Holm, Lampe, Conder and Pirozhkova receive World Championships draw

Pan American Games champion Whitney Conder Photo: Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com

VIDEO: U.S. Greco-Roman coach Chris Saba on 85 kg draw | U.S. women’s freestyle coach Izzy Silva on 48 kg, 53 kg, 69 kg draws


LAS VEGAS – Four U.S. wrestlers have weighed in and received their draws for the third day of competition at the World Championships in Las Vegas, Nev.


The Greco-Roman portion of the World Championships will conclude on Wednesday with 85 kg/187 lbs. Also competing at the Orleans Arena tomorrow will be three women’s freestyle weight classes: 48 kg/105.5 lbs., 53 kg/116.5 lbs. and 69 kg/152 lbs.


Three-time U.S. World Team member Jordan Holm (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) will be the last American to compete in Greco-Roman at the Worlds. Holm is set to face Javid Hamzatov of Belarus in the opening round at 85 kg. Hamzatov won bronze medals at the World Championships and World University Games in 2013.


“Jordan is ranked right up there and has a lot of experience internationally,” said U.S. Greco-Roman coach Chris Saba. “He’s got a unique situation where he is the only Greco-Roman wrestler tomorrow, so everybody will be there to help him. He is prepared.”


The U.S. will send its first three women’s freestyle wrestlers to center stage in Las Vegas on Wednesday.


Two-time World medalist Alyssa Lampe (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) will open competition at 48 kg against 2012 Junior World silver medalist Thi Hang Vu of Vietnam. Lampe finished in fifth place at the World Championships last year in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.


“Lampe has Vietnam, a winnable match. She is going to go out there, put points on the board and wrestle tough,” said U.S. women’s freestyle coach Izzy Silva.


Whitney Conder (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP), a three-time U.S. World Team member, will square off against veteran opponent Isabelle Sambou of Senegal in her first bout at 53 kg. Sambou finished in fifth place at the 2012 Olympic Games and won the silver medal at the African Championships this year.


“Whitney has got a great motor and has got a gas tank, so she should go out there and put some points on the board and do her job,” said Silva.


Four-time World medalist and 2012 World champion Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC) will take on 2015 Oceania Championships gold medalist Alison Keju of the Marshall Islands in round one at 69 kg. Pirozhkova finished with a World silver medal at 63 kg last year.


“Pirozhkova has Marshall Islands, another winnable match, but we’ve got to be ready,” said Silva. “The girls need to get a good warm up and go out and perform.”


Full brackets for all weight classes wrestling on Wednesday at the World Championships can be found at unitedworldwrestling.org.


U.S. Greco-Roman draw


85 kg/187 lbs. – Jordan Holm, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)

Vs. Javid Hamzatov (Belarus), 2015 Zagreb Open gold medalist, 2013 World bronze medalist, 2013 University World bronze medalist


U.S. women’s freestyle draws


48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)

Vs. Thi Hang Vu (Vietnam), 2012 Junior World silver medalist


53 kg/116.5 lbs. – Whitney Conder, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)

Vs. Isabelle Sambou (Senegal), 2015 African Championships silver medalist, fifth at 2012 Olympic Games, 2009 Beach Wrestling World champion


69 kg/152 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)

Vs. Alison Keju (Marshall Islands), 2015 Oceania Championships gold medalist