The United States comes off a productive year in women’s wrestling, placing fifth at the 2010 World Championships with a pair of medalists. Capturing a silver medal at 63 kg/138.75 pounds was Elena Pirozhkova, and winning her second World bronze medal was Tatiana Padilla at 55 kg/121 lbs.

Two-time World champion Kristie Davis made her 10th U.S. World Team last year and continues to impress. Two members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team are still competing well and currently are ranked No. 2 on Women’s Team USA. Clarissa Chun was a 2008 World champion, and placed fifth at the 2008 Olympic Games at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. Ali Bernard also placed a strong fifth at the 2008 Olympic Games.

There will be seven weight classes contested at the 2011 U.S. Open in Cleveland, which is the main qualifying event for the 2011 World Team Trials in Oklahoma City. This year, the World Team Trials for women will only contest the four Olympic weight classes. This decision is to get the most qualified athletes at those divisions for the 2011 World Championships, which is an Olympic Games qualifier. The U.S. athletes for the 2011 World Team in the three non-Olympic weight classes will be set in another Trials event later in the summer.
	
48 KG/105.5 LBS.

This is an Olympic weight class and will be loaded with talent, not only featuring athletes who have competed here in recent years, but also a number who will be dropping down from 51 kg. Going into this season, the No. 1 wrestler is Alyssa Lampe, who made her first U.S. Senior World Team last year and also won her first U.S. Open title. Lampe is talented and strong and has won numerous international medals.

Lampe defeated World champion and Olympian Clarissa Chun in the World Team Trials finals last year, Chun missed much of the 2010 season recovering from injury. She is healthy now, and won a big event in Russia this winter. Chun had beaten Lampe in the 2008 and 2009 World Team Trials, and they have developed a healthy rivalry.

Sara Fulp-Allen, a past U.S. Open champion, seeks to return to the top of the podium. She is seeking her first U.S. World Team berth. Mary Kelly, who competed at the 2006 World Championships, was injured in the 2010 World Team Trials. She will compete this year, but may not be ready in time for the Open. Two-time Junior World champion Victoria Anthony continues to improve. She has won the WCWA College Nationals the last two years at Simon Fraser.

Carlene Sluberski, who trains with the USOEC at Northern Michigan Univ., has been successful when doan at this weight. Other talented college wrestlers include Joey Miller, Nicole Woody and Emily Martin. Woody is a past Junior World champion. Others to watch include Candace Workman, Erin Golston, C.C. Weber and Amantha Hordagoda.

Looking to drop down from 51 kg are two-time U.S. World Team member Jessica Medina and 2007 Junior World champion Whitney Conder. If they are not down for Cleveland, you can expect them to be to the Olympic weight in Oklahoma City.

51 KG/112.25 LBS.

Currently atop this division is Jessica Medina, who made the 2009 and 2010 U.S. World Teams and was the 2010 U.S. Open champion. Medina’s plans are to drop to 48 kg for her Olympic quest, a weight she may make for Cleveland this year. Whitney Conder, a 2007 Junior World champion, has been successful on international tours in recent years.

Amy Whitbeck was second in the 2010 World Team Trials behind Medina, and won a bronze medal at the Junior World Championships later in the summer. College wrestler Gabrielle Henry has competed at a high level in this weight. High school stars Kayla Brendlinger and Sarah Hildebrandt have made an impact on the Senior level. Others to watch include Natalie Rutt, India Walker and Emily Harper.

55 KG/121 LBS.

Tatiana Padilla has made the last three U.S. World Teams, and has been in a World medal match all three times. She placed third at the 2008 and 2010 World Championships and was fifth at the 2009 World meet. Padilla continues to win medals at major international events. Her fierce competitive nature sets her apart from many of her opponents.

Helen Maroulis is another young star, placing second behind Padilla at both the 2010 U.S. Open and the World Team Trials. Maroulis was a member of the 2008 U.S. World Team at 51 kg. She has won two Junior World medals and was a 2009 U.S. Open champion. She has won two straight WCWA Women’s college titlea, as well.

Trinity Plessinger, a past Junior World Team member, is coming off a strong winter tour season. Michaela Hutchison has won two WCWA College National titles, and lost in a competitive bout in the WCWA finals this year to Maroulis. Schuyler Brown, who has made two Junior World teams, dropped from 59 kg last year and has been a force. 

