Chun, Campbell, Pirozhkova win women’s gold medals at Pan American Championships
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Kelsey Campbell of the USA locks up with Yaquelin Estornell Elizastigue of Cuba in the 58 kg finals, won by Campbell 3-3 on criteria. Photo by Stuart Spears.
FRISCO, Texas – Three 2012 U.S. Olympic teammates won gold medals, leading Team USA to the team title in women’s freestyle at the Pan American Championships at the Dr. Pepper Arena.
Capturing titles for the USA were 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Clarissa Chun, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., and 2012 Olympians Kelsey Campbell (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) at 58 kg/128 lbs. and Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC) at 69 kg/152 lbs.
Chun led early and kept up the pressure to defeat Canadian Natasha Kramble, 8-4 in the finals. She jumped to a 6-0 lead with three takedowns, but Kramble made a small rally, closing within four points before Chun shut the door on any possible comeback. It was Chun’s fourth Pan American Championships gold medal.
“My game plan was to go out and wrestle the full six minutes. I may have deviated from that a little bit from that plan. I had to refocus and get back into it. It feels great. Any time you can win a continental championships, it is awesome to represent the USA,” said Chun.
Campbell had a nice comeback win, falling behind 0-3 against Yaquelin Estornell Elizastigue of Cuba in the finals, but powering back with a takedown and a pushout in the second period to tie it at 3-3. Campbell won the tiebreaker on scoring the last point. It was Campbell’s second career Pan American Championships title.
“It was a street fight a little bit. It was like, when you are prepared for it, then it changes things. I think a big part of it is when you are prepared, not just physically but mentally just knowing what’s coming. I just knew it would be that kind of match. She came off really quick off the whistle. So then it was just a street fight, trying to get my hand raised. I am happy with the result. I am happy with the win. It doesn’t have to be perfect to be a W. I’ll take it,” said Campbell.
Pirozhkova won her fourth career Pan American Championships title, winning a four-athlete roundrobin with a perfect 3-0 record. After winning two matches in the morning session, Pirozhkova did not have to wrestle in the finals, when Maria Jose Acosta Acosta of Venezuela did not compete due to injury default.
“It was good. I am having fun today. I am wrestling up a weight class, everyone knows I’m going 63. I am getting some matches and having fun. There are a few things I have been working on with my coach, so I wanted to work on those things in these matches,” said Pirozhkova.
Claiming a silver medal after a loss in the finals was Amanda Hendey, San Gabriel, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC), who was defeated in the finals at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. by Lais Nunes De Oliveira of Brazil, 1-8. Nunes scored early with a four-point takedown and Hendey could not get back into the game after that.
Winning bronze medals were U.S. Army teammates Sharon Jacobson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and 2015 World bronze medalist Leigh Jaynes-Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) at 60 kg/132 lbs.
Jacobson lost her only match in the morning session and did not compete in the medal round. Jaynes-Provisor lost her first two matches, but finished off with an impressive 9-2 win over 2015 Pan American Games champion Joice Souza Da Silva of Brazil, 9-2.
The USA had a pair of fifth-place wrestlers, Michaela Hutchison, Lebanon, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC) at 53 kg/116.5 lbs. and Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) at 75 kg/165 lbs.
The USA won the team title with 61 points, with Canada in second with 47 points and Cuba in third with 42 points.
“I liked a lot. We got six medals out of eight. Every medal takes hard work, but there is still a lot of work to be done. This was not a peaking tournament, it was a process tournament. The most important thing is how each athlete is going to take away from this experience and make adjustments in their training to get ready for Olympic Trials in April,” said U.S. Assistant Women’s National Coach Erin Tomeo.
Winning the Golden Boot as the Outstanding Wrestler was Jasmine Mian of Canada, the champion at 53 kg. Mian has already qualified for the Rio Olympic Games at 48 kg, but moved up in weight and had a great individual performance.
The Pan American Championships continue on Saturday with the men’s freestyle competition. Flowrestling is broadcasting the event.
PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Frisco, Texas, Feb. 26
Women’s freestyle results
48 kilos/105.5 lbs.
Gold medal – Clarissa Chun (USA)
Silver medal - Natasha Kramble (Canada)
Bronze medal –Laura Peredo Torres (Mexico)
Bronze medal –. Katiuska Toaza Avelino (Ecuador)
5th - Susana De Almeida Dos Santos (Brazil)
5th - Patricia Bermudez (Argentina)
Gold – Chun dec. Kramble, 8-4
Bronze – Peredo dec. Almeida, 6-0
Bronze – Toaza by forfeit over Bermudez
53 kilos/116.5 lbs.
