World silver medalist Helen Maroulis, shown at the 2013 U.S. Open, will be part of a strong USA team at the Battle At The Falls on May 31. Photo by John Sachs - Tech-Fall.com

(Colorado Springs, Colo., USA – May 24, 2013) USA Wrestling announced its line-up for the “Battle At The Falls” women’s wrestling event in Niagara Falls, Canada on May 31st. All seven 2013 U.S. Open champions are on the U.S. team, which makes this the strongest team which the United States could field for the competition.

The United States, Canada and Ukraine will compete in dual meets at this spectacular event, which is being held on the last day of World Wrestling Month.

“We want some good experience and we want some results,” said U.S. National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner. “We are taking our No. 1s up there to get two victories. I am hoping we can do that.”

Among the U.S. team members is 2012 World champion, 2010 World silver medalist and 2012 Olympian Elena Pirozhkova at 63 kg. Pirozhkova has won two University World titles.

Two other medalists from the 2012 World Championships, which were held in Strathcona County, Canada, include silver medalist Helen Maroulis at 55 kg and bronze medalist Alyssa Lampe at 48 kg. Both were medalists at the Junior World Championships earlier in their career.

Veronica Carlson, a past Junior World silver medalist, will compete at 67 kg, and two-time Junior World bronze medalist Alli Ragan will wrestle at 59 kg.

Two-time World Team member Jessica Medina will wrestle at 51 kg, and young star Brittany Roberts will compete at 72 kg. Also on the U.S. roster is past U.S. Open champion Erin Clodgo at 63 kg.

“I’m very excited to compete. Canada and Ukraine are some of the best wrestling countries in the world and it will be great to face some strong competition. It’s a great opportunity to promote Olympic wrestling and show everyone the unity the countries in the world have. And I’m very excited to wrestle in Niagara Falls. I went there in high school and it was a pretty cool place to visit,” said Alyssa Lampe.

The athletes are also looking forward to wrestling under the new rules of international wrestling, which were announced at the FILA Congress in Moscow, Russia on May 18.

“They definitely promote more wrestling and more action. It’s going to make the sport more exciting. It is going to reward a wrestler who is more aggressive, which I feel works in my favor,” said Lampe.

With all three teams bringing their most talented athletes, the competition is expected to be outstanding.

“The USA and Canada have been top five programs in the world for a number of years. Ukraine has been the top team in Europe for the last five years. It will bring together some great programs, and we will see a high quality of wrestling,” said Steiner.

The U.S. delegation will be led by wrestling legend Dan Gable, a member of the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame and a legend in the sport. Gable was a 1972 Olympic champion, 1971 World champion and 1971 Pan American Games champion. He also coached a number of U.S. Olympic teams for the United States. As a long-time coach at the University of Iowa, he led the Hawkeyes to a record 15 NCAA team titles.

Team USA is also bringing one of the pioneers of women’s wrestling in the United States as a team delegate, three-time World medalist Afsoon Roshanzamir-Johnston. She was one of the world’s top wrestlers in the years before women’s wrestling became a sport on the Olympic program.

More information can be found at http://battleatthefalls.blogspot.ca and on Facebook by searching “Battle At The Falls”. You can also follow the event on twitter, at www.twitter.com/WrestlingCanada

BATTLE AT THE FALLS
At Niagara Falls, Canada, May 31

U.S. women’s freestyle team
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. (Titan Mercury WC) 
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Veronica Carlson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Brittney Roberts, Santa Fe, Texas (OKCU Gator RTC)
National Women’s Coach – Terry Steiner, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach – Alex Conti, Fredonia, N.Y.
Medical – Jodi Loecke, Johnstown, Colo.
Team Leader – Dan Gable, Iowa City, Iowa
Team Delegate – Bonnie Marks, New York, N.Y.
Team Delegate – Afsoon Roshanzamir-Johnston, San Diego, Calif.

Event Schedule

Friday, May 31
 
2-4 pm - Free Wrestling clinic with three-time Olympic Medalist Tonya Verbeek & Other Olympic Stars (for coaches and athletes)
 
4-5 pm - USA vs Ukraine
 
5-8 pm - Canada Vs Ukraine and Canada vs USA