Maroulis, Padilla, Pirozhkova and Lee win titles at Canada Cup

Four U.S. women wrestlers won gold medals at the Canada Cup, held in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, July 3.

Members of the U.S. Senior Women's World Team and the U.S. FILA Junior Women's World Team competed in the Senior division of the event.

Capturing titles were Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md./New York AC) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Tatiana Padilla (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 59 kg/130 lbs., Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 67 kg/138.75 lbs. and Stephany Lee, (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

Padilla, Pirozhkova and Lee are on the U.S. Senior World Team. Maroulis and Padilla are members of the U.S. Junior World Team.

"It went very well" said National Women's Coach Terry Steiner. "I like how we are wrestling. I like how we competed. We had many physical battles. The Juniors did a great job here. It was a great performance as we move forward. It was a step in the right direction."

Maroulis defeated top Canadian competitor Brittanee Laverdure in the finals, with a pin in the second period. Maroulis won the first period 5-3.

Padilla scored an impressive 6-1, 1-0 victory over two-time Olympic medalist Tonya Verbeek of Canada in the finals. Padilla was up a weight from 55 kg, where she is wrestling at the Senior World Championships. However, Padilla will compete at 59 kg at the Junior World Championships.

"Helen and Tatiana wrestled really outstanding matches. It is the best I have ever seen either of them wrestle" said Steiner. "Helen was in control. She beat Laverdure handily. Helen wrestled very smart. Tatiana took Verbeek down two times and turned her with a gut wrench two times. She looked great. She went right out and took Verbeek down."

Pirozhkova was wrestling up a weight class from where she will be competing at the World Championships, also. She had an injury default win in the finals over World champion Martine Dugrenier of Canada.

"Elena looked solid. She scored when she needed to score today. She had good head and hand position today. Nobody could get to her legs," said Steiner.

Lee defeated Canada's top competitor in the division, veteran Ohenewa Akuffo, 2-1, 1-4 and with a third period pin to take her gold medal.

"Stephany had to come from behind. She had to pull out points. Akuffo is so powerful and explosive. Stephany had to find a way to win, and went and got it done" said Steiner.

2009 FILA Junior World champion Victoria Anthony (Huntington Beach, Calif/New York AC) won a silver medal at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., losing to 2008 Olympic champion Carol Huyhn of Canada in the finals, 1-3, 0-1.

Anthony won two matches to earn her spot in the finals. Anthony will compete in the Junior World Championships again this year.

Three U.S. wrestlers claimed bronze medals, Kelsey Campbell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) at 59 kg/130 lbs., Erin Clodgo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. and Brittany Delgado (Fountain Inn, S.C./Gator/OCU) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

Campbell is on the Senior World Team, while Clodgo and Delgado are on the Junior World Team.

The USA placed second in the women's team standings with 50 points, right behind host Canada with 53 points.

The Canada Cup Pre-Junior division is set for Sunday, July 4. The U.S. Cadet Team will be competing in the event, as well as Junior World Team member Erin Golston.

This was an important event for the preparation of the U.S. Women's World Team, as they continue their training for the World Wrestling Championships in Moscow, Russia, Sept. 8-10.

For the FILA Junior World Team, this is their tune-up event prior to competing at the FILA Junior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, July 22-23.

CANADA CUP
At Guelph, Canada, July 3

48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold - Carol Huyhn, Canada
Silver - Victoria Anthony, USA
Bronze - Lindsay Prickett, Canada
4th - Alyssa Lampe, USA
5th - Hyung Jo Kim, Korea
6th - Ramona Balfour, Canada

51 kg/112.25 lbs.
Gold - Jessica MacDonald, Canada
Silver - Jade Parson, Guelph
Bronze - Genevieve Haley, Canada
4th - Amy Whitbeck, USA
5th - Stephanie Ripel, Brock W.C.
6th - Enid Rivera, Puerto Rico

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold - Helen Maroulis, USA
Silver - Brittanee Laverdure, Canada
Bronze - Diana Ford, Brock W.C.
4th - Je-Eun Um, Korea
5th - Sam Stewar, Black Bear
6th - Brianne Barry, Canada

59 kg/130 lbs.
Gold - Tatiana Padilla, USA
Silver - Tonya Verbeek, Brock W.C.
Bronze - Kelsey Campbell, USA
4th - Jazzie Barker, Dino's WC
5th - Amanda Gerhardt, Canada
6th - Olivia Gunnell, Canada

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold - Justine Bouchard, Canada
Silver - Danielle Lappage, Canada
Bronze - Staci Anaka, Canada
4th - Larissa D'Alleva, London
5th - Laura Steffler, Brock W.C.
6th - Sang-Eu Park, Korea

