UPDATED2: Pirozkhova reaches gold-medal finals at Poland Open; Bernard wins bronze!

WARSAW, Poland - 2009 U.S. World Team member Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) won three matches to qualify for the gold-medal finals at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. in the women's freestyle competition at the Poland Open.

Pirozkhova will face 2007 Junior World champion Yulia Ostapchuk of Ukraine in the championship finals on Thursday night.

To reach the finals, Pirozkhova beat three talented opponents. She opened by defeating 2008 University World champion Justine Bouchard of Canada, 0-1, 3-1, 1-0. In the second round, she beat 2008 Junior World silver medalist Paulina Grabowska of Poland, 2-0, 1-0. Her semifinals win was against two-time World bronze medalist Monika Mihalik-Rogien of Poland, 1-0, 1-0.

Pirozhkova, a 2008 University World champion, was eighth in the 2008 World Championships for the United States. She is a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete.

At 72 kg/158.5 lbs., 2008 Olympian and 2009 U.S. World Team member Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./Gator WC) won a bronze medal

Bernard opened the tournament with a victory over 2009 European silver medalist Alena Starodubsteva of Russia, 2-0, 3-2. In the next round, Bernard lost to 2007 Junior World silver medalist Ekatarina Bukina of Russia, 6-5, 2-5, 1-3. When Bukina reached the gold-medal finals, where she will face 2008 World champion Stanka Zlateva of Bulgaria, Bernard was pulled back into the repechage rounds.

Bernard defeated Preetkaur Gursharan of India, 3-0, 2-0 in her first repechage match. She then won her bronze-medal match against 2006 Junior World champion Vasilisa Marzaliuk of Belarus, 4-3, 4-2.

Bernard is a two-time Junior World champion and three-time Junior World medalist.

Four other U.S. athletes weighed in Thursday and received their draws for Friday: Jessica Medina (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs., Deanna Rix (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 59 kg/130 lbs., Leigh Jaynes (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Kelsey Campbell (Milwaukie, Ore./Sunkist Kids) at 59 kg/130 lbs. See their first round opponents below.

Held alongside the Poland Open is the Ziolkowski International, a Senior men's freestyle tournament. A U.S. team of University-age athletes has entered. Three U.S. team members dropped matches in the preliminary rounds and were eliminated: Zach Sanders (Wabasha, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Mario Mason (Moorestown, N.J./Minnesota Storm) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Clayton Foster (Kamiah, Idaho/Gator WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

Draws for the men wrestlers on Friday have also been posted below.

POLAND OPEN
At Warsaw, Poland, August 13

U.S. women's freestyle performances

63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
WIN Justine Bouchard (Canada), 0-1, 3-1, 1-0
WIN Paulina Grabowska (Poland), 2-0, 1-0
WIN Monika Mihalik-Rogien (Poland), 1-0, 1-0
vs. Yulia Ostapchuk (Ukraine) in gold-medal finals

72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn (Gator WC), 3rd
WIN Alena Starodubsteva (Russia) 2-0, 3-2
LOSS Ekatarina Bukina (Russia), 6-5, 2-5, 1-3
WIN Preetkaur Gursharan (India), 3-0, 2-0
WIN Vasilisa Marzaliuk (Belarus), 4-3, 4-2

U.S. women's draws for first round on Friday

51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Jessica Medina, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
vs. Roksana Zasina (Poland)

59 kg/130 lbs. - Deanna Rix, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
vs. Johanna Mattsson (Sweden)

55 kg/121 lbs. - Leigh Jaynes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
vs. Margarita Fatkulina (Russia)

59 kg/130 lbs. - Kelsey Campbell, Milwaukie, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
vs. Yvonne Englich (Germany)

ZIOLKOWSKI INTERNATIONAL
At Warsaw, Poland, August 13

U.S. men's freestyle performances

55 kg/121 lbs. - Zach Sanders, Wabasha, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
LOSS Besarian Gochashvili (Georgia), 0-2, 0-4

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Mario Mason, Moorestown, N.J. (Minnesota Storm)
LOSS Abajev (Georgia), 2-1, 0-3, 0-5

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Clayton Foster, Kamiah, Idaho (Gator WC)
WIN Belduki Gavasheleshvili (Georgia), forfeit
LOSS Radoslaw Baran (Poland), 2-0, 1-1, 1-1

U.S. men's draws for first round on Friday

60 kg/132 lbs. - Reece Humphrey, Indianapolis, Ind. (Ohio State)
vs. Mustafa Kartal (Turkey)

74 kg/163 lbs. - Jon Reader, Davison, Mich. (Cyclone WC)
vs. Abulkhahim Shapiyev (Kazakhstan)

74 kg/163 lbs. - Lloyd Rogers, Chattanooga, Tenn. (Sunkist Kids)
vs. Akzhurek Tanatarov (Kazakhstan)

84 kg/185 lbs. - Zach Giesen, Grants Pass, Ore. (DSWC)
vs. Bartosz Sofinski (Poland)

84 kg/185 lbs. - Mike Tamillow, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC)
vs. Harutyun Yenokyan (Armenia)

120kg/264.5 lbs. - Ryan Tomei, Irwin, Pa. (Pitt)
vs. Dimitar Kumchev (Bulgaria)

120kg/264.5 lbs. - Zach Rey Hopatcong, N.J. (Lehigh Valley AC)
vs. Fatih Cakiroglu (Turkey)