Six World Team members on big U.S. team in all styles competing at Spanish Grand Prix, July 11
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Helen Maroulis, shown at the 2015 World Team Trials, is among six 2015 World Team members competing in the Spanish Grand Prix.
The United States will send a large delegation of 37 talented athletes, including six 2015 U.S. Senior World Team members, to compete in the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, Spain, July 11.
The World Team members competing in Spain include:
• Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Alli Ragan (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 58 kg/128 lbs. and Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC) at 69 kg/152 lbs. in women’s freestyle
• Patrick Martinez (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) at 80 kg/174 lbs. and Jordan Holm (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 85 kg/187 lbs. in Greco-Roman
• James Green (Willingboro, N.J./Titan Mercury WC) at 70 kg/154 lbs. in men’s freestyle
These World Team members will use the Spanish Grand Prix as their tune-up competition for the 2015 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, Nev., Sept. 7-12.
There are also six UWW Junior World Team members who will compete in the Senior division at the Spanish Grand Prix. This is a tune-up event for them prior to the UWW Junior World Championships in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, August 11-16. These Junior World Team members include:
• Aaron Pico (Whitter, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC) at 70 kg/154 lbs., Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) at 74 kg/163 lbs., Zahid Valencia (Pico Rivera, Calif. (Sunkist Kids) at 86 kg/185 lbs. and Nathan Butler (Leavenworth, Kansas (California RTC) at 125 kg/275 lbs. in men’s freestyle
• Becka Leathers (Choctaw, Okla./Gator OKCU Women’s RTC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Kayla Miracle (Campbellsville, Ky./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs. in women’s freestyle.
Pico is competing up one weight class from where he will wrestle at the UWW Junior Worlds, while Miracle is wrestling down a weight class from her UWW Junior Worlds weight class.
2012 Olympian Kelsey Campbell (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) will compete at 58 kg/128 lbs.
Past World Team members on the tour include women’s freestyle stars Victoria Anthony, Huntington Beach, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and Jessica Medina (Champaign, Ill./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs. plus men’s freestyler Obe Blanc (Raleigh, N.C./Titan Mercury WC) at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. and Greco-Roman wrestler Joe Rau (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 80 kg/174 lbs.
In men’s freestyle, 2015 U.S. Open champion David Taylor (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and two-time NCAA champion Nick Gwiazdowski (Delanson, N.Y./New York AC) at 125 kg/275 lbs. will also compete.
Many of the athletes on this tour are having their costs covered by their wrestling clubs, which are supporting them in getting additional valuable international experience.
This is a one-day tournament, so all of the U.S. athletes will wrestle on Saturday, July 11.
SPANISH GRAND PRIX
At Madrid, Spain, July 11
U.S. women’s freestyle roster
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Victoria Anthony, Huntington Beach, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Amy Hou, Rome, Ga. (Titan Mercury WC)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Sarah Allen, Huber Heights, Ohio (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Maia Phanthadara, Honolulu, Hawaii (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
53 kg/116.5 lbs. – Michaela Hutchison, Lebanon, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC)
53 kg/116.5 lbs. – Amy Fearnside, Morgan Hill, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Becka Leathers, Choctaw, Okla. (Gator OKCU Women’s RTC)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Kayla Miracle, Campbellsville, Ky. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Jessica Medina, Champaign, Ill. (Sunkist Kids)
58 kg/128 lbs. – Alli Ragan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
58 kg/128 lbs. – Kelsey Campbell, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Jennifer Page, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Shai Mason, Gardenia, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
69 kg/152 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
69 kg/152 lbs. – Tamyra Mensah, Katy, Texas (Titan Mercury WC)
75 kg/165 lbs. – Kendall Reusing, Riverside, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
75 kg/165 lbs. – Victoria Francis, Litchfield, Ill. (Lindenwood Women’s Wrestling)
Assistant National Women’s Coach – Emma Randall, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach – Maxim Molonov, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach – Ike Anderson, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach – Billy Wood, Pocatello, Idaho
U.S. Men’s freestyle roster
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Obe Blanc, Raleigh, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC)
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Nico Megaludis, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Frank Perrelli, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC)
61 kg/134 lbs. – Daniel Dennis, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC)
65 kg/143 lbs. – Frank Molinaro, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
70 kg/154 lbs. – James Green, Willingboro, N.J. (Titan Mercury WC)
70 kg/154 lbs. – Aaron Pico, Whitter, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. – David Taylor, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Mark Hall, Apple Valley, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Anthony Valencia, Pico Rivera, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
86 kg/185 lbs. – Zahid Valencia, Pico Rivera, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
97 kg/213 lbs. – Wynn Michalak, Champaign, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC)
125 kg/275 lbs. – Nick Gwiazdowski, Delanson, N.Y. (New York AC)
125 kg/275 lbs. – Nathan Butler, Leavenworth, Kansas (California RTC)
Assistant National Freestyle Coach and Team Leader – Brandon Slay, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach – Valentin Kalika, Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Coach – Mark Manning, Lincoln, Neb.
U.S. Greco-Roman roster
59 kg/130 lbs. – Nikko Triggas, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
80 kg/174 lbs. – Patrick Martinez, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
80 kg/174 lbs. – Joe Rau, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
85 kg/187 lbs. – Jordan Holm, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
98 kg/215 lbs. – Patrick Carey, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
Assistant National Greco-Roman Coach – Ahad Javansalehi, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Medical – Randy Boswell, Couer d’Alene, Idaho
Referee – Jason Babi, Centennial, Colo.
