Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) was named 2010 Women's Wrestler of the Year by USA Wrestling. It is the first time in her career that she has received this award. Pirozhkova won a silver medal at 63 kg/138.75 pounds at the 2010 World Championships in Moscow, Russia. It was her first World medal, and the highest placement of a U.S. women’s wrestler at the Worlds that year. Pirozhkova won four straight matches to qualify for the finals. She defeated Tatyana Zakharova of Kazakhstan and Maria Mendez of Spain to open the tournament. In the quarterfinals, she had a comeback win over Katerina Lopez of Cuba in three periods. She defeated Lubov Volosova of Russia, 1-0, 1-0 in an intense semifinal bout. She was defeated in the World championship finals by two-time Olympic champion Kaori Icho of Japan, 1-1, 0-6. She won her second career University World title with a victory at 67 kg in Torino, Italy in October. Pirozhkova qualified for her third U.S. World Team with a victory at the 2010 World Team Trials in Council Bluffs, Iowa, defeating Veronica Carlson in two straight bouts in the best-of-three finals series. She also won her second career U.S. Open title in Cleveland, stopping 2004 Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann in the championship finals. Other international achievements were silver medals at the Dave Schultz Memorial International in Colorado Springs, Colo. and the New York AC International Open in New York City, as well as a bronze medal at the Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers Memorial International. Pirozhkova also had a strong 3-1 at 2010 Women’s World Cup, helping lead the United States to a second-place finish as a team. Pirozhkova hails from Greenfield, Mass. and has been a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete since she graduated high school in 2005. PAST WOMEN'S WRESTLER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS 2010 – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo., Gator WC 2009 – Deanna Rix, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC 2008 - Randi Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo., Gator WC 2007 - Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC 2006 - Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC 2005 - Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. U.S. Army 2004 - Sara McMann, Lock Haven, Pa., Sunkist Kids 2003 - Patricia Miranda, Colorado Springs, Colo., Dave Schultz WC 2002 - Kristie Marano, Albany, N.Y., ATWA 2001 - Toccara Montgomery, Cleveland, Ohio, Sunkist Kids 2000 - Kristie Marano, Albany, N.Y., ATWA 1999 - Tricia Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids 1998 - Kristie Stenglein, Albany, N.Y., ATWA 1997 - Sandra Bacher, San Jose, Calif., Dave Schultz WC 1996 - Tricia Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids 1995 - Vickie Zummo, Hamburg, N.J., New York AC 1994 - Shannon Williams, Ontario, Calif., Sunkist Kids 1993 - Tricia Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids