KAZAN, Russia – Brittney Roberts (Santa Fe, Texas/OKCU/Gator RTC), won a silver medal at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. in the women’s freestyle competition at the World University Games on Saturday.

Roberts, a graduate of Oklahoma City University, had a very strong day. She dominated her first three matches to become the first American wrestler to make the finals at the World University Games so far. Included were an 8-0 technical fall over Yulia Laverniuk, a pin of Galina Levchenko in 2:13 in the quarterfinals, and a 7-0 technical fall over Tsevgmed Enkhbayar of Mongolia in the semifinals.

Roberts was defeated in the finals by 2011 World silver medalist Ekatarina Bukina of Russia by technical fall, 0-7.

Roberts was a 2013 U.S. Open champion and second in the 2013 World Team Trials.

“Brittney Roberts took another step in her new found success. She went through opponents from Ukraine, Belarus and Mongolia with little or no problems demonstrating good stamina and technique along the way. In the finals she lost to multiple wold medalist from Russia,” said USA coach Izzy Izboinikov.

Three U.S. athletes who competed on Saturday fell short of the medal rounds, all who won one match during their competition: Victoria Anthony (Huntington Beach, Calif./New York AC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Sarah Hildebrandt, Granger, Ind., (King College) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Jennifer Page, Orangevale, Calif., (Titan Mercury WC) at  63 kg/138.75 lbs.

“This was a tough day of competition. The day started with a strong performance in early rounds and turned into hard fought battles later in a day. After the smoke had cleared, Team USA had a second place winner in Brittney Roberts with the rest of the team not reaching the podium,” said Izboinikov.

Roberts is the third American to win a medal at the World University Games in wrestling so far. The men’s freestyle event completed on Friday, with bronze medals won by David Taylor at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Tyrell Fortune at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Three other U.S. wrestlers weighed in on Saturday and received their draws for the first round on Sunday.

At 51 kg/112.25 lbs., Candace Workman (Colorado Springs, Colo./OTC) opens with 2008 European bronze medalist Tiina Ylinen of Finland.
 
Two-time Junior World bronze medalist Alli Ragan (Carbondale, Ill./NYAC/King College) faces 2011 Asian Junior champion Ayako Ito of Japan in her first-round bout at 59 kg/130 lbs.

At 67 kg/145.5 lbs., Veronica Carlson (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) battles Zarina Kunangarayeva of Kazakhstan, who was fifth in the 2013 Asian Senior Championships.

Ragan and Carlson were 2013 U.S. Senior Open champions.

WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES
At Kazan, Russia, July 13

Women’s freestyle medalists

48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold - Eri Tosaka (Japan)
Silver - Patimat Bagomedova (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Valeriya Chepsarakova (Russia)
Bronze - Mariya Livach (Ukraine)

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold - Valeriia Koblova (Russia)
Silver - Iryna Husyak (Ukraine)
Bronze - Sun Byol Hwang (North Korea)
Bronze - Kanako Murata (Japan)

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold - Battsetseg Soronzonbold (Mongolia)
Silver - Mariia Liulkova (Russia)
Bronze - Maryia Mamashuk (Belarus)
Bronze - Irina Netreba (Azerbaijan)

72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Gold - Ekaterina Bukina (Russia)
Silver - Brittney Roberts (USA)
Bronze - Galina Levchenko (Belarus)
Bronze - Erica Wiebe (Canada)

U.S. women’s freestyle results

48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Victoria Anthony, Huntington Beach, Calif. (New York AC)
WIN Lenka Matejova (Slovakia), tech. fall 7-0
LOSS Eri Tosaka (Japan), 2-7
LOSS Valeriya Chepsarakova (Russia), 1-2

55 kg/121 lbs. – Sarah Hildebrandt, Granger, Ind., (King College)
WIN Burcu Kebic (Turkey), tech. fall, 11-4
LOSS Sun Byol Hwang (North Korea), 2-4
 
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Jennifer Page, Orangevale, Calif., (Titan Mercury WC)
WIN Garrido Irene Garcia (Spain), tech fall, 7-0
LOSS Rio Watari (Japan), tech fall, 0-7

72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Brittney Roberts, Santa Fe, Texas, (OKCU/Gator RTC), silver medal
WIN Yulia Laverniuk (Ukraine) , tech fall, 8-0
WIN Galina Levchenko (Belarus), pin 2:13
WIN Tsevegmed Enkhbayar (Mongolia), tech fall 7-0
LOSS Ekatarina Bukina (Russia), tech fall, 0-7

U.S. women's draws for Sunday

51 kg/112.25 lbs. – Candace Workman, Colorado Springs, Colo., (OTC)
Vs. Tiina Ylinen (Finland)
 
59 kg/130 lbs. – Alli Ragan, Carbondale, Ill., (NYAC/King College)
Vs. Ayako Ito (Japan)

67 kg/145.5 lbs. – Veronica Carlson, Colorado Springs, Colo., (NYAC)
Vs. Zarina Kunangarayeva (Kazakhstan)