Gold medal – Jasmine Mian (Canada)
Silver - Luisa Valverde Melendres (Ecuador)
Bronze medal – Lianna Montero Herrera (Cuba)
Bronze medal –Leidy Cifuentes Carranza (Colombia)
5th - Onmariel Valenzuela (Venezuela)
5th - Michaela Hutchison (USA)
Gold - Mian pin Valverde, 1:43
Bronze – Montero dec. Valenzuela, 9-2
Bronze – Cifuentes dec. Hutchison, 7-2
55 kilos/121 lbs.
Gold medal – Samantha Stewart (Canada)
Silver - Giullia Rodrigues Penalber de Oliveira (Brazil)
Bronze medal – Betzabeth Arguello (Venezuela)
Bronze medal - Sharon Jacobson (USA)
5th - Sheykaliz Cintron Martinez (Puerto Rico)
Gold – Stewart inj. dft. Penalber
Bronze – Arguello tech. fall Cintron
58 kilos/128 lbs.
Gold medal – Kelsey Campbell (USA)
Silver - Yaquelin Estornell Elizastigue (Cuba)
Bronze medal – Lissette Antes Castillo (Ecuador)
Bronze medal – Alejandra Romero Bonilla (Mexico)
5th - Emily Sanchez Ortega (Panama)
Gold – Campbell dec. Estornell, 3-3
Bronze – Antes pin Sanchez, 0:52
60 kilos/132 lbs.
Gold– Jackeline Renteria Castillo (Colombia)
Silver - Yanet Sovero Nino (Peru)
Bronze - Leigh Jaynes-Provisor (USA)
4th - Joice Souza da Silva (Brazil)
RR1 – Jackeline Renteria Castillo (Colombia) fall Leigh Jaynes-Provisor (USA), 5:59
RR1 – Yanet Sovero Nino (Peru) def. Joice Souza da Silva (Brazil), 4-3
RR2 – Jackeline Renteria Castillo (Colombia) vs. Joice Souza da Silva (Brazil), 6-4
RR2 – Yanet Sovero Nino (Peru) def. Leigh Jaynes-Provisor (USA), 8-3
RR3 – Leigh Jaynes-Provisor (USA) vs. Joice Souza Da Silva (Brazil), 9-2
RR3– Jackeline Renteria Castillo (Colombia) dec. Yanet Sovero Nino (Peru), 6-2
63 kilos/138.75 lbs.
Gold medal – Lais Nunes De Oliveira (Brazil)
Silver - Amanda Hendey (USA)
Bronze medal – Breanne Graham (Canada)
Bronze medal – Katerina Vidiaux Lopez (Cuba)
5th - Saidy Chavez Figueroa (Honduras)
5th - Leidy Izquierdo Mendez (Colombia)
Gold – Nunes dec. Hendey, 8-1
Bronze – Vidiaux inj. dft. Izquierdo, 0:00
Bronze – Graham pin Figueroa, 4:22
69 kilos/152 lbs.
Gold – Elena Pirozhkova (USA)
Silver - Yudari Sanchez Rodriguez (Cuba)
Bronze – Maria Jose Acosta Acosta (Venezuela)
4th - Cinthia Morales Repizo (Mexico)
RR1 – Elena Pirozhkova (USA) fall Cinthia Morales Repizo (Mexico), 3:03
RR1 – Maria Jose Acosta Acosta (Venezuela) fall Yudari Sanchez Rodriguez (Cuba), 4:06
RR2 – Elena Pirozhkova (USA) def. Yudari Sanchez Rodriguez (Cuba) 8-5
RR2 – Cinthia Morales Repizo (Mexico) inj. dft. Maria Jose Acosta Acosta (Venezuela)
RR3– Elena Pirozhkova (USA) inj. dft. Maria Jose Acosta Acosta (Venezuela), 0:00
RR3– Yudari Sanchez Rodriguez (Cuba) pin Cinthia Morales Repizo (Mexico), 2:06
75 kilos/165 lbs.
