Maroulis and Pirozhkova win golds, Ragan gets a silver at UWW Golden Grand Prix Finals in Azerbaijan
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Photos of Americans Helen Maroulis (53 kg) and Elena Pirozhkova (63 kg) getting gold medals at UWW Golden Grand Prix Finals courtesy of Terry Steiner.
BAKU, Azerbaijan – Two World champions from the United States won gold medals at the UWW Golden Grand Prix Finals on Saturday, Helen Maroulis, Huntington Beach. Calif. (Sunkist Kids) at 53 kg/116.5 lbs. and Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Team USA finished with three medals, as three-time World Team member Alli Ragan (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) added a silver medal at 60 kg/132 lbs.
In a battle of World champions in the finals, 2015 World champion and three-time World medalist Maroulis defeated 2011 World champion and five-time World medalist Sofia Mattsson, 2-1. It was a big win for Maroulis, as Mattsson had beaten her in the 2013 World Championships by one point.
Maroulis had an impressive run to reach the finals. She opened with a 6-2 win over 2013 European champion Roxana Zasina of Poland. In the quarterfinals, she edged 2015 World bronze medalist Odunayo Adekuoroye of Nigeria, 6-6. In the semifinals, she dominated 2015 European Games champion Angela Dorogan of Azerbaijan, 9-0.
Maroulis competed at 55 kg/121 lbs. at the 2015 World Championships, where she won the gold medal. She has dropped down an Olympic weight class at 53 kg/116.5 lbs.
Pirozhkova, a 2012 World champion and four-time World medalist, defeated four-time World medalist Taibe Yusein of Bulgaria in the finals, 4-3. Pirozhkova hit a four-point throw in the first period to take an early lead. Yusein scored a takedown late in the first period, and got a point when Pirozhkova was put on the shot clock in the second period but could not close the gap. It was a rematch of the 2012 World finals, won by Pirozhkova.
In the opening round, Pirozhkova defeated longtime American rival Erin Clodgo (Colorado Springs, Colo/Sunkist Kids), 4-2. In the quarterfinals, she stopped 2014 European silver medalist Maryina Mamashuk of Belarus, 4-1. In the semifinals, Pirozhkova edged 2014 World silver medalist Valeriia Lazinskaia of Russia, 7-6.
Pirozhkova competed at 69 kg/152 lbs. at the 2015 World Championships, and has dropped to the weight class where she won all four of her World medals.
Ragan was defeated in the finals by 2015 Asian champion Luo Xiaojuan of China, 6-0. Luo scored a takedown and pushout in the first period, then added another takedown and another pushout in the second period.
Ragan opened the tournament with a 6-1 win over Jennifer Page (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury) in the quarterfinals. She scored a 2-1 win over 2013 World champion Marianna Sastin of Hungary in the semifinals.
Ragan was up a weight class from her normal division, as she usually competes at 58 kg/128 lbs.
“Team USA had a good day today in Baku. We had five athletes in medal matches and we ended up with two golds and one silver. I thought Helen Maroulis had a very good day as did Elena Pirozhkova. Alli Ragan also had a big win over 2013 World Champion Marina Sastin to get into the final. It has been a very productive two weeks as we spent 10 days in China before this competition,” said National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner.
Prize money at this event includes $10,000 to champions, $5,000 to silver medalists and $2,000 for bronze medalists.
Placing fifth after losses in bronze medal bouts were Americans Page and Clodgo. Page fell to Marianna Sastin of Hungary, 1-5, while Clodgo lost to Valeriia Lazinskaia of Russia, 2-6.
“We need to keep improving on our problem areas and continue to keep everyone in our accountable to a certain standard. We must always make improvements in our techniques and tactics. We believe we are on the right track, but we must be persistent and consistent in our efforts,” said Steiner.
