MINSK, Belarus – The United States claimed a pair of medals on the first day of the women’s competition at the Alexander Medved International on Friday.

Capturing a silver medal at 55 kg/121 lbs. was Trinity Plessinger (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids).

Plessinger was defeated in the finals by 2010 World University silver medalist Irina Khariv of Ukraine, 2-3, 0-6.

She opened with wins over Natalia Shkuratova of Russia, 3-0, 6-0 in the quarterfinals, then stopped 2010 World Military runner-up Ekatarina Hanchar-Yanushkevich (Belarus), 6-0, 6-2 in the semifinals.

“Trinity wrestled as well as I’ve ever seen her wrestle,” said U.S. coach Alex Conti. “She attacked well and pushed the pace. In the finals, she fell victim to a fireman’s carry. Up through that final match, she did an awesome job.”

Winning a bronze medal at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. was Sara Fulp-Allen (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC). 

Fulp-Allen defeated Iveta Jerohina of Latvia, 6-0, 3-0 in the bronze-medal match.

She opened with a win over Tatsiana Hurnovich of Belarus, 5-2, 6-2, but was defeated in the semifinals by 2006 World bronze medalist Aliona Adashinskaya of Russia, 0-5, 0-7.

“Sara did a great job in her two wins,” said Conti. “She struggle a little bit in her loss to a tough Russian, but she came back like a champion for the bronze.”

Both of the U.S. medalists on Friday also won medals at other international events last week.

Plessinger won a bronze medal competing up at 59 kg last week at the Grand Prix of Tourcoing in France. Fulp-Allen won a silver medal at the Dan Kolov International in Bulgaria last week at 51 kg.

ALEXANDER MEDVED INTERNATIONAL
at Minsk, Belarus, March 4

48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold – Venesa Kaladzinskaya (Belarus)
Silver – Khrystyna Daranutsa (Ukraine)
Bronze – Deimante Butavichute (Lithuania)
Bronze – Alina Moreva (Russia)
5th – Karalina Tjapko (Latvia)
5th - Yulia Leorda (Moldova)

51 kg/112.25 lbs.
Gold – Maryia Ivanova-Yahorava (Belarus)
Silver – Aliona Adashinskaya (Russia)
Bronze – Sara Fulp-Allen (USA)
Bronze – Elza Tukhbatulina (Russia)
5th – Iveta Jerohina (Latvia)
5th – Isabelle Sambou (Senegal)

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold – Irina Khariv (Ukraine)
Silver – Trinity Plessinger (USA)
Bronze – Ekatarina Hanchar-Yanushkevich (Belarus)
Bronze – Tetyana Lazareva (Ukraine)
5th – Natalia Shkuratova (Russia)
5th – Anna Maksimova (Russia)

U.S. women's performances

51 kg/112.25 lbs. – Sara Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 3rd
WIN Tatsiana Hurnovich (Belarus), 5-2, 6-2
LOSS Aliona Adashinskaya (Russia), 0-5, 0-7
WIN Iveta Jerohina (Latvia), 6-0, 3-0

55 kg/121 lbs. – Sharon Jacobson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
WIN Tatiana Zenchenko (Russia), 4-1, 7-4
LOSS Iryna Khariv (Ukraine), 1-8, 2-4
LOSS Tetyana Lazareva (Ukraine), 0-7, 0-7

55 kg/121 lbs. – Trinity Plessinger, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 2nd
WIN Natalia Shkuratova (Russia), 3-0, 6-0
WIN Ekatarina Hanchar-Yanushkevich (Belarus), 6-0, 6-2
LOSS Irina Khariv (Ukraine), 2-3, 0-6

51 kg/112.25 lbs. – Katherine Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
LOSS Anna Maksimova (Russia), 2-2, 0-2