Gold medal – Justina Di Stasio (Canada)
Silver - Andrea Olaya Gutierrez (Colombia)
Bronze medal – Jaramit Weffer Guanipa (Venezuela)
Bronze medal – Aline Da Silva Ferreira (Brazil)
5th - Iris Smith (USA)
5th - Diana Miranda Gonzales (Mexico)
Gold – Distasio pin Olaya, 2:08
Bronze – Weffer inj. dft. over Smith
Bronze – Da Silva pin Miranda, 1:09
U.S. women’s freestyle performance
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Clarissa Chun, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids), gold medal
WIN Suzana Paula De Alameida Dos Santos (Brazil), tech. fall 10-0
WIN Yusneylys Guzman Lopez (Cuba), tech. fall 12-0
WIN Laura Gabriela Paredo Torres (Mexico), 7-4
WIN Natasha Kramble (Canada), 8-4
53 kg/116.5 lbs. – Michaela Hutchison, Lebanon, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC). 5th place
LOSS Jasmine Mian (Canada), 0-6
WIN Vicmarie Requena Tirado (Puerto Rico), pin 0:30
LOSS Leidy Caterine Cifuentes Carranza (Colombia), 2-7
55 kg/121 lbs. - Sharon Jacobson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP), bronze medal
LOSS Guilia Rodrigues Penalber de Olivera (Brazil), pin 2:07
58 kg/128 lbs. - Kelsey Campbell, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), gold medal
WIN Emily Yulieth Sanchez Ortega (Panama), tech. fall 10-0
WIN Lissette Alexandra Antes Castillo (Ecuador), 2-1
WIN Yaquelin Estornell Elizastigue (Cuba), 3-3
60 kg/132 lbs. - Leigh Jaynes-Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP). Bronze medal
LOSS Jackeline Renteria Castillo (Colombia), pin 5:58
LOSS Yanet Ursula Sovero Nino (Peru), 3-8
WON Joice Souza Da Silva (Brazil), 9-2
63 kg/138.75 lbs. -Amanda Hendey, San Gabriel, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC), silver medal
WIN Leidy Marcela Izquierdo Mendez (Colombia), pin 4:03
WIN Katerina Videaux Lopez (Cuba), pin 4:16
LOST Lais Nunez de Olivera (Brazil), 1-8
69 kg/152 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC). Gold medal
WIN Cinthia Morales (Mexico), pin 3:00
WIN Yudari Sanchez Rodriguez (Cuba) 5-8
WIN Maria Jose Acosta Acosta (Venezuela), forfeit
75 kg/165 lbs. – Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP), 5th place
WIN Dayanara Rivera Suarez (Puerto Rico), pin 5:18
LOSS Andrea Carolina Olaya Gutierrez (Colombia), inj. dft., 1:36
LOSS. Jaramit Leonor Weffer Guanipa (Venezuela), forfeit
Top Three Teams
1. United States, 61 pts.
2. Canada, 47 pts.
3. Cuba, 42 pts.
Golden Boot Outstanding Wrestler Award – Jasmine Mian (Canada), 53 kg
FRISCO, Texas – Three 2012 U.S. Olympic teammates won gold medals, leading Team USA to the team title in women’s freestyle at the Pan American Championships at the Dr. Pepper Arena.
Capturing titles for the USA were 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Clarissa Chun, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., and 2012 Olympians Kelsey Campbell (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) at 58 kg/128 lbs. and Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC) at 69 kg/152 lbs.
Chun led early and kept up the pressure to defeat Canadian Natasha Kramble, 8-4 in the finals. She jumped to a 6-0 lead with three takedowns, but Kramble made a small rally, closing within four points before Chun shut the door on any possible comeback. It was Chun’s fourth Pan American Championships gold medal.
“My game plan was to go out and wrestle the full six minutes. I may have deviated from that a little bit from that plan. I had to refocus and get back into it. It feels great. Any time you can win a continental championships, it is awesome to represent the USA,” said Chun.
Campbell had a nice comeback win, falling behind 0-3 against Yaquelin Estornell Elizastigue of Cuba in the finals, but powering back with a takedown and a pushout in the second period to tie it at 3-3. Campbell won the tiebreaker on scoring the last point. It was Campbell’s second career Pan American Championships title.
“It was a street fight a little bit. It was like, when you are prepared for it, then it changes things. I think a big part of it is when you are prepared, not just physically but mentally just knowing what’s coming. I just knew it would be that kind of match. She came off really quick off the whistle. So then it was just a street fight, trying to get my hand raised. I am happy with the result. I am happy with the win. It doesn’t have to be perfect to be a W. I’ll take it,” said Campbell.
Pirozhkova won her fourth career Pan American Championships title, winning a four-athlete roundrobin with a perfect 3-0 record. After winning two matches in the morning session, Pirozhkova did not have to wrestle in the finals, when Maria Jose Acosta Acosta of Venezuela did not compete due to injury default.
“It was good. I am having fun today. I am wrestling up a weight class, everyone knows I’m going 63. I am getting some matches and having fun. There are a few things I have been working on with my coach, so I wanted to work on those things in these matches,” said Pirozhkova.
