Capturing a silver medal at the 2010 World Championships at 63 kg was Elena Pirozhkova, who won her first World medal after making the last three U.S. World Teams. Pirozhkova was also a 2010 University World Champion at this division, She captured the U.S. Open and will sit out until the best-of-three finals series. 

Placing second at the U.S. Open was two-time World champion Kristie Davis, who has won a record nine World Championships medals during her career. Davis made the U.S. World Team at 67 kg last year, but has dropped down to this Olympic class this year. Davis also won the WCWA College Nationals after returning to attend college at Oklahoma City. Davis will have to capture the Challenge Tournament for another shot at Pirozhkova, which would be a highly anticipated rematch.

Third at the U.S. Open was another tough college wrestler, Alli Regan, who has defeated a number of talented opponents this year while climbing the national rankings. As the season progressed, Regan seemed to get better and more confident. Othella Lucas, who has joined the U.S. Army program, was fourth at the U.S. Open. Lucas has moved up from 59 kg where she has had much success, including a U.S. Open runner-up finish a few years ago. Competing the full season at this weight should be a plus for Lucas in her quest to reach the finals.

Veronica Carlson, a 2009 Junior World bronze medalist at this division, placed fifth at the Open. Carlson missed considerable time with an injury, but should be ready to show her best stuff at the World Team Trials. College star Amberle Montgomery, who finished third at last year’s World Team Trials, finished sixth at the U.S. Open. The final qualifying spot from the U.S. Open was Vanessa Oswalt in seventh place. Oswalt is also a past Women’s Team USA member. Also making the field was University Nationals runner-up Randi Beltz, who was third at the U.S. Open at 59 kg.

A number of athletes could move up from 59 kg, including Deanna Rix, who was fifth in the World Championships twice at that weight class. Those moving up from 59 kg could be quite undersized, especially if a number of athletes come down from 67 kg.

This year’s U.S. Open champion Adeline Gray and last year’s U.S. Open champion Erin Clodgo are considering the drop from 67 kg. They would be immediate challengers if they decide to get down to 63 kg. Both would be very big at the division, and would offer a new challenge to those who have been competing at this division. If a number of wrestlers make that drop, this could be a large and competitive division.

Elena Pirozhkova has a big advantage by sitting out of the Challenge Tournament and letting the rest of this competitive field beat each other up trying to reach the finals. Kristie Davis has wrestled at higher weight classes, so she will not be concerned if any of the current 67 kg stars come down for this event. Regardless of who emerges to face Pirozhkova, the U.S. should have a strong competitor at the World Championships from this division.

2011 U.S. Open results at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. in women’s freestyle wrestling
1st - Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator Wrestling Club) dec. Kristie Davis, Yukon, Okla. (Gator Wrestling Club), 1-0, 2-0
3rd - Alli Ragan, Carbondale, Ill. (King College) pin Othella Lucas, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army), 1-1, 1:29
5th - Veronica Carlson, Chicago, Ill. (New York Athletic Club) dec. Amberle Montgomery, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Gator Wrestling Club), 1-0, 4-0
7th - Vanessa Oswalt, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army) dec. Ku`u`i`ini Robinson, Waianae, HI (Team Hawaii), 4-1, 7-0

2011 World Team Trials qualifiers at 63 kg/138.75 pounds in women’s freestyle wrestling
U.S. Open Champion – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
U.S. Open, second place – Kristie Davis, Yukon, Okla. (Gator WC/OCU)
U.S. Open, third place – Alli Ragan, Carbondale, Ill. (King College)
U.S. Open, fourth place – Othella Lucas, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
U.S. Open, fifth place – Veronica Carlson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
U.S. Open, sixth place – Amberle Montgomery, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Gator WC)
U.S. Open, seventh place – Vanessa Oswalt, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
University Nationals Runner-up - Randi Beltz, St. Charles, Mo. (Lindenwood)

Possible participants moving up from 59 kg

2011 U.S. Open results at 59 kg/130 lbs. in women’s freestyle wrestling
1st - Deanna Rix, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Amanda Hendey, Beaumont, Calif., 1-0, 3-0
3rd - Randi Beltz, St. Charles, Mo. (Missouri Valley College) pin Jenna Burkert, Middle Island, N.Y. (New York Athletic Club), 0:57
5th - Ashley Hudson, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Gator Wrestling Club) dec. Cianah Hee, Williamsburg, Ky. (Univ. of the Cumberlands), 3-2, 2-7, 3-2
7th - Kayla Brendlinger, Slippery Rock, Pa. pin Summer Sistad, Marshall, Mo. (Missouri Valley College), 1:41

2011 World Team Trials qualifiers at 59 kg/130 pounds in women’s freestyle wrestling
U.S. Open Champion – Deanna Rix, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Open, second place – Amanda Hendey, Beaumont, Calif. (San Diego Hot Beaches)
U.S. Open, third place – Randi Beltz, St. Charles, Mo. (Team St. Louis)
U.S. Open, fourth place – Jenna Burkert, Middle Island, N.Y. (New York AC)
U.S. Open, fifth place – Ashley Hudson, Wildwood, Mo. (Gator WC/OCU)
U.S. Open, sixth place – Cianah Hee, Honolulu, Hawaii (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
U.S. Open, seventh place – Kayla Brendlinger, Slippery Rock, Pa. (unattached)
Northern Plains Trials Champion – Alicia Hubbard, Colorado Springs, Colo. (unattached)
Past U.S. World Team member – Leigh Jaynes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
WCWA Nationals runner-up – Cianah Hee, Honolulu, Hawaii (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
University Nationals Champion – Trinity Plessinger, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
University Nationals True Second – Schuyler Brown, Montpelier, Va. (USOEC)

Possible participants moving down from 67 kg

2011 U.S. Open results at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. in women’s freestyle wrestling
1st - Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York Athletic Club) dec. Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 3-0, 2-0
3rd - Britteny Roberts, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Gator Wrestling Club) dec. Christen Paysse, Williamsburg, KY (Univ. of the Cumberlands), 0-1, 1-0, 2-0
5th - Jennifer Page, Orangevale, CA pin Tanya Kusse, Webster, N.Y. (Lindenwood), 1-1, 0:50
7th - Monique Dilliner, Kailua, Hawaii (USOEC) dec. Tessa Plana, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Gator Wrestling Club) 2-0, 1-2, 3-1

2011 World Team Trials qualifiers at 67 kg/147.5 pounds in women’s freestyle wrestling
U.S. Open Champion – Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
U.S. Open, second place – Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Open, third place – Britteny Roberts, Santa Fe, Texas (Gator WC/OCU)
U.S. Open, fourth place – Christen Paysse, Fullerton, Calif. (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
U.S. Open, fifth place – Jennifer Page, Orangevale, Calif. (Bella Vista)
U.S. Open, sixth place – Tanya Kusse, Webster, N.Y. (Lindenwood)
U.S. Open, seventh place – Monique Dilliner, Kailua, Hawaii (USOEC)