15 men's and women's freestylers receive draws for Outstanding Ukrainian Memorial tournament

KIEV, Ukraine – 15 U.S. wrestlers received draws for the first day of the Outstanding Ukrainian Memorial tournament action, which is set to begin Friday. Among them is eight men’s freestyle wrestlers and seven women’s freestyle wrestlers.

Each weight will go through a two-day tournament with the first day of wrestling running through the semifinals.

Highlighting the men’s roster is NCAA champion and National Team member Kyven Gadson, University World runner-up BJ Futrell and multiple-time international medalist Richard Perry.

Gadson, who is No. 2 in the U.S. at 97 kg/213 lbs., is set to face 2017 Nordic champion Sven Engstroem of Sweden.

20th Annual Dave Schultz Memorial runner-up BJ Futrell will open his tournament at 65 kg/143 lbs. against Great Britain’s Charlie Bowling, who finished fourth at last year’s Commonwealth Championships.

Perry, who has won eight international medals, will take on Saifedine Alekma of France at 86 kg/189 lbs. Alekma finished with bronze at the 2017 Henri Deglane Challenge.

Other Americans receiving draws include Frank Perrelli and Josh Rodriguez at 57 kg/125 lbs., Evan Henderson at 65 kg, Dan Vallimont at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Blaize Cabell at 97 kg.

Among those representing the women are Junior World champion Maya Nelson, Senior World Team member Victoria Francis and Cadet World champion Ronna Heaton.

Nelson, who is taking on the 65 kg/143 lbs. weight class, drew Yulia Tkach of Ukraine. Tkach is a highly decorated women’s freestyle wrestler with three Senior World medals, including gold at 2014 Worlds. She is also a 2007 Junior World champ and two-time University World champ.

After recently earning bronze at the Lady Klippan Open last week, Francis is back at it and set to face 2016 World Military champion Agnieszka Wieszczek-Kordus of Poland.

2015 Cadet World champion and 2016 Cadet World silver medalist Heaton will begin her tournament at 55 kg/121 lbs. against Italy’s Teresa Lumia, who is a 2015 Cadet European champion.

Also wrestling for the U.S. are U23 World Team members Amy Fearnside (50 kg/110 lbs.) and Dominique Parrish (55 kg), Erin Golston at 50 kg and Lauren Louive at 59 kg/130 lbs.

Friday action will start at 10 a.m. local time (3 a.m. ET) with semifinals set for 6 p.m. (11 a.m. ET). Finals will be contested on Saturday at 6 p.m. (11 a.m. ET).

U.S. men’s freestyle draws for Friday

57 kg/125 lbs. – Frank Perrelli (Bethlehem, Pa./Titan Mercury)
vs. Valentin Bliasetski (Ukraine), fifth at 2014 Cadet European Championships

57 kg/125 lbs. – Josh Rodriguez
vs. Mikyay Naim (Bulgaria), 2017 U23 World silver, five-time age-group European medalist

65 kg/143 lbs. – Evan Henderson (Chapel Hill, N.C./Titan Mercury)
vs. Andrei Syvryd (Ukraine), 2015 U23 European silver, fifth at 2013 Junior World Championships

65 kg/143 lbs. – BJ Futtrell (Philadelphia, Pa./Titan Mercury)
vs. Charlie Bowling (Great Britain), fourth at 2017 Commonwealth Championships

74 kg/163 lbs. – Dan Vallimont (Philadelphia, Pa./New York AC)
vs. Vasil Mikhailov (Ukraine), 2017 U23 World bronze, 2016 University World silver, 2012 Cadet World silver

86 kg/189 lbs. – Richard Perry (Philadelphia, Pa./New York AC)
vs. Saifedine Alekma (France), 2017 Henri Deglane bronze

97 kg/213 lbs. – Blaize Cabell (Fresno, Calif./Valley RTC)
vs. Nurmagomed Gadzhiev (Azerbaijan), 2015 Junior World champion, 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games champion, 2016 Alexander Medved champion

97 kg/213 lbs. – Kyven Gadson (Waterloo, Iowa/Sunkist Kids)
vs. Sven Engstroem (Sweden), 2017 Nordic champion

U.S. women’s freestyle draws for Friday

50 kg/110 lbs. – Erin Golston (Colorado Springs, Colo./ New York AC)
vs. Emanuela Liuzzi (Italy), fifth at 2016 Cadet World Championships

50 kg/110 lbs. – Amy Fearnside (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury)
vs. Jessica Macdonald (Canada), 2012 World champion, two-time World bronze, 2017 Pan American champion

55 kg/121 lbs. – Ronna Heaton (Brookings, S.D./Sunkist Kids)
vs. Teresa Lumia (Italy), 2015 Cadet European champion

55 kg/121 lbs. – Dominique Parrish (Scotts Valley, Calif./Sunkist Kids)
vs. Irina Kurachkina (Belarus), 2017 Senior World bronze, 2017 U23 World silver

59 kg/130 lbs. – Lauren Louive (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC)
vs. Irina Ostapuk (Ukraine)

65 kg/143 lbs. – Maya Nelson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)
vs. Yulia Tkach (Ukraine), 2014 Senior World champ, 2007 Junior World champ, two-time University World champ, 2015 World bronze, 2017 World silver

72 kg/158 lbs. – Victoria Francis (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury)
vs. Agnieszka Wieszczek-Kordus (Poland), 2016 World Military champion, 2004 World Military silver, two-time World Military bronze