Claiming a silver medal after a loss in the finals was Amanda Hendey, San Gabriel, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC), who was defeated in the finals at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. by Lais Nunes De Oliveira of Brazil, 1-8. Nunes scored early with a four-point takedown and Hendey could not get back into the game after that.
Winning bronze medals were U.S. Army teammates Sharon Jacobson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and 2015 World bronze medalist Leigh Jaynes-Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP) at 60 kg/132 lbs.
Jacobson lost her only match in the morning session and did not compete in the medal round. Jaynes-Provisor lost her first two matches, but finished off with an impressive 9-2 win over 2015 Pan American Games champion Joice Souza Da Silva of Brazil, 9-2.
The USA had a pair of fifth-place wrestlers, Michaela Hutchison, Lebanon, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC) at 53 kg/116.5 lbs. and Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) at 75 kg/165 lbs.
The USA won the team title with 61 points, with Canada in second with 47 points and Cuba in third with 42 points.
“I liked a lot. We got six medals out of eight. Every medal takes hard work, but there is still a lot of work to be done. This was not a peaking tournament, it was a process tournament. The most important thing is how each athlete is going to take away from this experience and make adjustments in their training to get ready for Olympic Trials in April,” said U.S. Assistant Women’s National Coach Erin Tomeo.
Winning the Golden Boot as the Outstanding Wrestler was Jasmine Mian of Canada, the champion at 53 kg. Mian has already qualified for the Rio Olympic Games at 48 kg, but moved up in weight and had a great individual performance.
The Pan American Championships continue on Saturday with the men’s freestyle competition. Flowrestling is broadcasting the event.
PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Frisco, Texas, Feb. 26
Women’s freestyle results
48 kilos/105.5 lbs.
Gold medal – Clarissa Chun (USA)
Silver medal - Natasha Kramble (Canada)
Bronze medal –Laura Peredo Torres (Mexico)
Bronze medal –. Katiuska Toaza Avelino (Ecuador)
5th - Susana De Almeida Dos Santos (Brazil)
5th - Patricia Bermudez (Argentina)
Gold – Chun dec. Kramble, 8-4
Bronze – Peredo dec. Almeida, 6-0
Bronze – Toaza by forfeit over Bermudez
53 kilos/116.5 lbs.
Gold medal – Jasmine Mian (Canada)
Silver - Luisa Valverde Melendres (Ecuador)
Bronze medal – Lianna Montero Herrera (Cuba)
Bronze medal –Leidy Cifuentes Carranza (Colombia)
5th - Onmariel Valenzuela (Venezuela)
5th - Michaela Hutchison (USA)
Gold - Mian pin Valverde, 1:43
Bronze – Montero dec. Valenzuela, 9-2
Bronze – Cifuentes dec. Hutchison, 7-2
55 kilos/121 lbs.
Gold medal – Samantha Stewart (Canada)
Silver - Giullia Rodrigues Penalber de Oliveira (Brazil)
Bronze medal – Betzabeth Arguello (Venezuela)
Bronze medal - Sharon Jacobson (USA)
5th - Sheykaliz Cintron Martinez (Puerto Rico)
Gold – Stewart inj. dft. Penalber
Bronze – Arguello tech. fall Cintron
58 kilos/128 lbs.
Gold medal – Kelsey Campbell (USA)
Silver - Yaquelin Estornell Elizastigue (Cuba)
Bronze medal – Lissette Antes Castillo (Ecuador)
Bronze medal – Alejandra Romero Bonilla (Mexico)
5th - Emily Sanchez Ortega (Panama)
Gold – Campbell dec. Estornell, 3-3
Bronze – Antes pin Sanchez, 0:52
60 kilos/132 lbs.
Gold– Jackeline Renteria Castillo (Colombia)
Silver - Yanet Sovero Nino (Peru)
Bronze - Leigh Jaynes-Provisor (USA)
4th - Joice Souza da Silva (Brazil)
RR1 – Jackeline Renteria Castillo (Colombia) fall Leigh Jaynes-Provisor (USA), 5:59
RR1 – Yanet Sovero Nino (Peru) def. Joice Souza da Silva (Brazil), 4-3
RR2 – Jackeline Renteria Castillo (Colombia) vs. Joice Souza da Silva (Brazil), 6-4
RR2 – Yanet Sovero Nino (Peru) def. Leigh Jaynes-Provisor (USA), 8-3
RR3 – Leigh Jaynes-Provisor (USA) vs. Joice Souza Da Silva (Brazil), 9-2
RR3– Jackeline Renteria Castillo (Colombia) dec. Yanet Sovero Nino (Peru), 6-2
63 kilos/138.75 lbs.
