Snyder, Mensah-Stock, Martinez and Brooks receive draws for Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix

KRASNOYARSK, Russia – The final four USA athletes have received their draws for the 2019 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix in Russia. Among them are Kyle Snyder and Tamyra Mensah-Stock, who seek to become the first Americans to win three Yarygin championships.

2016 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Snyder will find out his opponent at 97 kg after a wrestle-off between two Russians to earn a spot in the tournament, which be one of the first few matches wrestled. As of now, those Russians are unspecified.

Moving up a weight to 72 kg, Mensah-Stock, 2018 World bronze medalist, will open her tournament against Evgenia Zakharchenko, a 2018 Junior World silver medalist from Russia. Should she win that bout, Mensah-Stock will advance to the semifinals.

Also only needing to win one match to advance to the semis is 2018 Final X runner-up and 2017 U23 World Team member Isaiah Martinez, who will compete at 74 kg. Martinez will face Azamat Nurykau of Belarus, who has two fifth-place finishes at Senior Worlds, in his first bout.

2017 U23 World Team member Sam Brooks drew 2012 Junior World silver medalist Ahmed Dudarov of Germany in the first round at 86 kg.

The tournament begins Saturday at 11 a.m. local time (Friday, 11 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time). Fans can watch live on FloWrestling.org.

2019 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix

at Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Jan. 24-27

Men’s freestyle draws
74 kg: Isaiah Martinez (Champaign, Ill./Titan Mercury)
vs. Azamat Nurykau (Belarus), two fifth-place finishes at Senior Worlds (2015, 2017)

86 kg: Sam Brooks (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury)
vs. Ahmed Dudarov (Germany), 2012 Junior World silver

97 kg: Kyle Snyder (Columbus, Ohio/Ohio RTC/Titan Mercury)
vs. to be determined (Russia)

Women’s freestyle draws
72kg: Tamyra Mensah-Stock (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury)
vs. Evgenia Zakharchenko (Russia), 2018 Junior World silver