Gray, Maroulis, Ragan, Clodgo and Metcalf receive World Championships draws for Thursday

Two-time World champion Adeline Gray looking to defend title in Las Vegas. Photo: Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com.

VIDEO: U.S. men’s freestyle coach Brandon Slay on men’s freestyle draw


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


The World Championships will continue tomorrow at the Orleans Arena with the four women’s freestyle weight classes of 55 kg/121lbs., 58 kg/128 lbs., 63 kg/138 lbs. and 75 kg/165 lbs. being contested alongside the first men’s freestyle weight class of the tournament, 65 kg/143 lbs.


Two-time World champion Adeline Gray enters Las Vegas ranked No. 1 in the World as she aims to defend her 75 kg title from last year. First up for Gray will be veteran wrestler Naranchimeg Gelegjamts of Mongolia.


“Adeline Gray has something to prove,” said U.S. women’s freestyle coach Terry Steiner. “To repeat is a lot different than winning it. I like how Adeline has gone about her business all year long.”


Helen Maroulis won a World bronze medal for the U.S. at 55 kg last year in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and will look to ascend even higher on the podium this time around. The two-time World medalist will square off against Brenda Fernandez Salazar of Mexico in the first round.


“Helen is a very strong competitor and is wrestling very well right now,” Steiner said. “I think she is doing everything right, so we will see how it goes tomorrow.”


After coming up just shy of a World medal last year, three-time U.S. World Team member Alli Ragan is primed to make another deep run at 58 kg in Las Vegas. Ragan is set to face 2014 Asian Championships silver medalist Shoovdor Baatarjav of Mongolia to open the competition.


“Alli showed a lot of promise last year at the World Championships,” Steiner said. “She is a young up and coming person and has a lot of skills and ability.”


U.S. World Team member at 63 kg Erin Clodgo will face familiar opponent Katherine Vidiaux Lopez of Cuba to open her first World Championships tournament. Vidiaux defeated Clodgo 11-7 in the quarterfinals of the Pan American Games in July.


“I think Erin Clodgo can be in this weight class. She has paid her dues and she competes hard,” Steiner said.


The lone member of the U.S. Men’s Freestyle World Team competing on Thursday is Brent Metcalf at 65 kg. Metcalf is currently ranked No. 2 in the World and will battle Norbert Lukacs of Hungary to open the tournament.


“Metcalf is very confident in his ability this year. I think he feels like this is his year to go out there and shine. As a coaching staff we believe that,” said U.S. men’s freestyle coach Brandon Slay.


Action from day four of the World Championships will begin at 10 a.m. (PT).


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

U.S. women’s freestyle draws


55 kg/121 lbs. – Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (Sunkist Kids)

Vs. Brenda Fernandez Salazar (Mexico), 13th at 2015 Junior World Championships


58 kg/128 lbs. – Alli Ragan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)

Vs. Shoovdor Baatarjav (Mongolia), 2015 Poland Open champion, 2014 Asian Championships silver medalist


63 kg/138 lbs. - Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)

Vs. Katherine Vidiaux Lopez (Cuba), 2015 Pan American Games silver medalist


75 kg/165 lbs. – Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)

Vs. Naranchimeg Gelegjamts (Mongolia), 2015 Mongolian Open bronze medalist, 2010 Asian Games champion, 2006 University World champion

U.S. men’s freestyle draw


65 kg/143 lbs. – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC/Hawkeye WC)

Vs. Norbert Lukacs (Hungary)