Erin Clodgo receives her 63 kg bronze medal at the Ivan Yarygin Memorial Grand Prix in Russia. Izzy Izboinikov photo

KRASNOYARSK, Russia – Erin Clodgo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) won a bronze medal at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. on the second day of the Ivan Yarygin Memorial Grand Prix on Saturday.

Clodgo went 3-1 in the competition, defeating Alla Cherkasova of Ukraine in the bronze-medal round, 1-0, 2-2.

She opened with wins over Julia Albarova of Russia, 1-7, 2-0, 4-0 and Anistasija Bratchikova of Russia), 2-3, 2-1, 4-0. Her only loss came in the semifinals, when she fell to two-time Olympic champion Kaori Icho of Japan, 0-2, 0-6.

“I would like especially highlight performance of Erin Clodgo,” said Assistant National Women’s Coach Izzy Izboinikov. “She won matches through some tough battles, often coming back from behind. It was a day of much needed success for her. Erin has been working extremely hard in all aspects of wrestling and it was exiting to watch her perform today.”

Four other U.S. women wrestlers competed on Saturday, none who were able to medal.

At 55 kg/121 lbs., two-time U.S. World Team member Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md./New York AC) finished with a 2-2 record. She on her first two bouts, but was defeated in her next two matches.

In the two day event for women in Krasnoyarsk, the U.S. finished with two medals, Clodgo and Jessica Medina (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. on Friday.

The rest of the team looked flat and under performed. It looked like the tournament caught us in a bad time from the performance standpoint. I don't think we were firing on all cylinders coming out of Christmas break. We need to regain the momentum we had going into the December Nationals. With the Dave Schultz Memorial just around the corner, the athletes will have a quick opportunity to redeem some disappointments from the past weekend,” said Izboinikov.

Two past Olympic champions won golds on Saturday, Icho and 2004 Olympic champion Irini Merlini of Ukraine at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.

There were two weights contested in the men’s division. The U.S. had one entry, 2010 World Team member Brent Metcalf (Iowa City, Iowa/New York AC), who went 1-1 in the competition. 

Metcalf opened with a win over Mulid Lampejgev of Russia but was beaten in the second round by veteran Leonid Spiridonov of Kazakhstan.

IVAN YARYGIN MEMORIAL GRAND PRIX
At Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Jan. 28

48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold - Irini Merleni (Ukraine)
Silver - Yuki Irie (Japan)
Bronze - Marina Vilmova (Russia)
Bronze – Lubov Salnikov (Russia)

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold - Kanako Murata (Japan)
Silver - Valeria Zholobova (Russia)
Bronze - Ayim Abdildina (Kazakhstan)
Bronze - Maria Gurova (Russia). 

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold - Kaori Icho (Japan)
Silver - Natalia Smirnova (Russia)
Bronze - Erin Clodgo (USA)
Bronze – Lubov Volosova (Russia)

72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Gold - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria)
Silver - Burmaa Ochirbat (Mongolia)
Bronze – Natalya Vorobaeva (Russia)
Bronze - Alena Starodubtseva (two-Russia). 

U.S. women’s freestyle results on Saturday

48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
LOSS Irini Merlini (Ukraine), 1-7, 0-6
LOSS Victoria Anthony (USA), 3-4, 5-3, 3-3

48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Victoria Anthony, Huntington Beach, Calif. (New York AC)
LOSS Irini Merlini (Ukraine), 0-1, 0-1
WIN Alyssa Lampe (USA), 4-3, 5-5, 3-3
LOSS Lubov Salnikova (Russia), 0-6, 0-1

55 kg/121 lbs. – Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York AC)
WIN Khongorzul Lhagvasuren (Mongolia), pin
WIN Marina Shishkina (Russia), 3-0, 2-0
LOSS Valeria Zholobova (Russia), 0-6, 0-7
LOSS Aizhan Ismagulova (Kazakhstan), 0-4, 0-4

63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 3rd
WIN Julia Albarova (Russia), 1-7, 2-0, 4-0
WIN Anistasija Bratchikova (Russia), 2-3, 2-1, 4-0
LOSS Kaori Icho (Japan), 0-2, 0-6
WIN Alla Cherkasova (Ukraine), 1-0, 2-2

72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
LOSS Hiroe Suzuki (Japan), 0-1, 0-1

Men’s freestyle results

60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold - Rasul Murtazaliev (Russia) 
Silver - Opan Sat (Russia)
Bronze - Ahmed Chakaev (Russia) 
Bronze - Bulat Basaev (Russia) 

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold - Aslan Gogaev (Russia) 
Silver - Khetip Tsabolov (Russia) 
Bronze – Soslan Ramonov (Russia) 
Bronze - Adam Batirov (Russia)

U.S. men’s freestyle athlete on Saturday

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC)
WIN Mulid Lampejgev (Russia), 3-1, 0-1, 4-0
LOSS Leonid Spiridonov (Kazakhstan), 0-7, 0-1