The U.S. Olympic Committee has announced its Twitter voting is now open for July Male & Female Athletes of the Month and Team of the Month. Vote for Dremiel Byers Vote for Elena Pirozhkova Vote for the U.S. Women’s Junior World Team Representing USA Wrestling are Greco-Roman wrestler Dremiel Byers and women’s wrestler Elena Pirozhkova. Byers beat an Olympic champion to win a major event. Pirozhkova won two international medals. Also nominated is the 2010 U.S. Women’s Junior World Team, which won three medals. Fans are encouraged to vote and re-tweet the poll links. SportsMan of the Month for July 2010 Sport: Men’s Greco-Roman Wrestling Athlete: Dremiel Byers Position: 120 kg/264.5 lbs. in Greco-Roman wrestling Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) beat an Olympic champion in the finals to claim the gold medal at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. at the respected Pytlasinski International Tournament on July 31. Byers defeated Olympic and World champion Khasan Baroev of Russia in the championship finals, 1-0, 1-0. Byers won four matches in the event, stopping Yannick Szczepanik of France, Lalli Taisto of Finland and Ralf Bohtinger of Germany prior to the finals. This is a very strong competition, which many nations use a tuneup for the World Championships, which will be held in Moscow, Russia in September. A 2008 Olympian, Byers has won a 2002 World gold medal, a 2009 World silver medal and a 2007 World bronze medal. SportsWoman of the Month for July 2010 Sport: Women’s Freestyle Wrestling Athlete: Elena Pirozhkova Position: 63 kg/138.75 lbs. in women’s freestyle wrestling Pirozhkova won a gold medal at the Canada Cup held in Guelph, Ontario, Canada on July 3. She won the gold medal at 67 kg/147.5 lbs., competing up one weight class from her normal division. In the championship finals, she had an injury default win over World champion Martine Dugrenier of Canada. She had four wins in the competition, defeating Kristie Davis of the United States, Megan Buydens of Canada and Vanessa Wilson of Canada to reach the gold-medal round. Pirozhkova also won a bronze medal at the Heydar Aliyev Golden Grand Prix Finals on July 17, competing at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. This is a very prestigious event, the conclusion of FILA’s annual Golden Prix series and featured many of the top wrestlers in the world. Pirozhkova beat Aurora Fajardo of Spain in the bronze-medal match. Other victories were over Nadya Sementsova of Azerbaijan and Simona Corbani of Italy. Her only loss came in the semifinals against Nasanburmaa Ochirbat of Mongolia. Pirozhkova is a USOTC resident athlete, and will be competing in her third straight World Championships for the United States. Both of these events are major tune-ups prior to the World Championships, which will be held in Russia in September. Team of the Month for July 2010 Sport: Women’s Freestyle Wrestling Team: 2010 U.S. Women’s Junior World Championships Team The United States placed sixth in women’s freestyle at the Junior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, July 22-23. The competition featured the best women’s freestyle wrestlers between the ages of 17-20 years old. The U.S. team was led by Victoria Anthony of Huntington Beach, Calif., who won a gold medal at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. It was Anthony’s second straight Junior World title, after claiming a gold at 44 kg in 2009. The U.S. team also featured two bronze medalists, Amy Whitbeck of Duanesburg, N.Y. at 51 kg / 112.25 lbs. and Helen Maroulis of Rockville, Md. at 55 kg / 121 lbs. Placing fifth at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. was Brittany Delgado of Fountain Inn, S.C. Also scoring a team point for the United States by placing 10th was Tatiana Padilla (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 59 kg/130 lbs. 2010 U.S. Women’s Junior World Team 44 kg / 97 lbs. - Erin Golston, Lake of the Hills, Ill. (USOEC), dnp/13th 48 kg/105.75 lbs. - Victoria Anthony, Huntington Beach, Calif. (New York AC), 1st 51 kg / 112.25 lbs.- Amy Whitbeck, Duanesburg, N.Y. (New York AC), 3rd 55 kg / 121 lbs. - Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York AC), 3rd 59 kg/130 lbs. - Tatiana Padilla, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids). 10th 63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Lauren Louvie, Massillon, Ohio (Univ. of the Cumberlands), dnp/14th 67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), dnp/12th 72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Brittany Delgado, Fountain Inn, S.C. (Gator WC/OCU), 5th Coach – Alex Conti, Fredonia, N.Y. Coach - Erin Tomeo, Colorado Springs, Colo. Coach - Assistant National Women’s Coach Izzy Izboinikov of Colorado Springs, Colo.