Seven U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers weighed in and received their draws for Sunday. Two-time World bronze medalist Andy Bisek (Colorado Springs, Colo./Minnesota Storm) opens against Darkhan Bayakhmetov of Kazakhstan. Three U.S. wrestlers face opponents from Iran in the first round, Jesse Thielke (Germantown, Wis./New York AC) at 59 kg/130 lbs., Pat Smith (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 71 kg/156 lbs. and Joe Rau (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 98 kg/215 lbs.
UWW GOLDEN GRAND PRIX FINALS
At Baku, Azerbaijan, November 28, 2015
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold – Valentina Islamova (Russia)
Silver – Jessica Blaszka (Netherlands)
Bronze – Miho Igrashi (Japan)
Bronze – Ivona Matkowska (Poland)
5th – Sharaq Muradzada (Azerbaijan)
5th – Onmariel Vilibeth (Venezuela)
53 kg/116.5 lbs.
Gold – Helen Maroulis (USA)
Silver – Sofia Mattsson (Sweden)
Bronze – Zhong Xuechen (China)
Bronze – Odunayo Adekuoroye (Nigeria)
5th – Pak Yong Mi (North Korea)
5th – Angela Dorogan (Azerbaijan)
55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold – Li Hui (China)
Silver – Nataliya Sinishin (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Hikari Sugawara (Japan)
Bronze – Jong In Sun (North Korea)
5th – Alyona Kolesnik (Azerbaijan)
5th – Rim Ayari (Tunisia)
58 kg/128 lbs.
Gold – Emese Barka (Hungary)
Silver – Aisuluu Tynybekova (Kyrgyzstan)
Bronze – Johanna Mattsson (Sweden)
Bronze – Aiym Abdildina (Kazakhstan)
5th – Tetyana Lavrenchyk (Ukraine)
5th – Derya Bayhan (Turkey)
60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold – Luo Xiaojuan (China)
Silver – Alli Ragain (USA)
Bronze – Yukako Kawai (Japan)
Bronze – Marianna Sastin (Hungary)
5th – Dzhenan Manolova (Bulgaria)
5th – Jennifer Page (USA)
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold – Elena Pirozhkova (USA)
Silver – Taibe Yusein (Bulgaria)
Bronze – Valeriia Lazinskaia (Russia)
Bronze – Anastasija Grigorieva (Latvia)
5th – Erin Clodgo (USA)
5th – Elmira Qambarova (Azerbaijan)
69 kg/152 lbs.
Gold – Natalia Vorobieva (Russia)
Silver – Jenny Fransson (Sweden)
Bronze – Aline Focken (Germany)
Bronze – Rio Watari (Japan)
5th – Elmira Syzdakova (Kazakhstan)
5th – Alina Makhynia (Ukraine)
75 kg/165 lbs.
Gold – Epp Mae (Estonia)
Silver – Zhou Qian (China)
Bronze – Ekaterina Bukina (Russia)
Bronze – Maider Unda (Spain)
5th – Guzel Manyurova (Kazakhstan)
5th – Sabira Aliyeva (Azerbaijan)
U.S. women’s freestyle performances
53 kg/116.5 lbs. – Helen Maroulis, Huntington Beach. Calif. (Sunkist Kids), gold medal
WIN Roxana Zasina (Poland), 6-2
WIN Odunayo Adekuoroye (Nigeria), 6-6
WIN Angela Dorogan (Azerbaijan), 9-0
WIN Sofia Mattsson (Sweden), 2-1
55 kg/121 lbs. – Carlene Sluberski, Fredonia, N.Y. (New York AC), 7th place
LOSS Alyona Kolesnik (Azerbaijan), 4-5
55 kg/121 lbs. – Sarah Hildebrandt, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 10th place
LOSS Hikari Sugawara (Japan), 0-7
60 kg/132 lbs. – Jennifer Page, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC), 5th place
LOSS Alli Ragan (USA), 1-6
LOSS Marianna Sastin (Hungary), 1-5
60 kg/132 lbs. – Alli Ragan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), silver medal
WIN Jennifer Page (USA), 6-1
WIN Marianna Sastin (Hungary), 2-1
LOSS Luo Xiaojuan (China), 0-6
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC), gold medal
WIN Erin Clodgo (USA), 4-2
WIN Maryina Mamashuk (Belarus), 4-1
WIN Valeriia Lazinskaia (Russia), 7-6
WIN Taibe Yusein (Bulgaria), 4-3
