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Canadian Women Look Strong in Russia

January 24, 2015

(January 24, 2015) Ottawa – With strong Canadian representation, it’s Gold for Erica Wiebe, and bronze for Yeats and Fazzari at the Yarygin Grand Prix in Russia.

With these accomplishments and with the Senior Canadian Championships upcoming March 20-22 in St. Catharines, preparation for TO2015 and Rio 2016 continued in Krasnoyarsk, Russia where the world’s best were gathered.

With the Yarygin title on the line, a strong Canadian female team fought hard on the mats. The Canadian team in Russia included 2014 World Wrestling Bronze Medalist Jillian Gallays (53 kg), two-time Junior World and Youth Olympic Games Champion Dorothy Yeats (69 kg), 2014 Commonwealth Games Champion Erica Wiebe (75 kg), 2014 Commonwealth Games Bronze medalists Jasmine Mian (48 kg) as well as 2014 Canadian Champion Michelle Fazzari (58 kg).

Ottawa’s own Erica Wiebe won the Yarygin Grand Prix title in the 75 kg category in Krasnoyarsk. Wiebe defeated Russian hopeful Alena Starodubtseva 3-2.

Earlier in the day, coach Leigh Vierling had updated support for Wiebe on social media after her first wrestling match.

“Erica Wiebe pins Bukina of RUS to start the day at Ivan Yaryguin,” tweeted Vierling.

Having to make her way through strong Russian wrestlers, Wiebe defeated a Belorussian Marzaliuk in the semifinal.

Now with new milestones in her sites, in the past Wiebe has spoken about why she loves the sport of wrestling.

“There is nothing else like the sweaty, physical chess match that is wrestling. I love the tactical, technical, and gritty aspects of the sport,” said Wiebe when asked in the past.

In the 58kg weight-class, Brock Wrestling Club’s Michelle Fazzari met Shoovdor Baatarzhav (MGL). After beating the Mongolian athlete 3-2, Fazzari confidently defeated Yukako Kawai of Japan with a score of 14-4 winning bronze.

Quebec-based wrestler Dorothy Yeats also won a bronze medal in the 69kg weight-class at the Yarygin Grand Prix in Krasnoyarsk Russia.The Montrealer reached the podium following an 8-6 victory against Masako Furuichi of Japan.

“Like my first two bouts of the day, one in the bronze medal went very well,” said Yeats. “The Japanese wrestler beat me last year so I’m very happy with this victory. I was a little nervous this time, next time, I think I can win quicker.”

Yeats had met the Olympic Champion Natalia Vorobieva, and eventual weigh-class champion, in the semifinal where the Russian won the fight in the second round.

The Canadian team in Russia was supported by coach Leigh Vierling, and medical representative Victoria Cleary. Canadian referee Grigore Gutsu was also working the event.