Hildebrandt becomes seventh U.S. woman to win Yarygin title

KRASNOYARSK, Russia – Sarah Hildebrandt became the seventh woman in U.S. history to win a Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix title, winning gold at 53 kg on Saturday in Russia.

A 2018 Senior World silver medalist, Hildebrandt took on 2014 Junior World champion Natalya Malysheva of Russia in the championship bout.

Hildebrandt scored early on a takedown and took a 2-0 lead into the break.

In the second period, Malysheva picked up two takedowns in the final 90 seconds to take over the lead, 4-2.

However, while the Russian tried to execute a gut wrench, Hildebrandt stepped over to earn two points on exposure in the final 20 seconds. A scramble ensued and Hildebrandt scored two more on a takedown to claim a 6-4 win and a gold medal.

Hildebrandt joins a short list of U.S. women to win Yarygin championships, including fellow 2018 World medalist Tamyra Mensah-Stock, who aims to collect her third title tomorrow.

Also claiming a medal was three-time National Team member and 2013 Junior World silver medalist Alex Dieringer, who won bronze at 79 kg in men’s freestyle.

After coming up short in the semifinals, Dieringer was drawn into the bronze match. However, his opponent, 2013 Junior World champion Alan Zaseev of Russia, did not weigh-in on Saturday morning, therefore forfeiting the match and resulting in a bronze medal for the American.

On the women’s freestyle side, 2016 Olympian Haley Augello and 2017 World bronze medalist Becka Leathers advanced to the bronze-medal bouts at 53 kg and 57 kg, respectively. Both Augello and Leathers medical forfeited their matches for fifth-place finishes.

The tournament continues Sunday at 1 p.m. local time (Saturday, 1 a.m. ET) live on Flowrestling.org.

2019 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix

at Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Jan. 24-27

Men’s freestyle results
65 kg: Zain Retherford (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC)
LOSS Gadzhimurad Rashidov (Russia), 4-3

79 kg: Alex Dieringer (Stillwater, Okla./Titan Mercury) - BRONZE
WIN Zeping Lin (China), 13-0
WIN Alan Zaseev (Russia), 7-4
LOSS Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov (Russia), 5-2
WIN Alan Zaseev (Russia), forfeit

Women’s freestyle results
53 kg: Sarah Hildebrandt (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
WIN Sumiya Erdenechimeg (Mongolia), 13-2
WIN Ekaterina Poleshchuk (Russia), 4-3
WIN Natalya Malysheva (Russia), 6-4

53 kg: Haley Augello (Chapel Hill, N.C./New York AC) – FIFTH
WIN Laura Herin (Cuba), 8-6
LOSS Natalya Malysheva (Russia), injury default
LOSS Leila Karymova (Russia), medical forfeit

57 kg: Becka Leathers (Chapel Hill, N.C./Titan Mercury) - FIFTH
LOSS Tserenchimed Sukhee (Mongolia), 9-1
LOSS Grace Bullen (Norway), medical forfeit

57 kg: Kelsey Campbell (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids)
LOSS Grace Bullen (Norway), 10-0