One year ago we witnessed a battle between two eventual world champions with a spot on the 2012 Olympic team on the line as Elena Pirozhkova defeated Adeline Gray in an epic showdown at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. 

Gray moved up to 67 kg/147.5 lbs for the World Championships in Canada, as she and Pirozhkova took home the title of 2012 World Champion. 

The 2013 World Team Trials pits the reigning World champion and 2012 Olympian Pirozhkova against a pack of up and comers looking to take over the top spot at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. 

Since the Olympic Trials Adeline Gray has transitioned up to the 72 kg/158.5 lbs weight class leaving the door open for another young star to emerge and challenge Pirozhkova in Stillwater, Okla. 

Top of the list of challengers is Erin Clodgo, the 2013 U.S. Open runner-up to Pirozhkova. Clodgo has posted a successful run the past couple of years finishing second at the 2013 University Nationals, second at the 2012 World Team Wrestle-off, fourth at the 2012 Olympic Trials and second at the 2011 Pan American Championships. She was also a U.S. Open champion at 67 kg/147.5 lbs in 2010.

The third place finisher at the U.S. Open, Jennifer Page, is also looking to capitalize and make her first World Team after finishing third at the Olympic Trials a year ago. Page is coming off championships at the 2013 Body Bar Women’s Nationals, 2013 University Nationals, and 2012 WCWA Women’s College Nationals. She also made the 2013 Pan American team which competed in Panama City, Panama at the Pan American Championships earlier this year.

Another blossoming college star is Amanda Hendey, who finished fourth at this year’s U.S. Open. Hendey was fourth at the 2013 WCWA Women’s College Nationals and third at the 2013 University Nationals. In addition, Hendey is a 2012 FILA Junior Pan American Champion, 2011 Pan American silver medalist and was a U.S. Open finalist while still in high school. 

Other placers from the U.S. Open who have the ability to challenge at the World Team Trials include fifth place finisher Lauren Louive, sixth place finisher Kayla Aggio and seventh place finisher Shai Mason, all of whom have solid college credentials as well.

Be on the lookout for other college standouts to make some noise at this weight as well. WCWA All-Americans Monica Ramirez, Stephanie Geltmacher and Tamyra Mensah are all qualified to compete at 63 kg/138.75 lbs and would provide great depth to the weight class.

With only the four Olympic weights competing at the World Team Trials next week, those who have qualified to wrestle at a non-Olympic weight have the option to compete in Stillwater at an Olympic weight or wait to earn a spot on the world team at a non-Olympic weight later this summer. 

Due to this nuance, it is possible that the 59 kg/130 lbs U.S. Open Champion Alli Ragan will also be competing at her former weight class of 63 kg/138.75 lbs in Stillwater. Ragan has shown tremendous strides this year and will surely be a force to reckon with should she decide to compete at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. In addition to winning the U.S. Open, Ragan placed first at the 2013 University Nationals and WCWA Nationals, respectively. She is also a two-time FILA Junior World bronze medalist and a member of the 2013 Women’s World Cup team.

Other athletes could bump up from 59 kg/130 lbs or drop down from 67 kg/147.5 lbs, making this bracket even tougher.

This weight has great depth, but with the world champion waiting at the far end of a loaded challenge bracket, it will be an upset to see Pirozhkova lose her five-year streak on the World Team. 

2013 U.S. OPEN WOMEN’S FREESTYLE RESULTS AT 63 KG/138.75 LBS
1st – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 3-0
3rd – Jennifer Page, Orangevale, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC) dec. Amanda Hendey, Beaumont, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC), 0-4, 1-0, 3-0
5th – Lauren Louive, Massilon, Ohio (UC Women’s Wrestling) dec. Kayla Aggio, Rohnert Park, Calif. (OKCU Gator Women’s RTC), 4-0, 3-0
7th – Shai Mason, Gardenia, Calif. (Jimmie WC) dec. Deyvonne Mondragon, Camarillo, Calif. (UC Women’s Wrestling), 3-0, 6-0

2013 U.S. WORLD TEAM TRIALS QUALIFIERS AT 63 KG/138.75 LBS
’12 Olympic Team Trials Champion –Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
’12 Olympic Team Trials second place –Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC)
’12 Olympic Team Trials third place –Jennifer Page, Orangevale, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
’13 WFS U.S. Open Champion – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
’13 WFS U.S. Open second place – Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
’13 WFS U.S. Open third place – Jennifer Page, Orangevale, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
’13 WFS U.S. Open fourth place – Amanda Hendey, Beaumont, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
’13 WFS U.S. Open fifth place – Lauren Louive, Massillon, Ohio (UC Women’s Wrestling)
’13 WFS U.S. Open sixth place – Kayla Aggio, Rohnert Park, Calif. (OKCU Gator Women’s RTC)
’13 WFS U.S. Open seventh place – Shai Mason, Gardenia, Calif. (Jimmie Wrestling Club)
’13 WFS U.S. Open Champion at 67 kg– Veronica Carlson, Addison, Ill. (NYAC)
’13 WFS U.S. Open second place at 67 kg– Tamyra Mensah, Katy, Texas (Wayland Baptist)
’13 WFS U.S. Open third place at 67 kg– Demi Strub, Guilford, Ind. (OKCU Gator Women’s RTC)
’13 WFS U.S. Open fourth place at 67 kg – Brittany David, Brentwood, Calif. (Lindenwood Women’s WC)
’13 WFS U.S. Open fifth place at 67 kg – Kelsey Baker, Amarillo, Texas (Amarillo)
’13 WFS U.S. Open sixth place at 67 kg – Julia Salata, Canton, Mich. (NYAC)
’13 WFS U.S. Open seventh place at 67 kg – Hayley Kinney, Murietta, Calif. (Team OTC)
’13 WCWA Nationals Champion at 136 – Alli Ragan, Carbondale, Ill. (King College)
’13 WCWA Nationals second place at 136 – Monica Ramirez, St. Charles, Mo. (Lindenwood)
’13 WCWA Nationals third place at 136 – Kayla Aggio, Rohnert Park, Calif. (Oklahoma City)
’13 WCWA Nationals second place at 143 – Stephanie Geltmacher, Kahalui, Hawaii (Oklahoma City)
’13 WCWA Nationals third place at 143 – Tamyra Mensah, Katy, Texas (Wayland Baptist)
’13 WCWA Nationals fourth place at 143 – Amanda Hendey, Beaumont, Calif. (King College)
’13 WFS University National Champion – Jennifer Page, Orangevale, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
’13 WFS University National second place – Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
’12 World Team Wrestle-Off (non-Olympic weight) Champion – Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo.(New York AC)
’12 World Team Wrestle-Off (non-Olympic weight) second place – Jennifer Page, Orangevale, Calif. (OTC)
’13 WFS University National Champion – Veronica Carlson, Addison, Ill. (NYAC)
’13 WFS University National second place – Tamyra Mensah, Katy, Texas (Wayland Baptist)
’12 Heydar Aliyev FILA Golden Grand Prix second place – Veronica Carlson, Addison, Ill. (NYAC)
’13 Klippan Lady Open second place – Julia Salata, Canton, Mich. (NYAC)
’13 Northern Plains Regional Champion – Michele Muscato, Henderson, Nev. (unattached)