Jake Varner, shown at 2012 Olympic Trials, won the Canada Cup as a tune-up for the upcoming Olympic Games. Larry Slater photo

GUELPH, Canada – The United States had five individual champions at the Canada Cup, an international freestyle tournament for men and women held at the University of Guelph on Saturday.

A pair of 2012 U.S. Olympians, men’s freestyle star Jake Varner (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and women’s freestyle star Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.

Varner, a 2011 World bronze medalist, looked dominant on his way to the title, defeating Marjot Sanduu of Canada in the finals in two straight periods.

“Jake really wrestled well,” said U.S. Olympic freestyle coach Mark Manning. “His conditioning was good and he worked his offense very well. It was a great tuneup for him to get some matches prior to the Olympics.”

Pirozhkova, a 2010 World silver medalists, defeated long-time rival Justine Bouchard of Canada in the finals in three periods. Bouchard, also a past World medalist, won the first period on the clinch. Pirozhkova recovered to win the next two periods, scoring offensive takedowns in both.

“Elena had great positioning in the finals,” said National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner. “Bouchard got to her legs some, but she had unbelievable defense. Her offense got her the victory. It was a great battle between two outstanding wrestlers.

Two of the U.S. champions were members of the 2010 U.S. World Team, men’s freestyler Les Sigman (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. and  women’s freestyler Alyssa Lampe (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.

Sigman controlled the competition on the way to the title, defeating an American, 2012 NCAA champion Tony Nelson (Cambridge, Minn./Minnesota Storm) in the finals in two straight periods. 

“Les wrestled really inspired and really relaxed out there,” said Manning.

Lampe was strong in all positions on the way to her title, stopping Jasmine Mian of Canada in the championship finals.

“Alyssa also had tremendous positioning,” said Steiner. “The Canadian girl in the finals could not get past her head. It was a great effort by Alyssa.”

The other two champions were from the New York AC training at the Finger Lakes WC Regional Training Center, Frank Perrelli (Hackettstown, N.J./New York AC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Duke Pickett (Culpepper, Va./New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs. Perrelli won four matches in a round-robin to take his title, while Pickett stopped Canadian David Olver in the finals.

“Frank Perrelli dominated the other four guys at his weight class. He has a bright future at 55 kg,” said Manning. “We got another champion at 74 kg. Pickett found a way to win.”

Two other U.S. Olympians saw action. Clarissa Chun placed fifth at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. on the women’s side and Jared Frayer wrestled two bouts at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. in men’s freestyle.

“Chun was not clicking on all cylinders, but that is why we come here, to get matches and compete,” said Steiner.

“Jared wrestled two matches and withdrew as planned,” said Manning. “He had a good pin over a tough Cuban in one of his matches.”

Joining Nelson as a silver medalist for the United States was 2011 World bronze medalist Adeline Gray (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), wrestling up a weight at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. Gray scored a big win over 2010 World silver medalist Ohenewa Akuffo of Canada, but was beaten by Erica Weibe of Canada in her final bout of the day.

The U.S. got a bronze medal in men’s freestyle from former Cornell star Mike Grey (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC) at 60 kg/132 lbs. Grey, now on the Big Red coaching staff, has not competed in almost two years. Another bronze medal went to Joe Rau (Chicago, Ill.), who was third at 84 kg/185 lbs.

The U.S. coaches were pleased with how the tournament went for the Olympians there, in preparation for London.

“After having training camp the last few weeks, this was a great tuneup with the Olympic Games just six weeks away,” said Manning. “It gave Jared and Jake some matches, to see what they should work on the rest of the way.”

“We also had a good week in training, with Olympians Kelsey Campbell and Ali Bernard getting some great workouts,” said Steiner. “We have to keep moving forward and stay on course. We have a good plan in place and we have people willing to work hard to achieve their dreams.”

Complete results will be posted when received.

