GUELPH, Canada - Three U.S. wrestlers captured gold medals in the Guelph Open on Saturday, which featured international men's and women's freestyle wrestling.

Winning gold medals in the women's division were Deanna Rix (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 59 kg/130 lbs. and 2008 Olympian Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./Bears WC) at 82 kg/180.5 lbs.

Winning a gold medal in the men's division was James Yonushonis (College Park, Md./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs.

Rix, who placed fifth at the 2008 Women's World Championships, won three matches against Canadian opponents to capture the gold. She stopped Michelle Fazzari of the Brock WC in the championship finals.

"She continues to show improvement," said Assistant National Women's Coach Izzy Izboinikov. "She is being consistent with her wins, to go along with improved technique. It is a very good sign and shows progress."

Bernard, who placed fifth at the 2008 Olympic Games, won a three-athlete roundrobin, stopping Canadian opponents Emma Brightwell of Lakehead and Jessica Belchos of London.

"Ali was dominant. She had no problems. She is head and shoulders above everyone here. She looks very confident," said Izboinikov.

Yonushonis, who did his college wrestling for Penn State, defeated three Canadian opponents on the way to his title. His victory in the gold-medal match was over Danny Brown of Guelph.

Two other U.S. women wrestlers claimed medals. 

2008 U.S. World Team member Elena Pirozkhova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) captured a silver medal at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. She won three of four matches, losing only to the champion Justine Bouchard of Canada. Among her wins were over two-time Olympic medalist Tonya Verbeek of Canada and two-time World medalist Sally Roberts of the United States.

"It was an interesting weight class, with a lot of people who don't usually wrestle at that weight. They don't usually wrestle each other," said Izboinikov. "Elena had a difficult first match. She had to find a way to dig out of the hole and win the rest of her matches. She found the strength within herself. Something good came out of this for her."

Capturing a bronze medal at 55 kg/121 lbs. was Cherae Pascua (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), who had a 3-1 record in the tournament.

"Cherae competed well. She is still young and needs to continue doing what she is doing, and be patient with her technique. As she learns, she will win a lot more," said Izboinikov.

GUELPH OPEN
At Guelph, Canada, Jan. 23

Women's results

48 kg/105.5 lbs.
1 King, Alana, Brock W.C.
2 Rushton, Lindsay. Guelph
3 Slinn, Jasmine, Regina
4 Mian, Jasmine, Brock W.C.
5 Herdagoda, Amantha, Gator WC
6 Dixon, Coralie, Salisbury

51 kg/112.25 lbs.
1 Bondy, Jessie, Brock W.C.
2 McNutt, Terry, Queen's
3 Stewart, Sam, London
4 Medina, Jessica, NYAC
5 Nguyen, Jen, London
6 Miranda, Patricia, Sunkist Kids

55 kg/121 lbs.
1 Gallays, Jillian Saskatoon
2 Ross, Andrea, Calgary
3 Pascua, Cherae, NYAC
4 Howard, Logan, USA
5 McCallum, Lesley, London
6 Jaynes, Leigh, NYAC

59 kg/130 lbs.
1 Rix, Deanna, NYAC
2 Fazzari, Michelle, Brock W.C.
3 Erdle, Heidi, Calgary
4 Campbell, Kelsey, Sunkist Kids
5 Huzarik, Katrina, London
6 King, Meghan, Regina

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
1 Bouchard, Justine, Calgary
2 Pirozhkova, Elena, Gator WC
3 Verbeek, Tonya, Brock W.C.
4 Chicone, Nikita, Montreal
5 Roberts, Sally, Gator WC

67 kg/147.5 lbs.
1 Buydens, Megan, Saskatoon
2 Wilson, Vanessa, Calgary
3 Wilton, Meghan, Guelph
4 Fitzgerald, Jessica, U of T
5 Leslie, Allison, Guelph
6 Van Vliet, Inga, Regina

72 kg/158.5 lbs.
1 Akuffo, Ohenawa, Guelph
2 Devries, Stephanie, Guelph
3 Weibe, Erika, Calgary
4 Holinaty, Carissa, Cattown
5 Steinhoff, Kirby, London
6 Martin, Katherine, Bears W.C.

82 kg/180.5 lbs.
1 Bernard, Ali, Bears W.C.
2 Brightwell, Emma, Lakehead
3 Belchos, Jessica. London

Women's Team Standings
1. University of Calgary Wrestling Club - 34 Points
2. Brock Wrestling Club - 32 Points
3. Guelph Wrestling Club - 22 Points
4. Saskatoon Wrestling Club - 20 Points
5. New York Athletic Club - 18 Points
6. London Western Wrestling Club - 16 Points

U.S. women's performances

48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Amantha Hordagoda, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 5th
LOSS Coralie Dixon (Salisbury/Canada)
WIN Jennie Kaija (Guelph/Canada)
LOSS Jasmine Mian (Brock/Canada)
WIN Coralie Dixon (Salisbury/Canada), forfeit

51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Patricia Miranda, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 6th
WIN Lindsay Deane (KBAY/Canada)
WIN Jen Nguyen (London/Canada)
LOSS Terry McNutt (Queens/Canada), inj.
Withdrew 

51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Jesssica Medina, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 4th
WIN Coralynn Shepard (Salisbury
WIN Condi Chopick (Lock Haven), pin
LOSS Jessie Bondy (Brock WC/Canada)
WIN Jen Nguyen (London/Canada)
LOSS Sam Steward (London/Canada)

51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Condi Chopick, Lock Haven, Pa. (Lock Haven), dnp
LOSS Jessica Medina (NYAC)
LOSS Jade Parsons (Regina/Canada)

