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Foard, Szkotnicki, Welker, Kelly join Blades as Vorobyeva Cup champions in Russia

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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling

The USA team poses with Olympic champion Nataliya Vorobyeva of Russia at the conclusion of the Vorobyeva Cup in Russia. Photo by Pavel Mikhailov of Russia.


ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – Four more U.S. women won gold medals on Sunday at the Vorobyeva Cup, an international Cadet women's tournament named in honor of Olympic champion Nataliya Vorobyeva of Russia.


The USA finished the tournament with five champions and nine total medals.


The U.S. team featured a mix of athletes from Wyoming Seminary, as well as many of the top U.S. Cadet women from across the nation.


Claiming gold medals on Sunday with victories in their finals bout were Virginia Foard of Virginia at 40 kg, Alex Szkotnicki of Maryland at 43 kg, Kylie Welker of Wisconsin at 61 kg and Tristan Kelly of Colorado at 73 kg. All four went undefeated and beat opponents from Russia in their final matches.


They joined Kennedy Blades of Illinois, who won the gold medal with a 3-0 record in the 69 kg weight class on Saturday, as individual champions.


Claiming a silver medal on Sunday was Reese Larramendy of Nevada, who lost by fall to Viktoria Vesso of Estonia in the finals at 65 kg.


Wrestling back strong after losses on Saturday to claim bronze medals on Sunday were Abby Duke of Pennsylvania at 49 kg, Ava Bayless of Pennsylvania at 49 kg and Korina Blades of Illinois at 57 kg.


Of the medalists, the Blades sisters, Larramendy, Duke and Bayless attend Wyoming Seminary. Welker is a Elite Accelerator Program (EAP) athlete at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.


“We are grateful for the opportunity to compete in Russia. Our Cadet women continue to improve, learn and adapt. My goal is to prepare these athletes for the future in hopes of success at the Junior and Senior level. Competing internationally is very important for us and it was great to see our athletes perform. We are fortunate to have the Lehman Family Fund, a partnership with Wyoming Seminary and this invitation from the Russian Federation. The future is bright for our developmental program,” said National Women’s Developmental Coach Jessica Medina.


The USA team will now train for the week with other international wrestlers in St. Petersburg.

VOROBYEVA CUP

At St. Petersburg, Russia, September 28



U.S. athlete summaries



40kg Virginia Foard, Reva, Va./SEM, Gold Medal, 2-0 record

WIN Tech Fall, RUS 10-0

WIN Pin RUS, 0:15


43kg Alex Szkotnicki, Riva, Md., Gold Medal, 2-0 record

WIN Pin RUS

WIN Pin RUS 1:15


49kg Abby Duke, Kingston, Pa./SEM, Bronze medal, 2-1 record

WIN Tech Fall RUS Tech 10-0

LOSS Tech Fall RUS 10-0

WIN Tech Fall Sarkkinen FIN, 12-0, 0:50


49kg Madison Wellen, East Berlin, Pa./SEM, 8th place, 0-1 record

LOSS Pin NOR


49kg Ava Bayless, Greenville, Pa./SEM, Bronze Medal, 3-1 record

WIN Tech Fall RUS 10-0

WIN RUS 3–1

LOSS RUS 7-2

WIN RUS 6-0


57kg Sophia Smith, Bismarck, N.D./SEM, 10th Place, 0-1 record

LOSS RUS 4-3


57kg Korina Blades Broadview, Ill./SEM, Bronze Medal, 4-1 record

WIN Pin RUS

WIN Tech. Fall NOR, 10-0

WIN Pin FIN

LOSS RUS, 5-4

WIN Tech Fall RUS, 10-0, 0:35


61kg Elleni Johnson, West Jordan, Utah/SEM, dnp/11th, 0-1 record

LOSS Tech Fall RUS, 10-0 0-10


61kg Kylie Welker, Franksville, Wis./EAP, Gold Medal, 4-0 record

WIN Tech Fall RUS 10-0

WIN Tech Fall RUS 10-0

WIN RUS 6-4

WIN Tech Fall RUS, 10-0, 0:35


61kg Mia Macaluso, Otisville, N.Y., 7th place, 1-1 record

WIN Tech Fall RUS 10-0

LOSS Pin RUS pin


65kg Reese Larramendy Reno, Nev./SEM, Silver Medal, 2-1 record

WIN Pin NOR

WIN Pin RUS

LOSS Pin Viktoria Vesso (EST), 1:23


69kg Kennedy Blades, Broadville, Ill./SEM, Gold Medal, 3-0 record

WIN Tech Fall RUS 10-0

WIN Tech Fall RUS 10-0

WIN Tech Fall NOR 10-0


73kg Tristan Kelly, Erie, Colo., Gold Medal, 4-0 record

WIN Tech Fall RUS 10-0

WIN RUS 4-2

WIN RUS 8-2

WIN RUS 4-0

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