GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Three U.S. women’s freestyle wrestlers have weighed in and received their draws for the the Pan American Games competition on Saturday.

2008 World champion Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) will face Guadalupe Perez of Mexico in the first match at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.

Chun placed fifth at the 2008 Olympic Games, and has won three Pan American Championships titles. Perez was third in the 2010 Pan American Championships.

2010 World silver medalist Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) will compete at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., facing Gloria Zavala of Venezuela in the first match.

Pirozhkova has won three Pan American Championships titles in her career. Zavala has won a silver and a bronze medal at past Pan American Championships.

Three-time Junior World medalist Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md./New York AC) opens at 55 kg/121 lbs. against Joice Souza Da Silva of Brazil. 

Da Silva has won five Pan American Championships medals in her career, but has not been a Pan American champion. Maroulis was third in the 2009 Pan American Championships.

All three women competing at the Pan American Championships were members of the 2011 U.S. World Team. Maroulis and Pirozhkova placed fifth in their weight class, while Chun placed seventh.

The United States is on the opposite side of the bracket from rival Canada in all three weight division. They could only meet in the finals.

The Pan American Games host women’s freestyle competition in the four Olympic weight classes only. 

The United States does not have an entry at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. because it failed to qualify by placing in the top eight in that weight class at the 2011 Pan American Championships.

PAN AMERICAN GAMES
At Guadalajara, Mexico

Women’s freestyle pairings for Saturday

48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Guadalupe Perez (Mexico)

55 kg/121 lbs. – Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York AC)
Joice Souza Da Silva (Brazil)

63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
Gloria Zavala (Venezuela)

Bio shorts for U.S. first round pairings

48 kg/105.5 lbs.

United States – Clarissa Chun – 2008 World champion… Fifth in 2008 Olympic Games… Seventh in 2011 World Championships… 2008, 2009 and 2010 Pan Am Champs champion… Fourth in 2004 World University Champs… Third in 2003 Pan Am Champs… Second in 2000 and 2001 Pan Am Champs… Fifth in 2001 Junior World Championships… Age: 30

México - Guadalupe Perez – Third in 2010 Pan Am Champs… Seventh in 2009 Pan Am Champs… Seventh in 2003 Junior World Championships… Eighth in 2001 Junior World Championships… Age: 28

55 kg/121 lbs.

United States – Helen Maroulis – Fifth in 2011 World Championships… Second in 2011 Junior World Championships… Third in 2008 and 2010 Junior World Championships… Third in 2009 Pan Am Champs… Eighth in 2008 World Championships… Age: 20

Brazil - Joice Da Silva - Third in 2005, 2006 and 2011 Pan Am Champs… Tenth in 2010 World Championships… Second in 2010 Pan Am Champs… Third in 2009 Pan Am Champs… Fifth in 2008 Pan Am Champs… Eighth in 2007 Pan Am Games… Age: 28

63 kg/138.75 lbs.

United States – Elena Pirozhkova – Second in 2010 World Championships… Fifth in 2011 World Championships… 2008 and 2010 University World champion… 2008, 2009 and 2010 Pan Am Champs champion… Seventh in 2009 World Championships… Second in 2007 Pan Am Champs… Age: 25

Venezuela - Gloria Zavala – Second in 2009 Pan Am Champs… Third in 2007 Pan Am Champs… Age: 33