51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Amber Wing (New England AS), dnp
LOSS Jessie Bondy (Brock WC/Canada)
LOSS Emily Harper (Victory WC/Canada)

55 kg/121 lbs. - Cherae Pascua, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 3rd
WIN Olivia Gunnell (London/Canada)
LOSS Jillian Gallays (Saskatoon/Canada)
WIN Lesley McCallum (London/Canada)
WIN Logan Howard (USA)

55 kg/121 lbs. - Logan Howard, 4th place
WIN Karen Duquette (Guelph/Canada)
LOSS Jillian Gallays (Saskatoon/Canada)
WIN Charlotte Clement (KBAY/Canada)
WIN Carly Wirght (York UWC/Canada)
WIN Leigh Jaynes (New York AC), inj.
LOSS Cherae Pascua (New York AC)

55 kg/121 lbs. - Leigh Jaynes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 6th place
WIN Carly Wright (York UWC/Canada)
WIN Lesley McCallum (London/Canada)
LOSS Andrea Ross (Calgary/Canada)
LOSS Logan Howard (USA), inj.

59 kg/130 lbs. - Deanna Rix, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 1st
WIN Jenna Chase (Bears WC/Canada)
WIN Heidi Erdle (Calgary/Canada)
WIN Michelle Fazzari (Brock WC/Canada)

59 kg/130 lbs. - Kelsey Campbell, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), 4th
LOSS Meghan King (Regina/Canada)
WIN Jenna Chase (Bears WC)
WIN Melanie Carter (New England AC)
WIN Meghan King (Regina/Canada)
LOSS Heidi Erdle (Calgary/Canada)

59 kg/130 lbs. - Melanie Carter (New England AC), dnp
LOSS Heidi Erdle (Calgary/Canada)
LOSS Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids)

63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Elena Pirozkhova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 2nd
LOSS Justine Bouchard (Calgary/Canada)
WIN Nikita Chicone (Montreal/Canada)
WIN Sally Roberts (Gator WC)
WIN Tonya Verbeek (Brock WC/Canada)

63 kg - Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 5th
LOSS Tonya Verbeek (Brock WC/Canada)
LOSS Justine Bouchard (Calgary/Canada)
LOSS Elena Pirozkhova (Gator WC)
LOSS Nikita Chicone (Montreal/Canada)

72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Emma Randall, Lock Haven, Pa. (Lock Haven), dnp
LOSS Ohenawa Akuffo (Guelph/Canada)
LOSS Kirby Steinhoff (London/Canada)

82 kg/180.5 lbs. - Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn. (Bears WC), 1st
WIN Emma Brightwell (Lakehead), pin
WIN Jessica Belchos (London/Canada)

Men's Freestyle results

55 kg/121 lbs.
1 Tremblay, David, Montreal
2 Moffat, Alan, Guelph
3 Asselstine, Mike, Bears W.C.
4 Panzo, Aro, TeamImpact
5 Dixon, Cole, Salisbury
6 Mazumder, Shujon, TeamImpact

60 kg/132 lbs.
1 Azerbyjani, Saeed, Brock W.C.
2 Mancini, James, Montreal
3 Airdrie, Cody, Guelph
4 Iwasa-Madge, Kevin, Guelph
5 Dixon, Clay, Salisbury
6 Slobodain, Joey, Bears W.C.

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
1 Chabradze, Levan, Montreal
2 Hudson, CJ, Brock W.C.
3 Weicker, Ryan, Brock W.C.
4 Bond, Jack, Salisbury
5 Lue, Ryan, Guelph
6 Emkani, Ali, TeamImpact

74 kg/163 lbs.
1 Gentry, Matt, BMWC
2 Marghetis, Tyler, Montreal
3 MacDonald, Evan, Brock W.C.
4 Ncube, Cleo, Montreal
5 Laverick, Chris, Brock W.C.
6 Trimble, Brad, Brock W.C.

84 kg/185 lbs.
1 Yonushonis, James, NYAC
2 Brown, Danny, Guelph
3 Brown, Alex, Brock W.C.
4 Adamson, Jeff, Saskatoon
5 Dyas, Alex, Montreal
6 Madden, Terry, NYAC

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
1 Jarvis, Korey, Guelph
2 Zilberman, David, Montreal
3 Cox, Chris, Guelph
4 Chalifoux, Jason, Lakehead
5 Hulbert, Michael, Bears W.C.
6 Byrnes, Dylan, Guelph

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
1 Cox, Jamie, Guelph
2 Okapalugo, Patrick, Montreal
3 Grant, Kyle, Guelph
4 Cadotte, James, Rebels
5 Graham, Gary, Smith
6 Wallace, Jadrian, Kingston

Men's Team Standings
1. Montreal Wrestling Club - 50 Points
2. Guelph Wrestling Club - 41 Points
3. Brock Wrestling Club - 27 Points
4. Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club - 10 Points
4 New York Athletic Club - 10 Points
5. Bears Wrestling Club - 8 Points

Men's performances

84 kg/185 lbs. - James Yonushonis, College Park, Md. (New York AC), 1st
WIN Jeremy Latour (Guelph/Canada)
WIN Jeff Adamson (Saskatoon/Canada)
WIN Danny Brown (Guelph/Canada)

84 kg/185 lbs. - Terry Madden, New York, N.Y. (New York AC), 6th
WIN Walter McCrindle (Guelph/Canada)
WIN Alex Dyas (Montreal/Canada)
LOSS Danny Brown (Guelph/Canada), inj. dft.
Withdrew