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 5th place
LOSS Elena Pirozhkova (USA), 2-4
WIN Maryina Mamashuk (Belarus)
LOSS Valeriia Lazinskaia (Russia), 2-6
U.S. Greco-Roman draws for Sunday
59 kg/130 lbs. – Jesse Thielke, Germantown, Wis. (New York AC)
Vs. Mohsen Hajipour (Iran), 2010 World University champion, 2008 World Military champion, 3rd in 2015 CISM Games
71 kg/156 lbs. – Pat Smith, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
Va. Afshin Byabangard (Iran), 3rd in 2014 World Championships, 3rd in 2014 Asian Games, 2nd in 2012 Asian Championships
75 kg/163 lbs. – Andy Bisek, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm)
Va. Darkhan Bayakhmetov (Kazakhstan), 9th in 2012 Olympics, 2011 Hungarian Grand Prix champion, 10th in 2009 and 2015 World Championships
80 kg/176 lbs. – Jake Fisher, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
Vs. Jonibek Otabekov (Uzbekistan), 3rd in 2015 Asian Championships, 3rd in 2013 Asian Junior Championships
85 kg/187 lbs. – Jordan Holm, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
Vs. Ali Cengiz (Turkey), 2015 Junior World champion, 3rd in 2013 Cadet World Championships
98 kg/215 lbs. – Joe Rau, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
Vs. Mahdi Aliyarireizabadi (Iran), 2015 Asian champion, 2014 Asian Games champion, 5th in 2013 World Championships
130 kg/286 lbs. – Robby Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
Vs. winner of Sabah Sariyati (Azerbaijan) 5th in 2015 World Championships, 2nd in 2015 European Game
Or Heiki Nabi (Estonia), 2006 and 2013 World champion, 2012 Olympic silver medalist
BAKU, Azerbaijan – Two World champions from the United States won gold medals at the UWW Golden Grand Prix Finals on Saturday, Helen Maroulis, Huntington Beach. Calif. (Sunkist Kids) at 53 kg/116.5 lbs. and Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Team USA finished with three medals, as three-time World Team member Alli Ragan (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) added a silver medal at 60 kg/132 lbs.
In a battle of World champions in the finals, 2015 World champion and three-time World medalist Maroulis defeated 2011 World champion and five-time World medalist Sofia Mattsson, 2-1. It was a big win for Maroulis, as Mattsson had beaten her in the 2013 World Championships by one point.
Maroulis had an impressive run to reach the finals. She opened with a 6-2 win over 2013 European champion Roxana Zasina of Poland. In the quarterfinals, she edged 2015 World bronze medalist Odunayo Adekuoroye of Nigeria, 6-6. In the semifinals, she dominated 2015 European Games champion Angela Dorogan of Azerbaijan, 9-0.
Maroulis competed at 55 kg/121 lbs. at the 2015 World Championships, where she won the gold medal. She has dropped down an Olympic weight class at 53 kg/116.5 lbs.
Pirozhkova, a 2012 World champion and four-time World medalist, defeated four-time World medalist Taibe Yusein of Bulgaria in the finals, 4-3. Pirozhkova hit a four-point throw in the first period to take an early lead. Yusein scored a takedown late in the first period, and got a point when Pirozhkova was put on the shot clock in the second period but could not close the gap. It was a rematch of the 2012 World finals, won by Pirozhkova.
In the opening round, Pirozhkova defeated longtime American rival Erin Clodgo (Colorado Springs, Colo/Sunkist Kids), 4-2. In the quarterfinals, she stopped 2014 European silver medalist Maryina Mamashuk of Belarus, 4-1. In the semifinals, Pirozhkova edged 2014 World silver medalist Valeriia Lazinskaia of Russia, 7-6.