CANADA CUP
At Guelph, Canada, June 30

Men's Individual Medalists

55 kg/121 lbs.
1 - Frank Perrelli (USA)
2 - Aso Palani (Canada)
3 - Steven Takahashi (London-Western WC)

60 kg/132 lbs.
1 - Alejandro Valdez (Cuba)
2 - Yowly Bonne Rodriguez (Cuba)
3 - Mike Grey (USA)

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
1 - Haislan Garcia (Canada)
2 - Kevin Iwasa-Madge (Guelph WC)
3 - Andy Moreno Gonzalez (Cuba)

74 kg/163 lbs.
1 - Duke Prickett (USA)
2 - Daniel Olver (Saskatoon WC)
3 - Sam Sepehripour (BMWC)

84 kg/185 lbs.
1 - Humberto Martinez (Cuba)
2 - Yuriesky Torres Queralta (Cuba)
3 - Joe Rau (USA)

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
1 - Jake Varner (USA)
2 - Manjot Sandhu (Canada)
3 - Javier Lacerra (Cuba)

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
1 - Les Sigman (USA)
2 - Tony Nelson (USA)
3 - Korey Jarvis (Guelph WC)

U.S. men’s freestyle placements

55 kg/121 lbs. – Frank Perrelli, Hackettstown, N.J. (New York AC), 1st
WIN Azo Palani (Canada)
WIN Steven Takahashi (Canada-London)
WIN Brandon Escobar (Honduras)
WIN Rafiq Charania (Canada-Black Bear)

60 kg/132 lbs. - Mike Grey, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC), 3rd
WIN Thomas Ostapowich (Canada-Cattown)
WIN Mike Asselstine (Canada-Bears)
LOSS Alejandro Valdez (Cuba)
WIN Nick Rowe (Canada-Brock)
WIN Justin Basra (Canada-ROC FC)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Jared Frayer, Norman, Okla. (Gator WC), withdrew
WIN Andy Moreno Gonzalez (Cuba), pin
WIN Kyle Rose (Canada-Brock)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Nicholas Nelson, San Diego, Calif. (unattached),  dnp
LOSS Cruiz Manning (Canada-Guelph)
LOSS Kyle Rose (Canada-Brock)

74 kg/163 lbs. - Duke Pickett, Culpepper, Va. (New York AC), 1st
WIN Ryan Myrfield (Canada-Saskatoon)
WIN Connor Malloy (Canada-Cattown)
WIN Connor Hodgins (Canada-Dinos)
WIN Daniel OIver (Canada-Saskatoon)

74 kg/163 lbs. – Zack Kulczycki, Providence, R.I. (Nieves WC), dnp
LOSS Sam Sepehri (Canada-BMWC)
LOSS Ryan Myrfield (Canada-Saskatoon)

84 kg/185 lbs. – Travis Paulson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), withdrew
WIN Joe Rau (USA)
WIN Alex Burk (Canada-Dinos)
LOSS Yuriesky Torres Queralta (Cuba)

84 kg/185 lbs. - Joe Rau, Chicago, Ill. (New York AC), 3rd
WIN Josh Dawson (Canada-London)
LOSS Travis Paulson (USA)
WIN Jason Margo (Canada-Bears)
WIN Jeff Anderson (Canada-Myrmidon)
WIN Geordie Watkins (Canada-Guelph), pin 
WIN Boris Kulch (Canada-Myrmidon), forfeit
WIN Travis Paulson (USA), inj. Dft
WIN Jasmit Phulka (Canada-BMWC)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC), 1st
WIN Ali Al-Rebaki (Canada-Montreal)
WIN Sean House (Canada-Hamilton)
WIN Javier Lacerra (Cuba)
WIN Manjot Sandhu (Canada)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Les Sigman, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC), 1st
WIN Gurdeep Beesla (Canada-Montreal)
WIN Kyle Frey (USA)
WIN Ilya Manukhov (Canada-Impact)
WIN Tony Nelson (USA)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tony Nelson, Cambridge, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 2nd
WIN Gurjot Kooner (Canada-BMWC)
WIN Korey Jarvis (Canada-Guelph)
LOSS Les Sigman (USA)

120 kg/264.5 lbs - Kyle Frey, Washington, N.J. (New York AC), 5th
LOSS Les Sigman (USA)
WIN Sunny Dhinsa (Canada)
WIN Ryan Lancaster (Canada-Myrmidon)
LOSS Korey Jarvis (Canada-Guelph)
WIN Gurdeep Beesla (Canada-Montreal), inj. Dft.

