Maroulis gets gold, Leathers silver and Francis bronze at Austrian Ladies Open

Helen Maroulis of the USA gets her gold medal and Becka Leathers of the USA her silver medal at 55 kg at the Austrian Ladies Open. Tadaaki Hatta photo.

GOTZIS, Austria – The United States won three medals out of four entries to place second as a team in the Senior division at the Austrian Ladies Open on Saturday.


Claiming a gold medal at 55 kg/121 lbs. was 2012 World silver medalist Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md./Sunkist Kids), who scored three technical falls to claim a four-athlete roundrobin. Maroulis defeated American teammate Becka Leathers (Choctaw, Okla./Ironman WC), the eventual silver medalist, 10-0 in the final bout.


Leathers, a 2013 U.S. FILA Cadet World Team member who has qualified for the 2014 U.S. FILA Junior World Team, won her other matches against opponents from Great Britain and Canada to claim the silver medal.


The third U.S. medalist was Lindenwood University star Victoria Francis (Litchfield, Ill./Lindenwood), who finished with a 2-2 record at 75 kg/165 lbs. to claim the bronze medal. Francis will also compete on the 2014 U.S. FILA Junior World Team.


Canada easily won the team title with 177 points, followed by the USA with 30 and Switzerland with 27. There were 11 nations which scored points in the tournament.


The USA athletes have been in Europe for competition and training. Leathers and Francis competed at the German Grand Prix last week, but both fell short of medals.


The USA also had three medalists, including champions Maya Nelson and Jessika Rottier, in the Cadet division on Friday, placing third in the standings.


The USA team was coached by Tadaaki Hatta and Stephanie Murata.


AUSTRIAN LADIES OPEN

At Gotzis, Austria, June 13


Senior Women’s results


48 kg
Gold – Jessica MacDonald (Canada)

Silver – Annie Monteith (Canada)

Bronze – Genie Gokhman (Canada)


53 kg
Gold – Jillian Gallays (Canada)

Silver – Tatiana Debien (France)

Bronze – Aurelie Basset (France)


55 kg
Gold – Helen Maroulis (USA)

Silver – Becka Leathers (USA)

Bronze – Amber Maschke (Canada)


58 kg
Gold – Jazmyne Barker (Canada)

Silver – Ida Stenberg (Sweden)

Bronze – Chelsea Murphy (Scotland)


60 kg
Gold – Justine Bouchard (Canada)

Silver – Taylor Cartwright (Canada)

Bronze – Larissa Bufalino (Canada)


63 kg
Gold – Danielle Lappage (Canada)

Silver – Breanne Graham (Canada)

Bronze – Laura Raffler (Austria)


69 kg
Gold – Justina DiStasio (Canada)

Silver – Kim Riesterer (Germany)

Bronze – Lorena Ellis (Canada)


75 kg
Gold – Erica Wiebe (Canada)

Silver – Epp Mae (Estonia)

Bronze – Victoria Francis (USA)


U.S. entries

55 kg – Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (Sunkist Kids), 1st

WIN Louisa Porogovska (Great Britain), tech fall 11-0

WIN Amber Maschke (Canada), tech fall 10-0

LOSS Helen Maroulis (USA), tech fall 10-0


55 kg - Becka Leathers, Choctaw, Okla. (Ironman WC), 2nd

WIN Amber Maschke (Canada), 9-2

WIN Louisa Porogovska (Great Britain), 5-0

LOSS Helen Maroulis (USA), tech fall 0-10


63 kg – Shai Mason, Gardenia, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC), 8th

LOSS Laura Raffler (Austria), 1-5

LOSS Danielle Lappage (Canada),0-10


75 kg - Victoria Francis, Litchfield, Ill. (Lindenwood), 3rd

WIN Sophie Edwards (Great Britain), 7-0

LOSS Erica Wiebe (Canada), tech. fall 0-10

LOSS Epp Mae (Estonia), 0-10

WIN Veronica Keefe (Canada), inj dft.


Team Standings
1. Canada, 177 pts.

2. United States, 30

3. Switzerland, 27

4. Scotland, 25

5. Great Britain, 22

6. France, 17

7. Sweden, 13

8. Austria, 12

9. (tie) Germany, 9

9. (tie) Estonia, 9

11. Israel, 2