Helen Maroulis of the USA hits a leg shot on Joice Da Silva of Brazil at 55 kg at the Pan American Games. Maroulis had to wrestle Da Silva twice to earn her win in the first round. Robbert Wijtman photo

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – All three U.S. women’s freestyle wrestlers in competition on Saturday have qualified for the gold-medal finals tonight in the Pan American Games competition at CODE II Gymnasium.

Earning a spot in the finals are Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md./New York AC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.

Team USA went 6-0 in the preliminary rounds. The gold-medal finals will be held at 6:00 p.m. local time, which is the same as the U.S. Central time zone.

Chun, a 2008 World champion, opened with a dominant win over Guadalupe Perez of Mexico, 6-0, 5-0. Chun scored a three-point throw in the first period to silence the crowd and dominated the rest of the match.

Chun won her semifinal match over Carolina Castillo of Colombia, 0-1, 2-0, 5-0. Castillo won the first period with a takedown from the leg clinch. Chun opened up the defensive-minded Castillo in the second period to win 2-0, then got her offense going in the third to seal the win 5-0.

Chun will face 2008 Olympic champion Carol Huynh of Canada in the finals. They have wrestled a number of times during their careers. Chun placed fifth at the 2008 Olympic Games, and has won three Pan American Championships titles. Huyhn is the defending Pan American Games champion, winning the gold in 2007.

Maroulis had to win her opening match over Joice Da Silva of Brazil two times. Maroulis won the first match over Joice Souza Da Silva of Brazil, 2-0, 4-0.

There was a problem in the officiating of the first period. Instead of going to a clinch, they let the wrestlers continue and Maroulis scored to win the period. At least 20 minutes later, Maroulis was recalled to the mat for a partial re-wrestle against Da Silva.

In the second match, they gave Da Silva the leg in the clinch, and she finished for a 1-0 first period win. Maroulis kept the 4-0 second period win from the original match. They went into a third period to decide the winner. Maroulis got a takedown, cradled Da Silva up and pinned her in 44 seconds. The final result ended up being 0-1, 4-0, pin in 0:44 for Maroulis.

The U.S. coaches were aware that the first period was not handled correctly. Coach Terry Steiner believes that once they declared Maroulis as the winner that they should not have re-wrestled the match at all.

“It was the right thing to do, but it wasn’t right. It didn’t follow protocol. FILA made a mistake. They should have owned up to it with the Brazilians, and let the match stand. Luckily, Helen was ready to wrestle and got the job done,” said Steiner.

Maroulis came out strong in the semifinals, shutting out Marcia Andrades of Venezuela, 4-0, 1-0.

She will face two-time Olympic medalist Tonya Verbeek of Canada in the finals. Verbeek was most recently second at the 2011 World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, while Maroulis was fifth. They did not face each other there.

Pirozhkova, a 2010 World silver medalist, opened with a first-period pin over Gloria Zavala of Venezuela in 1:42. In the semifinals, she stopped Sandra Roa of Colombia, 4-0, 8-2.

Pirozhkova will face Katerina Vidiaux of Cuba in the gold-medal match. Pirozhkova beat Vidiaux in the third round of the 2010 World Championships in an exciting 0-6, 4-2, 3-1 match. Pirozhkova also pinned her in the finals of the 2010 Pan American Championships. 

Pirozhkova has won three Pan American Championships titles in her career, while Vidiaux has won three medals in past Pan American Championships but no golds.

All three U.S. women competing at the Pan American Games were members of the 2011 U.S. World Team. Maroulis and Pirozhkova placed fifth in their weight class, while Chun placed seventh. None of the three U.S. women have wrestled in a previous Pan American Games.

PAN AMERICAN GAMES
At Guadalajara, Mexico, Oct. 22

U.S. women’s freestyle performances

48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Guadalupe Perez (Mexico), 6-0, 5-0
WIN Carolina Castillo (Colombia), 0-1, 2-0, 5-0
Gold Medal Finals – Vs. Carol Huynh (Canada)

55 kg/121 lbs. – Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York AC)
WIN Joice Souza Da Silva (Brazil), 0-1, 4-0, 0:44
WIN Marcia Andrades (Venezuela), 4-0, 1-0
Gold Medal Finals - Vs. Tonya Verbeek (Canada)

63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
WIN Gloria Zavala (Venezuela), pin 1:42
WIN Sandra Roa (Colombia), 4-0, 8-2
Gold Medal Finals - Vs. Katerina Vidiaux (Cuba)

U.S. medal match short bios

48 kg/105.5 lbs. gold medal match

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

Canadá - Carol Huynh – 2008 Olympic champion… 2001 World silver medalist… Three-time World bronze medalist (2000, 2005, 2010)… Fifth in 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2011 World Championships… 2010 Commonwealth Games champion… 2007 Pan Am Games champion… Age: 30

55 kg/121 lbs. gold medal match

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

Canadá - Tonya Verbeek – Second in 2011 World Championships… Third in 2008 Olympic Games… Second in 2004 Olympic Games… Third in 2005 and 2009 World Championships… 2003 and 2008 Pan Am Champs champion… Third in 2007 Pan Am Games… Second in 2005 World University Championships… Second in 2003 Pan Am Games… Third in 2002 World University Championships… Age: 34

63 kg/138.75 lbs. gold medal match

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

Cuba - Katerina Vidiaux – Third in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Fifth in 2010 World Championships… Second in 2009 and 2010 Pan Am Champs… Age: 24