Event Schedule
(Madrid time, which is 6 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time)
Saturday, July 11
All styles, All weight classes
9:00 a.m. – Preliminaries
1:00 p.m. – Semifinals and Repechage
5:00 p.m. – Finals (1st place, 3rd place, 5th place)
The United States will send a large delegation of 37 talented athletes, including six 2015 U.S. Senior World Team members, to compete in the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, Spain, July 11.
The World Team members competing in Spain include:
• Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Alli Ragan (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 58 kg/128 lbs. and Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC) at 69 kg/152 lbs. in women’s freestyle
• Patrick Martinez (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) at 80 kg/174 lbs. and Jordan Holm (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 85 kg/187 lbs. in Greco-Roman
• James Green (Willingboro, N.J./Titan Mercury WC) at 70 kg/154 lbs. in men’s freestyle
These World Team members will use the Spanish Grand Prix as their tune-up competition for the 2015 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, Nev., Sept. 7-12.
There are also six UWW Junior World Team members who will compete in the Senior division at the Spanish Grand Prix. This is a tune-up event for them prior to the UWW Junior World Championships in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, August 11-16. These Junior World Team members include:
• Aaron Pico (Whitter, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC) at 70 kg/154 lbs., Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) at 74 kg/163 lbs., Zahid Valencia (Pico Rivera, Calif. (Sunkist Kids) at 86 kg/185 lbs. and Nathan Butler (Leavenworth, Kansas (California RTC) at 125 kg/275 lbs. in men’s freestyle
• Becka Leathers (Choctaw, Okla./Gator OKCU Women’s RTC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Kayla Miracle (Campbellsville, Ky./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs. in women’s freestyle.
Pico is competing up one weight class from where he will wrestle at the UWW Junior Worlds, while Miracle is wrestling down a weight class from her UWW Junior Worlds weight class.
2012 Olympian Kelsey Campbell (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) will compete at 58 kg/128 lbs.
Past World Team members on the tour include women’s freestyle stars Victoria Anthony, Huntington Beach, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and Jessica Medina (Champaign, Ill./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs. plus men’s freestyler Obe Blanc (Raleigh, N.C./Titan Mercury WC) at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. and Greco-Roman wrestler Joe Rau (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 80 kg/174 lbs.
In men’s freestyle, 2015 U.S. Open champion David Taylor (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and two-time NCAA champion Nick Gwiazdowski (Delanson, N.Y./New York AC) at 125 kg/275 lbs. will also compete.
Many of the athletes on this tour are having their costs covered by their wrestling clubs, which are supporting them in getting additional valuable international experience.
This is a one-day tournament, so all of the U.S. athletes will wrestle on Saturday, July 11.
SPANISH GRAND PRIX
At Madrid, Spain, July 11
U.S. women’s freestyle roster
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Victoria Anthony, Huntington Beach, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Amy Hou, Rome, Ga. (Titan Mercury WC)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Sarah Allen, Huber Heights, Ohio (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Maia Phanthadara, Honolulu, Hawaii (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
53 kg/116.5 lbs. – Michaela Hutchison, Lebanon, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC)
53 kg/116.5 lbs. – Amy Fearnside, Morgan Hill, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Becka Leathers, Choctaw, Okla. (Gator OKCU Women’s RTC)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Kayla Miracle, Campbellsville, Ky. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Jessica Medina, Champaign, Ill. (Sunkist Kids)
58 kg/128 lbs. – Alli Ragan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
58 kg/128 lbs. – Kelsey Campbell, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Jennifer Page, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Shai Mason, Gardenia, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
69 kg/152 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
69 kg/152 lbs. – Tamyra Mensah, Katy, Texas (Titan Mercury WC)
75 kg/165 lbs. – Kendall Reusing, Riverside, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
75 kg/165 lbs. – Victoria Francis, Litchfield, Ill. (Lindenwood Women’s Wrestling)
Assistant National Women’s Coach – Emma Randall, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach – Maxim Molonov, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach – Ike Anderson, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach – Billy Wood, Pocatello, Idaho
U.S. Men’s freestyle roster
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Obe Blanc, Raleigh, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC)
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Nico Megaludis, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Frank Perrelli, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC)
61 kg/134 lbs. – Daniel Dennis, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC)
65 kg/143 lbs. – Frank Molinaro, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
70 kg/154 lbs. – James Green, Willingboro, N.J. (Titan Mercury WC)
70 kg/154 lbs. – Aaron Pico, Whitter, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. – David Taylor, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Mark Hall, Apple Valley, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Anthony Valencia, Pico Rivera, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
86 kg/185 lbs. – Zahid Valencia, Pico Rivera, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
97 kg/213 lbs. – Wynn Michalak, Champaign, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC)
125 kg/275 lbs. – Nick Gwiazdowski, Delanson, N.Y. (New York AC)
125 kg/275 lbs. – Nathan Butler, Leavenworth, Kansas (California RTC)
Assistant National Freestyle Coach and Team Leader – Brandon Slay, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach – Valentin Kalika, Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Coach – Mark Manning, Lincoln, Neb.
U.S. Greco-Roman roster
59 kg/130 lbs. – Nikko Triggas, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
80 kg/174 lbs. – Patrick Martinez, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
80 kg/174 lbs. – Joe Rau, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
85 kg/187 lbs. – Jordan Holm, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
98 kg/215 lbs. – Patrick Carey, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
Assistant National Greco-Roman Coach – Ahad Javansalehi, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Medical – Randy Boswell, Couer d’Alene, Idaho
Referee – Jason Babi, Centennial, Colo.
Event Schedule
(Madrid time, which is 6 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time)
Saturday, July 11
All styles, All weight classes
9:00 a.m. – Preliminaries
1:00 p.m. – Semifinals and Repechage
5:00 p.m. – Finals (1st place, 3rd place, 5th place)
