Gray, Maroulis atop the UWW pre-Olympic rankings, six other Americans included
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by Taylor Miller, USA Wrestling
| Adeline Gray (left) and Helen Maroulis at the 2016 Olympic Trials |
Adeline Gray and Helen Maroulis lead the U.S. Olympic Team in women’s freestyle to the Rio Games, maintaining the top spots at their weights in the world, which was announced today in UWW’s pre-Olympic rankings.
Gray (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC/OTC), who is a three-time World champion, and Maroulis (Rockville, Md./Sunkist Kids), a 2015 World champion, have both remained unscathed since 2014 and have high hopes of bringing home the first Olympic gold for the U.S. in women’s wrestling.
Having won her last two World championships at 75 kilos, Gray is unchallenged in the rankings and a heavy favorite going into the Olympics.
Maroulis is the No. 1 wrestler at 55 kg/121 lbs., where she earned her World title. Since then, she has dropped to 53 kg/116.5 lbs., the weight in which she will represent the U.S. in Rio.
2016 Olympian Elena Pirozhkova is ranked No. 14 at 69 kg/152 lbs., but will take the Olympic stage at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Her most recent action was in mid-June at the Poland Open, where she took fifth place.
The final Olympian rounding out the UWW rankings for the U.S. is No. 17 Hayley Augello at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. She has not competed since taking second at the 1st World Olympic Qualifier in Mongolia.
Tamyra Mensah (Katy, Texas/Titan Mercury WC/OTC), the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials champion at 69 kg/152 lbs., jumped seven spots to No. 11. Mensah recently claimed third at the Spanish Grand Prix in July, adding to her bronze medal won at the Canada Cup in June.
2015 World bronze medalist Leigh Jaynes-Provisor (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP/OTC) sits at No. 14 in the non-Olympic 60 kg/132 lbs. rankings.
Sarah Hildebrandt (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC/OTC) and Victoria Anthony (Huntington Beach Calif./Sunkist Kids) also appear in the rankings with Hildebrandt holding down the No. 12 spot at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Canada Cup gold medalist Anthony checking in at No. 15 at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Click here to read full UWW Story on women’s freestyle World rankings
U.S. women's freestyle wrestlers ranked in the UWW July rankings
No. 1 at 75 kg – Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC/OTC)
No. 1 at 55 kg – Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (Sunkist Kids)
No. 11 at 69 kg – Tamyra Mensah, Katy, Texas (Titan Mercury WC/OTC)
No. 12 at 55 kg – Sarah Hildebrandt, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC/OTC)
No. 14 at 69 kg – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
No. 14 at 60 kg – Leigh Jaynes-Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP/OTC)
No. 15 at 48 kg – Victoria Anthony, Huntington Beach Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
No. 17 at 48 kg – Haley Augello, Lockport, Ill. (New York AC/OTC)
