U.S. women Porter, Burkert to face Canadians prior to USA v. Russia dual in Clifton Park, N.Y. on Nov. 16

Alexis Porter (left) and Jenna Burkert (right) will compete for Team USA in women's matches in Clifton Park, N.Y. 

There will be two international women’s freestyle matches featuring American and Canadian stars prior to the start of the USA vs. Russia men’s freestyle dual meet at Shenendahowa High School in Clifton Park, N.Y. on Saturday, November 16.

Local women’s wrestling star Alexis Porter (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Journeymen WC) will compete against Canadian star Keegin Collie (Fonthill, Ontario, Canada/Brock WC) in a women’s freestyle match at 65 kg/143.25 lbs. featuring top high school-age athletes.

Porter will be competing in her home gymnasium, as she is a senior at Shenendahowa High School and a member of the varsity wrestling team. Porter represented the United States at the 2013 FILA Cadet World Championships in Zrenjanin, Serbia this past summer, earning her spot on the team after winning the 2013 Body Bar FILA Cadet Nationals. Porter has won USA Wrestling Junior National titles the last two years, and was a 2012 Cadet Nationals champion.

Collie is a Canadian FILA Cadet National champion, and has won the Under 15 Nationals title for the last two years. She has also been an Ontario Provincial champion the last two seasons.

“It is a great opportunity. I believe it will be a great atmosphere there. I hope a lot of people come out to support me. I have told all my friends and family about it. It will be a real good experience for me to compete there,” said Porter.

Alexis will compete in the New York AC International this weekend to help prepare for this match. She is looking for a good performance after falling short of a medal at the Cadet Worlds in August.

“It is a little redemption. I didn’t finish as well as I wanted at the Cadet Worlds. Going to the Worlds is one of those things that are irreplaceable. You can’t get experience like that unless you go there to compete. I didn’t get the finish I expected, but I learned a lot,” said Porter.

Another New York native, Jenna Burkert (Rocky Point, N.Y./New York AC/USOEC) will battle Canadian Michelle Fazzari (St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada/Brock WC) in a Senior-level women’s freestyle bout at 59 kg/130 lbs.

Burkert competed for Longwood High School, before she joined the U.S. Olympic Education Program at Northern Michigan and completed high school at Marquette High School. She is currently a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete and is attending college in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Burkert has been a three-time U.S. Junior World Team member, and has twice placed fourth at the U.S. Senior Open. She was third in the World Team Wrestle-offs at the non-Olympic weights the last two years. She was named the 2010 ASICS Girls High School Wrestler of the Year. Burkert was fifth at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

Fazzari is a veteran star on the international level, having placed at major Senior-level events since her Pan American Championships bronze medal in 2006. She was a 2013 World Cup champion, and has won the last two New York AC International Open titles. Fazzari was also a 2007 Commonwealth Championships champion.

“I think it is a great opportunity to show off women’s wrestling. There is nothing better than to do it in my home state. I hope there will be a lot of young girls there to see it. My parents will also be there so I am excited,” said Burkert.

Burkert beat Fazzari in a previous meeting, and expects a very competitive battle.

“It was a good match. She is a tough wrestler and a good competitor. But I don’t want to lose on my home turf. I just want to brawl it out with her,” said Burkert.

The two women’s freestyle matches will be held at 2:45 p.m. prior to the start of the men’s freestyle dual meet between the United States and Russia, which is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

The dual will follow a youth clinic featuring members of the Penn State University coaching staff including Cael Sanderson, Casey Cunningham, Jake Varner and Quentin Wright.

This event has been dubbed "The Resurrection" in an effort to showcase wrestling's rebirth following the sports reinstatement to the Olympic Games. Journeymen Wrestling is promoting the event.

Tickets remain available for the event. Ticket prices are $50 to attend both the clinic and the dual and $20 to attend the dual only.

For more information on "The Resurrection" dual between USA and Russia, including the two women’s matches, please visit journeymenwrestling.com.
USA vs. RUSSIA DUAL

At Clifton Park, N.Y., Nov. 16


Women’s freestyle matchups
65 kg/143.25 lbs.

Alexis Porter, Ballston Lake, N.Y. (Journeymen WC)
2012 and 2103 Junior Nationals champion… 2013 Body Bar FILA Cadet Nationals champion… 2012 Cadet Nationals champion… Fourth in 2011 Junior Nationals… Third in 2011 Cadet Nationals… Three-time New York state freestyle and Greco-Roman champion… Two-time New York women’s freestyle regional champion… Entering her senior season at Shenendehowa High School… ASICS All-American First Team member… Born: May 18, 1996

Keegin Collie, Fonthill, Ontario, Canada (Brock WC)
2012 and 2013 Under 15 National champion… 2013 FILA Cadet Nationals champion… 2012 and 2013 Ontario Provincial champion…. 2011 Canada East champion… Born: July 3, 1997
59 kg/130 lbs.

Jenna Burkert, Rocky Point, N.Y. (New York AC/USOEC)
Eighth in the 2011 and 2013 Junior World Championships… Also competed in 2012 Junior World Championships… Third in 2012 and 2013 World Team Wrestle-offs… Fourth in 2011 and 2013 U.S. Open… Second in 2012 Hari Ram Tournament (India)… Second in 2012 Dave Schultz Memorial International… Third in 2011 New York AC International… Third in 2011 Klippan Lady Open (Sweden)… Fourth in 2010 Sunkist Kids International… Fifth in 2010 Youth Olympic Games… 2009 Junior Nationals champion… Second in 2010 Junior Nationals… 2008 Cadet Pan American champion… Attended Longwood High School in New York and Marquette High School in Michigan… 2010 ASICS High School Girls Wrestler of the Year… Born: May 9, 1993…

Michelle Fazzari, St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada (Brock WC)
2013 SFU International champion (Canada)… Second in 2011 and 2013 Austrian Ladies Open…. 2013 Francophonie Games champion… 2013 World Cup champion… 2011 and 2012 New York AC International champion… Fourth in 2012 Austrian Ladies Open… Second in 2012 World Cup… 2011 Hargobind International champion (Canada)… Third in 2011 Grand Prix of Germany… Tenth in 2008 University World Championships… 2007 Commonwealth Championships champion… Second in 2006 Junior Pan American Championships… Third in 2006 Senior Pan American Championships… Born: July 10, 1986…