Pirozhkova competed at 69 kg/152 lbs. at the 2015 World Championships, and has dropped to the weight class where she won all four of her World medals.
Ragan was defeated in the finals by 2015 Asian champion Luo Xiaojuan of China, 6-0. Luo scored a takedown and pushout in the first period, then added another takedown and another pushout in the second period.
Ragan opened the tournament with a 6-1 win over Jennifer Page (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury) in the quarterfinals. She scored a 2-1 win over 2013 World champion Marianna Sastin of Hungary in the semifinals.
Ragan was up a weight class from her normal division, as she usually competes at 58 kg/128 lbs.
“Team USA had a good day today in Baku. We had five athletes in medal matches and we ended up with two golds and one silver. I thought Helen Maroulis had a very good day as did Elena Pirozhkova. Alli Ragan also had a big win over 2013 World Champion Marina Sastin to get into the final. It has been a very productive two weeks as we spent 10 days in China before this competition,” said National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner.
Prize money at this event includes $10,000 to champions, $5,000 to silver medalists and $2,000 for bronze medalists.
Placing fifth after losses in bronze medal bouts were Americans Page and Clodgo. Page fell to Marianna Sastin of Hungary, 1-5, while Clodgo lost to Valeriia Lazinskaia of Russia, 2-6.
“We need to keep improving on our problem areas and continue to keep everyone in our accountable to a certain standard. We must always make improvements in our techniques and tactics. We believe we are on the right track, but we must be persistent and consistent in our efforts,” said Steiner.
Seven U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers weighed in and received their draws for Sunday. Two-time World bronze medalist Andy Bisek (Colorado Springs, Colo./Minnesota Storm) opens against Darkhan Bayakhmetov of Kazakhstan. Three U.S. wrestlers face opponents from Iran in the first round, Jesse Thielke (Germantown, Wis./New York AC) at 59 kg/130 lbs., Pat Smith (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 71 kg/156 lbs. and Joe Rau (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 98 kg/215 lbs.
UWW GOLDEN GRAND PRIX FINALS
At Baku, Azerbaijan, November 28, 2015
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold – Valentina Islamova (Russia)
Silver – Jessica Blaszka (Netherlands)
Bronze – Miho Igrashi (Japan)
Bronze – Ivona Matkowska (Poland)
5th – Sharaq Muradzada (Azerbaijan)
5th – Onmariel Vilibeth (Venezuela)
53 kg/116.5 lbs.
Gold – Helen Maroulis (USA)
Silver – Sofia Mattsson (Sweden)
Bronze – Zhong Xuechen (China)
Bronze – Odunayo Adekuoroye (Nigeria)
5th – Pak Yong Mi (North Korea)
5th – Angela Dorogan (Azerbaijan)
55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold – Li Hui (China)
Silver – Nataliya Sinishin (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Hikari Sugawara (Japan)
Bronze – Jong In Sun (North Korea)
5th – Alyona Kolesnik (Azerbaijan)
5th – Rim Ayari (Tunisia)
58 kg/128 lbs.
Gold – Emese Barka (Hungary)
Silver – Aisuluu Tynybekova (Kyrgyzstan)
Bronze – Johanna Mattsson (Sweden)
Bronze – Aiym Abdildina (Kazakhstan)
5th – Tetyana Lavrenchyk (Ukraine)
5th – Derya Bayhan (Turkey)
60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold – Luo Xiaojuan (China)
Silver – Alli Ragain (USA)
Bronze – Yukako Kawai (Japan)
Bronze – Marianna Sastin (Hungary)
5th – Dzhenan Manolova (Bulgaria)
5th – Jennifer Page (USA)
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold – Elena Pirozhkova (USA)
Silver – Taibe Yusein (Bulgaria)
Bronze – Valeriia Lazinskaia (Russia)
Bronze – Anastasija Grigorieva (Latvia)
5th – Erin Clodgo (USA)
5th – Elmira Qambarova (Azerbaijan)
69 kg/152 lbs.