Gold medal – Lais Nunes De Oliveira (Brazil)
Silver - Amanda Hendey (USA)
Bronze medal – Breanne Graham (Canada)
Bronze medal – Katerina Vidiaux Lopez (Cuba)
5th - Saidy Chavez Figueroa (Honduras)
5th - Leidy Izquierdo Mendez (Colombia)
Gold – Nunes dec. Hendey, 8-1
Bronze – Vidiaux inj. dft. Izquierdo, 0:00
Bronze – Graham pin Figueroa, 4:22
69 kilos/152 lbs.
Gold – Elena Pirozhkova (USA)
Silver - Yudari Sanchez Rodriguez (Cuba)
Bronze – Maria Jose Acosta Acosta (Venezuela)
4th - Cinthia Morales Repizo (Mexico)
RR1 – Elena Pirozhkova (USA) fall Cinthia Morales Repizo (Mexico), 3:03
RR1 – Maria Jose Acosta Acosta (Venezuela) fall Yudari Sanchez Rodriguez (Cuba), 4:06
RR2 – Elena Pirozhkova (USA) def. Yudari Sanchez Rodriguez (Cuba) 8-5
RR2 – Cinthia Morales Repizo (Mexico) inj. dft. Maria Jose Acosta Acosta (Venezuela)
RR3– Elena Pirozhkova (USA) inj. dft. Maria Jose Acosta Acosta (Venezuela), 0:00
RR3– Yudari Sanchez Rodriguez (Cuba) pin Cinthia Morales Repizo (Mexico), 2:06
75 kilos/165 lbs.
Gold medal – Justina Di Stasio (Canada)
Silver - Andrea Olaya Gutierrez (Colombia)
Bronze medal – Jaramit Weffer Guanipa (Venezuela)
Bronze medal – Aline Da Silva Ferreira (Brazil)
5th - Iris Smith (USA)
5th - Diana Miranda Gonzales (Mexico)
Gold – Distasio pin Olaya, 2:08
Bronze – Weffer inj. dft. over Smith
Bronze – Da Silva pin Miranda, 1:09
U.S. women’s freestyle performance
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Clarissa Chun, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids), gold medal
WIN Suzana Paula De Alameida Dos Santos (Brazil), tech. fall 10-0
WIN Yusneylys Guzman Lopez (Cuba), tech. fall 12-0
WIN Laura Gabriela Paredo Torres (Mexico), 7-4
WIN Natasha Kramble (Canada), 8-4
53 kg/116.5 lbs. – Michaela Hutchison, Lebanon, Ill. (Titan Mercury WC). 5th place
LOSS Jasmine Mian (Canada), 0-6
WIN Vicmarie Requena Tirado (Puerto Rico), pin 0:30
LOSS Leidy Caterine Cifuentes Carranza (Colombia), 2-7
55 kg/121 lbs. - Sharon Jacobson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP), bronze medal
LOSS Guilia Rodrigues Penalber de Olivera (Brazil), pin 2:07
58 kg/128 lbs. - Kelsey Campbell, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), gold medal
WIN Emily Yulieth Sanchez Ortega (Panama), tech. fall 10-0
WIN Lissette Alexandra Antes Castillo (Ecuador), 2-1
WIN Yaquelin Estornell Elizastigue (Cuba), 3-3
60 kg/132 lbs. - Leigh Jaynes-Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP). Bronze medal
LOSS Jackeline Renteria Castillo (Colombia), pin 5:58
LOSS Yanet Ursula Sovero Nino (Peru), 3-8
WON Joice Souza Da Silva (Brazil), 9-2
63 kg/138.75 lbs. -Amanda Hendey, San Gabriel, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC), silver medal
WIN Leidy Marcela Izquierdo Mendez (Colombia), pin 4:03
WIN Katerina Videaux Lopez (Cuba), pin 4:16
LOST Lais Nunez de Olivera (Brazil), 1-8
69 kg/152 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC). Gold medal
WIN Cinthia Morales (Mexico), pin 3:00
WIN Yudari Sanchez Rodriguez (Cuba) 5-8
WIN Maria Jose Acosta Acosta (Venezuela), forfeit
75 kg/165 lbs. – Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP), 5th place
WIN Dayanara Rivera Suarez (Puerto Rico), pin 5:18
LOSS Andrea Carolina Olaya Gutierrez (Colombia), inj. dft., 1:36
LOSS. Jaramit Leonor Weffer Guanipa (Venezuela), forfeit
Top Three Teams
1. United States, 61 pts.
2. Canada, 47 pts.
3. Cuba, 42 pts.
Golden Boot Outstanding Wrestler Award – Jasmine Mian (Canada), 53 kg
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