Women’s freestyle medalists

48 kg/105.5 lbs.
1 - Alyssa Lampe (USA)
2 - Jasmine Mian (Brock WC)
3 - Miyuu Yamamoto (Independent)

51 kg/112.25 lbs.
1 - Jessica MacDonald (Canada)
2 - Gen Haley (Canada)
3 - Stephanie Riopel (Brock WC)

55 kg/121 lbs.
1 - Brittanee Laverdure (Canada)
2 - Sam Stewart (Black Bears WC)
3 - Brianne Barry (London-Western WC)

59 kg/130 lbs.
1 - Braxton Papadopoulos (Team Impact)
2 - Celeste Contant-Rodriguez (Brock WC)
3 - Natasha Chang (Brock WC)

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
1 - Elena Pirozhkova (USA)
2 - Justine Bouchard (Canada)
3 - Danielle Lappage (Canada)

67 kg/147.5 lbs.
1 - Dori Yeats (Montreal-YMHA)
2 - Stacey Anaka (Canada)
3 - Megan Buydens (Saskatoon WC)

72 kg/158.5 lbs.
1 - Erica Wiebe (Canada)
2 - Adeline Gray (USA)
3 - Justine Di Stasio (BMWC)

U.S. Women’s freestyle results

48 kg/105.5 lbs – Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 5th
WIN Ashley McKilligan (Canada)
LOSS Jasmine Mian (Canada-Brock)
WIN Jade Parsons (Canada-Brock)
LOSS Natasha Kramble (Canada-Saskatoon)
WIN Lyndsey Aleida (Canada-Bears)

48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 1st
WIN Carol Huynh (Canada), inj. Dft.
WIN Lyndsey Aleida (Canada-Bears)
WIN Natasha Kramble (Canada-Saskatoon)
WIN Jasmine Mian (Canada-Brock)

51 kg/112.25 lbs. – Taylor Zbornay, Manchester, Conn. (Nieves WC), 5th
LOSS Madi Parks (Canada-London)
Bye
LOSS Stephanie Ropiel (Canada-Brock)
WIN Madi Parks (Canada-London), inj.

51 kg/112.25 lbs. – Kalin Knight-Alvarez, Vista, Calif. (unattached), 4th
LOSS Stephanie Ropiel (Canada-Brock)
WIN Madi Parks (Canada-London)
LOSS Stephanie Ropiel (Canada-Brock)

59 kg/130 lbs. – Elena Glassman, Cambridge, Mass. (Nieves WC), 4th
LOSS Natasha Chang (Canada-Brock)
WIN Erica D’Angelo (Canada-Hamilton)
WIN Amanda Gerhart (Canada-BMWC), forfeit
LOSS Natasha Chang (Canada-Brock)

63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 1st 
WIN Marien Figueroa (Canada-Bears)
WIN Larissa D’Alleva (Canada-London), pin
WIN Justine Bouchard (Canada), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0

67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Julia Salata, Canton, Mich. (unattached), 4th
WIN Kelsey Daylor (Canada-Lakehead)
LOSS Stacey Anaka (Canada)
WIN Alyshia Anderson (Canada-Hamilton)
LOSS Megan Buydens (Canada-Saskatoon)

72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 2nd
WIN Justina Distasio (Canada-BMWC)
WIN Ohenewa Akuffo (Canada)
LOSS Erica Weibe (Canada)