Former U.S. Open champion Sharon Jacobson is healthy again, and has won medals in recent international events. Katherine Fulp-Allen, a University World champion, has moved up to this division this year, College wrestlers Shauna Isbell and Alicia Hubbard are contenders, as well as Alicia Hubbard.

Those who could drop from 59 kg and make an immediate impact are World Team members Kelsey Campbell and Deanna Rix. 

59 KG/130 LBS.

Kelsey Campbell won both the U.S. Open and the World Team Trials in 2010, and placed fifth in her first Senior World Championships. Her top rival the last few seasons has been Deanna Rix, who was fifth at both the 2008 and 2009 World Championships and a past U.S. Open champion. Both will be moving to an Olympic weight, most probably down to 55 kg. If either enter the U.S. Open at 59 kg, they will be favored to win.

Othella Lucas, who has been U.S. Open runner-up two times, returned last year after joining the U.S. Army’s World Class Athlete Program. Leigh Jaynes, a 2007 U.S. World Team member at this division, will be among the favorites if she is healthy enough to compete in Cleveland.  Amberle Montgomery was third in the 2010 World Team Trials, She was a 2009 WCWA College Nationals champion, and won a medal at the 2010 SportAccord Combat Games. The college ranks also include contenders such as Ashley Hudson, Cianah Hee, Sheila McCabe, Haylee Childs and Tanya Kusse. High school star Jenna Burkert has beaten some top Senior international competitors on recent overseas tours.

63 KG/138.75 LBS.

Elena Pirozhkova is coming off her best year, with a World silver medal, her second career University World title and a Pan American title in 2010. She was also U.S. Open champion last year. She has made three straight U.S. World Teams, and has been a consistent performer at international events. She will be the favorite coming into Cleveland.

Veronica Carlson, a 2009 Junior World bronze medalist, was second behind Pirozhkova at the 2010 World Team Trials. Carlson spent the fall recovering from injury, but is back on the mats again. 2009 U.S. Open runner-up and World Team Trials runner-up Vanessa Oswalt is also competing again and is a strong challenger.

College wrestlers Vanessa Oswalt, Tessa Plana, Lauren Louive and Stephanie Geltmacher look to challenge. A top high school star Amanda Hendey has been competitive on the Senior level.

Looking to move down from 67 kg is two-time World champion Kristie Davis, who last made this weight class when she won the 2004 U.S. Open. Erin Clodgo is also a possibility of dropping down from 67 kg. At some point, perhaps moving up from 63 kg are Othella Lucas and Deanna Rix, among others.

67 KG/147.5 LBS.

Kristie Davis made her 10th U.S. Senior World Team at this weight last year, returning to competition for the first time since the 2008 Olympic Trials. She has won nine World medals, including World titles in 2000 and 2003. If Davis remains at this weight class for Cleveland, she will be the top favorite.

Erin Clodgo won the 2010 U.S. Open title, and was second behind Davis at last year’s World Team Trials. Returning to the mat after missing a year to recover from injury is 2009 U.S. Open champion Adeline Gray, who was fifth in the 2009 World Championships. Gray is a past Junior World champion and has won many international medals.

Christen Paysee, a past Junior World Team member, has been competitive at this division in recent seasons. Veteran Ashley Sword made a comeback in 2010 and looked strong at the World Team Trials. College challengers include Britteny Roberts, Michelle Quiles and Brittany David. Also seeking to move up the rankings is veteran Ku’u Robinson.

72 KG/158.5 LBS.

Entering the season at No. 1 is Stephany Lee, a 2008 and 2010 World Team member, who also boasts two University World titles. Lee has scored wins against her top U.S. opponents as well as many of the World’s best wrestlers. She still seeks her first World-level medal.
Ali Bernard was fifth at the 2008 Olympics and competed at the 2009 World Championships. She was second behind Lee at last year’s World Team Trials. Bernard has won World titles on the FILA Junior and University levels. 2005 World champion Iris Smith has remained a top challenger. Smith was a champion at the World Military Championships last year and remains a true title threat. 

Jenna Pavlik, a 2009 U.S. Open champion, and past U.S. Senior World Team member  WCWA nationals champion Brittany Delgado was fifth at the 2010 Junior World Championships and is one of the nation’s top young talents. Mei Ling Keiki won the WCWA College Nationals this year. Other college contenders include Kendra Lewis, Melissa Simmons, Amber Miracle and Brittany Jones.
 