67 kg/147.5 lbs.
Gold - Elena Pirozhkova, USA
Silver - Martine Dugrenier, Canada
Bronze - Erin Clodgo, USA
4th - Vanessa Wilson, Dino's WC
5th - Jeramie Herrington, Guelph
6th - Kristie Davis, USA

72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Gold - Stephany Lee, USA
Silver - Ohenewa Akuffo, Canada
Bronze - Brittany Delgado, USA
4th - Alaniese DeAragon, USA
5th - Leah Callahan, Canada
6th - Kelsey Gsell, Saskatoon

U.S. performances

48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Victoria Anthony, Huntington Beach, Calif. (New York AC), 2nd
WIN Madison Parks (Guelph - CAN)
WIN Ramona Balfour (Canada)
LOSS Carol Huyhn (Canada), 1-3, 0-1

48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 4th
LOSS Carol Huynh (Canada)
WIN Jasmine Slinn (Canada)
WIN Nesmarie Rodriguez (Puerto Rico)
WIN Madison Parks (Guelph-CAN)
WIN Hyung Jo Kim (Korea)
LOSS Lindsay Prickett (Canada)

51 kg/112.25 lbs.- Amy Whitbeck, Duanesburg, NY (New York AC), 4th
LOSS Jessica MacDonald (Canada)
WIN Enid Rivera (Puerto Rico)
LOSS Genevieve Haley (Canada)

51 kg/112.25 lbs.- Jessica Medina, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), inj. withdrew
LOSS Genevieve Haley (Canada), injury default

55 kg/121 lbs. - Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md (New York AC), 1st
WIN Andrea Ross (Dinos - CAN)
WIN Livanis Rivera (Puerto Rico)
WIN Diana Ford (Brock WC - CAN)
WIN Brittanee Laverdure (Canada) 5-3, pin in second

59 kg/130 lbs. - Tatiana Padilla, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 1st
WIN Natalia Rodriguez (Puerto Rico)
WIN Aislynn Torfason (Lakehead WC - CAN)
WIN Jazzie Barker (Dinos - CAN)
WIN Tonya Verbeek (Brock WC - Canada), 6-1, 1-0

59 kg/130 lbs. - Kelsey Campbell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 3rd
LOSS Tonya Verbeek (Brock WC - CAN)
WIN Aislynn Torfason (Lakehead WC - CAN)
WIN Liz Sera (London - CAN)
WIN Amanda Gerhardt (Canada)
WIN Jazzie Barker (Dinos WC - Canada)

67 kg/147.5 lbs. Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 1st
WIN Kristie Davis (USA)
WIN Megan Buydens (Canada)
WIN Vanessa Wilson (Dinos WC - CAN)
WIN Martine Dugrenier (Canada) injury dft.

67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 3rd
WIN Leslie Allison (Guelph - CAN)
WIN Jenna McLatchey (BMWC - CAN)
LOSS Martine Dugrenier (Canada)
WIN Jeramie Herrington (Guelph - CAN)
WIN Vanessa Wilson (Dinos WC - CAN)

67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Kristie Davis, Oklahoma City, Okla. (New York AC), 6th
LOSS Elena Pirozhkova (USA)
WIN Marissa Sorrell (Brock WC-CAN), pin
WIN Jenna McLatchey (BMWC - CAN)
WIN Sabrina Kelly (Bears WC - CAN)
LOSS Vanessa Wilson (Dinos WC - CAN)
LOSS Jeramie Herrington (Guelph - CAN), inj. dft.

72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stephany Lee, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 1st
WIN Dayanaa Riviera (Puerto Rico)
WIN Leah Callahan (Canada)
WIN Ohenewa Akuffo (Canada), 2-1, 1-4, pin

72 kg/158.5 lbs.- Brittany Delgado, Fountain Inn, S.C. (Gator/OCU), 3rd
LOSS Ohenewa Akuffo (Canada)
WIN Laura Conway (USOEC), pin
WIN Leah Callahan (Canada)
WIN Analiese DeAragon (USA), pin

72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Analiese DeAragon, Sandpoint, Idaho (USOEC), 4th
WIN Laura Conway (USOEC)
LOSS Ohenawa Akuffo (Canada)
WIN Kelsey Gsell (Saskatoon - CAN)
LOSS Brittany Delgado (USA), pin

Women's Team Standings
1. Canada, 53 pts.
2. USA, 50 pts.
3. Brock WC, 16 pts.
4. Guelph WC, 9 pts.
5. (tie) Korea and Dinos WC, 6 pts.