Gold – Natalia Vorobieva (Russia)
Silver – Jenny Fransson (Sweden)
Bronze – Aline Focken (Germany)
Bronze – Rio Watari (Japan)
5th – Elmira Syzdakova (Kazakhstan)
5th – Alina Makhynia (Ukraine)
75 kg/165 lbs.
Gold – Epp Mae (Estonia)
Silver – Zhou Qian (China)
Bronze – Ekaterina Bukina (Russia)
Bronze – Maider Unda (Spain)
5th – Guzel Manyurova (Kazakhstan)
5th – Sabira Aliyeva (Azerbaijan)
U.S. women’s freestyle performances
53 kg/116.5 lbs. – Helen Maroulis, Huntington Beach. Calif. (Sunkist Kids), gold medal
WIN Roxana Zasina (Poland), 6-2
WIN Odunayo Adekuoroye (Nigeria), 6-6
WIN Angela Dorogan (Azerbaijan), 9-0
WIN Sofia Mattsson (Sweden), 2-1
55 kg/121 lbs. – Carlene Sluberski, Fredonia, N.Y. (New York AC), 7th place
LOSS Alyona Kolesnik (Azerbaijan), 4-5
55 kg/121 lbs. – Sarah Hildebrandt, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 10th place
LOSS Hikari Sugawara (Japan), 0-7
60 kg/132 lbs. – Jennifer Page, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC), 5th place
LOSS Alli Ragan (USA), 1-6
LOSS Marianna Sastin (Hungary), 1-5
60 kg/132 lbs. – Alli Ragan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), silver medal
WIN Jennifer Page (USA), 6-1
WIN Marianna Sastin (Hungary), 2-1
LOSS Luo Xiaojuan (China), 0-6
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC), gold medal
WIN Erin Clodgo (USA), 4-2
WIN Maryina Mamashuk (Belarus), 4-1
WIN Valeriia Lazinskaia (Russia), 7-6
WIN Taibe Yusein (Bulgaria), 4-3
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 5th place
LOSS Elena Pirozhkova (USA), 2-4
WIN Maryina Mamashuk (Belarus)
LOSS Valeriia Lazinskaia (Russia), 2-6
U.S. Greco-Roman draws for Sunday
59 kg/130 lbs. – Jesse Thielke, Germantown, Wis. (New York AC)
Vs. Mohsen Hajipour (Iran), 2010 World University champion, 2008 World Military champion, 3rd in 2015 CISM Games
71 kg/156 lbs. – Pat Smith, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
Va. Afshin Byabangard (Iran), 3rd in 2014 World Championships, 3rd in 2014 Asian Games, 2nd in 2012 Asian Championships
75 kg/163 lbs. – Andy Bisek, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm)
Va. Darkhan Bayakhmetov (Kazakhstan), 9th in 2012 Olympics, 2011 Hungarian Grand Prix champion, 10th in 2009 and 2015 World Championships
80 kg/176 lbs. – Jake Fisher, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
Vs. Jonibek Otabekov (Uzbekistan), 3rd in 2015 Asian Championships, 3rd in 2013 Asian Junior Championships
85 kg/187 lbs. – Jordan Holm, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
Vs. Ali Cengiz (Turkey), 2015 Junior World champion, 3rd in 2013 Cadet World Championships
98 kg/215 lbs. – Joe Rau, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
Vs. Mahdi Aliyarireizabadi (Iran), 2015 Asian champion, 2014 Asian Games champion, 5th in 2013 World Championships
130 kg/286 lbs. – Robby Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
Vs. winner of Sabah Sariyati (Azerbaijan) 5th in 2015 World Championships, 2nd in 2015 European Game
Or Heiki Nabi (Estonia), 2006 and 2013 World champion, 2012 Olympic silver medalist
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