three first-round wins at the World Championships.
But that momentum came to a screeching halt as each American fell to a past World champion in the quarterfinal round on Saturday at Yoyogi National Stadium.
The good news for the U.S. is that two of its three competitors - Helen Maroulis and Deanna Rix - will receive a chance to wrestle back. Both have a chance to bounce back and win a bronze medal in Saturday afternoon's second session.
American Elena Pirozhkov lost to past World champion Katerina Burmistrova of the Ukraine in the quarterfinals at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. Pirozhkov was eliminated when Burmistrova fell to past World medalist Martine Dugrenier of Canada in the semifinals.
Pirozhkov, a 2008 World University champion, downed two-time World bronze medalist Monika Rogien-Michalik of Poland in her first match. That avenged a loss from earlier this year in a tournament in Sweden.
Maroulis, a 2008 Junior World bronze medalist, pinned Poland's Roksana Zasina in the opening round at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. Zasina placed eighth at the 2008 Junior Worlds. Maroulis then fell to five-time World champion Hitomi Sakamoto of Japan in the quarterfinals. Sakamoto then reached the finals to bring Maroulis back into the field.
The 17-year-old Maroulis, the youngest U.S. World Team member in 12 years, will meet Canada's Jessica Bondy on Saturday afternoon. A win there would send her into the bronze-medal match.
Rix, a past National High School Wrestler of the Year, opened with a win against Alena Filipova of Belarus at 59 kg/130 lbs. Filipova placed fifth at the 2007 World Championships and was 13th at the 2008 Olympics at 55 kg/121 lbs. Rix then fell to three-time World champion Ayako Shoda of Japan in the quarters.
Rix stayed in the tournament when Shoda advanced to the finals. Rix will battle Kyrgystan's Nestan Kiiazova in her wrestleback. A win there would send Rix into the bronze-medal match.
Day 2 of the three-day tournament continues on Sunday with competition at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and 63 kg/138.75 lbs. The U.S. will send Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) to the mat at 48 kilos with Alaina Berube (River Falls, Wis./New York AC) competing at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.
WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
U.S. results - Saturday, Oct. 11, Tokyo, Japan
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York AC)
WIN Roksana Zasina (Poland), by fall
LOSS Hitomi Sakamoto (Japan), 7-0, 6-0
59 kg/130 lbs. - Deanna Rix, River Falls, Wis. (New York AC)
WIN Alena Filipova (Belarus), 1-0, 2-0
LOSS Ayako Shoda (Japan), 1-0, 4-0
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Elena Pirozhkov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
WIN Monika Rogien-Michalik (Poland), 3-0, 0-1, 1-0
LOSS Katerina Burmistrova (Ukraine), 3-2, 5-0
But that momentum came to a screeching halt as each American fell to a past World champion in the quarterfinal round on Saturday at Yoyogi National Stadium.
The good news for the U.S. is that two of its three competitors - Helen Maroulis and Deanna Rix - will receive a chance to wrestle back. Both have a chance to bounce back and win a bronze medal in Saturday afternoon's second session.
American Elena Pirozhkov lost to past World champion Katerina Burmistrova of the Ukraine in the quarterfinals at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. Pirozhkov was eliminated when Burmistrova fell to past World medalist Martine Dugrenier of Canada in the semifinals.
Pirozhkov, a 2008 World University champion, downed two-time World bronze medalist Monika Rogien-Michalik of Poland in her first match. That avenged a loss from earlier this year in a tournament in Sweden.
Maroulis, a 2008 Junior World bronze medalist, pinned Poland's Roksana Zasina in the opening round at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. Zasina placed eighth at the 2008 Junior Worlds. Maroulis then fell to five-time World champion Hitomi Sakamoto of Japan in the quarterfinals. Sakamoto then reached the finals to bring Maroulis back into the field.
The 17-year-old Maroulis, the youngest U.S. World Team member in 12 years, will meet Canada's Jessica Bondy on Saturday afternoon. A win there would send her into the bronze-medal match.
Rix, a past National High School Wrestler of the Year, opened with a win against Alena Filipova of Belarus at 59 kg/130 lbs. Filipova placed fifth at the 2007 World Championships and was 13th at the 2008 Olympics at 55 kg/121 lbs. Rix then fell to three-time World champion Ayako Shoda of Japan in the quarters.
Rix stayed in the tournament when Shoda advanced to the finals. Rix will battle Kyrgystan's Nestan Kiiazova in her wrestleback. A win there would send Rix into the bronze-medal match.
Day 2 of the three-day tournament continues on Sunday with competition at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and 63 kg/138.75 lbs. The U.S. will send Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) to the mat at 48 kilos with Alaina Berube (River Falls, Wis./New York AC) competing at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.
WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
U.S. results - Saturday, Oct. 11, Tokyo, Japan
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York AC)
WIN Roksana Zasina (Poland), by fall
LOSS Hitomi Sakamoto (Japan), 7-0, 6-0
59 kg/130 lbs. - Deanna Rix, River Falls, Wis. (New York AC)
WIN Alena Filipova (Belarus), 1-0, 2-0
LOSS Ayako Shoda (Japan), 1-0, 4-0
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Elena Pirozhkov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
WIN Monika Rogien-Michalik (Poland), 3-0, 0-1, 1-0
LOSS Katerina Burmistrova (Ukraine), 3-2, 5-0
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