Some of the United States’ best women’s freestyle wrestlers will compete at the Women’s Freestyle Senior Wrestling Cup in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on March 1-3. Qualified countries for this year’s World Cup are China, Japan, the United States, Canada, Kazakhstan, Belarus, India and Mongolia. These were the top teams based upon results at the 2012 Olympics. Defending team champion Japan will be returning to this year’s World Cup. Along with the U.S. and Japan, China, Canada and Mongolia are all returning teams from 2012. The United States took 7th place in 2012 and has not won a Women’s World Cup since 2003. The timing of this year’s Women’s World Cup could not be more crucial, said National Women’s Team Coach, Terry Steiner. “In the big picture it’s an important time and I’m glad the World Cup is now. It’s a good time for a group of nations to get together and talk about how we’re going to keep our sport [in the 2020 Olympics],†he said. The worldwide commitment to the preservation of wrestling as an Olympic sport was also shown at last weekend’s men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman World Cup in Tehran, Iran. The Women’s World Cup will serve as another opportunity for top wrestling nations to band together to show the world and the International Olympic Committee the importance and global appeal of wrestling. Like in any competition, Steiner is hopeful about the results of the World Cup and shows confidence in Team USA. “I think the World Cup is going to be a great competition. I have good expectations, we compete to win and we’re looking for good results,†he said. Leading this year’s team is Elena Pirozhkova, who was the 2012 World champion and also served on the 2012 Olympic Team. In 2010 she won gold at the World University Championships and silver at the World Championships. Other star athletes headed to Mongolia this week are Helen Maroulis at 55 kg and Alyssa Lampe at 48 kg. Maroulis placed second at the 2012 World Championships, was a 2008 and 2010 Junior World bronze medalist and was a 2008 and 2011 World Team member. Lampe was a 2012 World and 2007 Junior World bronze medalist. Wrestling at 51 kg will be two-time Senior World Team member Jessica Medina. 2009 Junior World silver medalist Veronica Carlson at 67 kg and two-time Junior World bronze medalist Alli Ragan at 59 kg will also represent the U.S. at this year’s World Cup. Also on the roster is Brittney Roberts at 72 kg, who placed third in the 2011 U.S. Open and fourth in the 2012 U.S. Open. WOMEN’S FREESTYLE SENIOR WRESTLING WORLD CUP At Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, March 1-3 Event Schedule Friday, March 1 5-6:00 p.m. – Medical examinations 6:15-6:45 p.m. – Weigh-ins Saturday, March 2 10 a.m.-Noon – Session 1 2:30-3 p.m. – Opening Ceremony 3:00-5:00 p.m. – Session 2 5:00-7:00 p.m. – Session 3 Sunday, March 3 10 a.m.-Noon – Final matches: 7th/8th and 5th/6th place matches 5:00-6:00 p.m. – Final matches: 3rd/4th place matches 6:00-7:00 p.m. – Final matches: 1st/2nd place matches USA WOMEN’S 2013 WORLD CUP TENTATIVE ROSTER 48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) 51 kg/112.25 lbs. – Jessica Medina, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) 55 kg/121 lbs. – Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (Sunkist Kids) 59 kg/130 lbs. – Alli Ragan, Carbondale, Ill. (New York AC/King College) 63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) 67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Veronica Carlson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) 72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Brittney Roberts, Santa Fe, Texas (Gator WC) Team Leader – Noel Thompson, New York, N.Y. Coaches – National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Billy Wood, Pocatello, Id. Medical – Becky Ball, Denver, Colo. Officials – Danny Blackshear, Oklahoma City, Okla.; Rusty Davidson, Grants, N.M.