TORINO, Italy – The United States will have three athletes competing in the medal rounds on Wednesday at the 2010 FISU University World Championships, held at the Pala Ruffini arena.

Going for the gold medal at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. in women’s freestyle wrestling is Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC), who will face Canada’s Elisabeth Williams in the finals later today.

Among Pirozkhova’s wins today were against Mariana Kolic of France in the quarterfinals and B. Oyunsuren of Mongolia in the semifinals.

Pirozhkova was a 2010 World silver medalist on the Senior level at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. She is seeking her second career University World title, winning the event in 2008 at 67 kg/147.5 lbs.

Two U.S. wrestlers will compete in bronze-medal matches, women’s freestyle wrestler Gabrielle Henry (Columbus, Ohio/Univ. of the Cumberlands) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. and men’s freestyle wrestler Sonny Yohn (Alamosa, Colo./Minnesota Storm) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

Henry lost her opening match to Liubov Salnikova of Russia, who has advanced to the gold-medal finals, pulling Henry into the repechage. Henry will wrestle against Vayla Trandino of Bulgaria in a bronze-medal match. Henry competes for the women’s team at the University of Cumberlands.

Yohn was defeated in the semifinals by Salih Erinc of Turkey, placing him in a bronze-medal match. Among his victories was against Marat Ibragimov of Russia in the quarterfinals. TheMat.com has not received information on who Yohn will wrestle in his bronze-medal match. Yohn competes for the Univ. of Minnesota.

Information on the other U.S. men’s freestyle wrestlers who competed on Wednesday is currently unavailable: Reece Humphrey (Columbus, Ohio (New York AC) at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Jon Reader (Davison, Mich. (Iowa State) at 74 kg/163 lbs. Neither reached the quarterfinal round this morning.

A complete update will be posted when available after the medal rounds are held in Italy.

The competition continues on Thursday with five more weight classes in women’s freestyle wrestling.