If she moves up from 67 kg, Adeline Gray will be expected to do very well at this division.

2010 U.S. OPEN WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Women’s freestyle results

48 kg/105.5 lbs.
1st - Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) inj. dft. over Mary Kelly, Marquette, Mich. (New York AC), 3-6, 1:12
3rd - Sara Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) pin Victoria Anthony, Huntington Beach, Calif. (New York AC), 1-0, 1:55
5th - Carlene Sluberski, Fredonia, N.Y. (USOEC) pin Amantha Hordagoda, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 1:45
7th - Nicole Woody, Odenton, Md. (Gator WC/OCU) pin Rachel Bernardes, Manitou Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force), 1:18

51 kg/112.25 lbs.
1st - Jessica Medina, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Amy Whitbeck, Duanesburg, N.Y. (New York AC), 3-0,5-1
3rd - Gabrielle Henry, Columbus, Ohio (Cumberlands) dec. Joey Miller, Woodward, Okla. (Gator WC/OCU), 1-0,5-0
5th - Kayla Brendlinger, Slippery Rock, Pa. (Draw Team) dec. Milagros Zamora, Miami Fla. (Cumberlands), 2-0, 5-0
7th - India Walker, Cleveland, Ohio (Unattached) dec. Rashona Colbert, Flowery Branch, Ga. (Missouri Valley WC), 4-1, 7-0

55 kg/121 lbs.
1st - Tatiana Padilla, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York AC), 5-1, 2-0
3rd - Whitney Conder, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) pin Sharon Jacobson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 8-0,0-3,1:13
5th - Natasha Umemoto, Portland, Ore. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Michaela Hutchison, Soldotna, Alaska (Gator WC/OCU), 5-1, 5-1
7th - Trinity Plessinger, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Sandy Do, San Diego, Calif. (unattached), 3-0, 3-0

59 kg/130 lbs.
1st - Kelsey Campbell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Othella Lucas, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 2-0,1-0
3rd - Deanna Rix, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Leigh Jaynes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 1-0, 1-0
5th - Schuyler Brown, Montpelier, Va. (Gator WC) dec. Randi Beltz, Saint Clair, Mo. (Missouri Valley WC), 1-4, 2-1, 5-0
7th -  Sheila McCabe, El Cajon, Calif. (Gator WC) pin Roni Goodale, Bettendorf, Iowa (KWA), 6-0, 0:27

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
1st - Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) dec. Sara McMann, Gaffney, SC (Sunkist Kids), 0-2,3-1,1-0
3rd - Veronica Carlson, Addison, Ill. (New York AC) dec. Lauren Louive, Massilon, Ohio (Cumberlands), 3-0,6-0
5th - Amberle Montgomery, Kent, Wash.(Gator WC/OCU) pin Pi`ikea Kalalau, Honolulu, Hawaii (Team Hawaii), 1-0, 0:42
7th - Jennifer Page, Orangevale, Calif. (Bella Vista Broncos) dec. Andrea Orozco, Soledad, Calif. (USOEC), 2-0,5-2

67 kg/147.5 lbs.
1st - Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Christen Paysee, Fullerton, Calif. (Cumberlands), 1-0, 3-2
3rd - Ashley Sword, Oklahoma City, Okla. (OKCDT) inj. dft. Britteny Roberts, Santa Fe, Texas (Gator WC/OCU), 
5th - Kuuiini Johnson, Aiea, HI (Team Hawaii) tech. fall Ahnjahlee Akuna, Wailuanui, Hawaii (USOEC), 0-2,6-0,8-0
7th - Emma Randall, Greenview, Ohio (Lady Eagle WC) dec. Moriah Fernandez, Morgan Hill, Calif. (USOEC), 2-0, 6-1

72 kg/158.75 lbs.
1st - Stephany Lee, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army), 1-0, 5-0
 3rd - Melissa Simmons, Ridgefield, Wash. (Gator WC/OCU) dec. Amber Miracle, Berlin, Wis. (USOEC), 1-0, 2-3, 3-0
5th - Karra Stratton, Frisco, Texas (Warrior Wrestling Club) dec. Donna Rosen, Phoenix, Ariz. (Unattached), 4-0,6-5
7th - Paloma Basulto, Pismo Beach, Calif. (Missouri Valley WC)

Outstanding Wrestler – Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids) 59 kg/130 lbs.

Team standings. 1. Sunkist Kids 63; 2. New York AC, 47; 3. Gator WC 27