Pirozhkova tops Miller to highlight U.S. Open women's finals
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by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
Elena Pirozhkova battles Randi Miller on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Larry Slater photo.
LAS VEGAS – World champion Elena Pirozhkova’s run of good fortune continued at the U.S. Open.
Pirozhkova scored a pair of takedowns early in the match before holding off Olympic bronze medalist Randi Miller 4-3 in the women’s freestyle finals on Saturday night at the South Point Arena
Pirozhkova, a 2014 World silver medalist, captured her seventh straight U.S. Open championship on Saturday. She bumped up a weight class to 69 kg/152 lbs. in defeating Miller, a returning champion in this event.
“I know Randi pretty well and I know her style,” Pirozhkova said. “I had a little bit of a different strategy at this weight class because the girls are bigger and stronger. It wasn’t my most exciting match, but it’s always something special to win the U.S. Open.”
Pirozhkova was one of eight women’s champions crowned on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Champions in this event advance to the best-of-3 finals at June’s U.S. World Team Trials in Madison, Wis.
Two-time World champion Adeline Gray powered to a 15-4 win over Jackie Cataline in the finals at 75 kg/165 lbs. Gray won her third Open title.
Two-time World medalist and returning champion Helen Maroulis rolled to a 10-0 technical fall over 2012 Olympian Kelsey Campbell in the finals at 58 kg/128 lbs.
Maroulis, who won her sixth Open title, was named Outstanding Wrestler in the women’s division.
“This one is particularly important,” Maroulis said. “Any time you can come here with another championships, it is great. I'm thankful for my coach that prepared me. I lost to her in the 2012 Olympic Trials, so this match meant a lot to me. It showed I made improvements.”
Two-time Junior World champion Victoria Anthony charged out aggressively before defeating two-time World medalist Alyssa Lampe 6-4 in the finals at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Anthony, fifth in the 2013 Senior Worlds, won her first Open title after being second here the previous three years.
Two-time World Team member Leigh Jaynes-Provisor topped 2014 World Team member Jenna Burkert 6-1 in the finals at 60 kg/132 lbs.
2006 U.S. Open champion Sharon Jacobson capped an amazing weekend by pulling out a wild 12-9 win over Jacarra Winchester in the finals at 55 kg/121 lbs. Jacobson, now competing in mixed martial arts, had not competed in wrestling since 2012 before entering this event.
Whitney Conder earned her third Open title, rallying for a 5-3 win over Carlene Sluberski in the finals at 53 kg/116.5 lbs.
Erin Clodgo captured her second Open title with a 9-3 win over Amanda Hendey in the finals at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Titan Mercury Wrestling Club won the Division I team title with the Sunkist Kids finishing second. The New York Athletic Club won the Division II team title with the U.S. Army finishing second.
U.S. Open
May 9, South Point Arena, Las Vegas
Women’s freestyle finals
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Victoria Anthony (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Alyssa Lampe (Sunkist Kids), 6-4
53 kg/116.5 lbs.
Whitney Conder (U.S. Army) dec. Carlene Sluberski (Titan Mercury WC), 5-3
55 kg/121 lbs.
Sharon Jacobson (U.S. Army) dec. Jacarra Winchester (Titan Mercury WC), 12-9
58 kg/128 lbs.
Helen Maroulis (Sunkist Kids) won by tech. fall over Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids), 10-0
60 kg/132 lbs.
Leigh Jaynes-Provisor (U.S. Army) dec. Jenna Burkert (New York AC), 6-1
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Erin Clodgo (Sunkist Kids) dec. Amanda Hendey (Titan Mercury WC), 9-3
69 kg/152 lbs.
Elena Pirozhkova (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Randi Miller (U.S. Army), 4-3
75 kg/165 lbs.
Adeline Gray (New York AC) won by tech. fall over Jackie Cataline (Titan Mercury WC), 15-4
LAS VEGAS – World champion Elena Pirozhkova’s run of good fortune continued at the U.S. Open.
Pirozhkova scored a pair of takedowns early in the match before holding off Olympic bronze medalist Randi Miller 4-3 in the women’s freestyle finals on Saturday night at the South Point Arena
Pirozhkova, a 2014 World silver medalist, captured her seventh straight U.S. Open championship on Saturday. She bumped up a weight class to 69 kg/152 lbs. in defeating Miller, a returning champion in this event.
“I know Randi pretty well and I know her style,” Pirozhkova said. “I had a little bit of a different strategy at this weight class because the girls are bigger and stronger. It wasn’t my most exciting match, but it’s always something special to win the U.S. Open.”
Pirozhkova was one of eight women’s champions crowned on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Champions in this event advance to the best-of-3 finals at June’s U.S. World Team Trials in Madison, Wis.
Two-time World champion Adeline Gray powered to a 15-4 win over Jackie Cataline in the finals at 75 kg/165 lbs. Gray won her third Open title.
Two-time World medalist and returning champion Helen Maroulis rolled to a 10-0 technical fall over 2012 Olympian Kelsey Campbell in the finals at 58 kg/128 lbs.
Maroulis, who won her sixth Open title, was named Outstanding Wrestler in the women’s division.
“This one is particularly important,” Maroulis said. “Any time you can come here with another championships, it is great. I'm thankful for my coach that prepared me. I lost to her in the 2012 Olympic Trials, so this match meant a lot to me. It showed I made improvements.”
Two-time Junior World champion Victoria Anthony charged out aggressively before defeating two-time World medalist Alyssa Lampe 6-4 in the finals at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Anthony, fifth in the 2013 Senior Worlds, won her first Open title after being second here the previous three years.
Two-time World Team member Leigh Jaynes-Provisor topped 2014 World Team member Jenna Burkert 6-1 in the finals at 60 kg/132 lbs.
2006 U.S. Open champion Sharon Jacobson capped an amazing weekend by pulling out a wild 12-9 win over Jacarra Winchester in the finals at 55 kg/121 lbs. Jacobson, now competing in mixed martial arts, had not competed in wrestling since 2012 before entering this event.
Whitney Conder earned her third Open title, rallying for a 5-3 win over Carlene Sluberski in the finals at 53 kg/116.5 lbs.
Erin Clodgo captured her second Open title with a 9-3 win over Amanda Hendey in the finals at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Titan Mercury Wrestling Club won the Division I team title with the Sunkist Kids finishing second. The New York Athletic Club won the Division II team title with the U.S. Army finishing second.
U.S. Open
May 9, South Point Arena, Las Vegas
Women’s freestyle finals
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Victoria Anthony (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Alyssa Lampe (Sunkist Kids), 6-4
53 kg/116.5 lbs.
Whitney Conder (U.S. Army) dec. Carlene Sluberski (Titan Mercury WC), 5-3
55 kg/121 lbs.
Sharon Jacobson (U.S. Army) dec. Jacarra Winchester (Titan Mercury WC), 12-9
58 kg/128 lbs.
Helen Maroulis (Sunkist Kids) won by tech. fall over Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids), 10-0
60 kg/132 lbs.
Leigh Jaynes-Provisor (U.S. Army) dec. Jenna Burkert (New York AC), 6-1
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Erin Clodgo (Sunkist Kids) dec. Amanda Hendey (Titan Mercury WC), 9-3
69 kg/152 lbs.
Elena Pirozhkova (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Randi Miller (U.S. Army), 4-3
75 kg/165 lbs.
Adeline Gray (New York AC) won by tech. fall over Jackie Cataline (Titan Mercury WC), 15-4
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