The Olympics are right around the corner, and Team USA leaves for Brazil in less than a month. But first, we have one final tournament overseas, highlighted by all four of our women’s Olympians and some junior world teamers on the men's side.

Last year’s Grand Prix of Spain was an incredibly long one-day tournament featuring all three styles. This year, they split up the tourney into a more digestible two-day format, with Greco-Roman and men’s freestyle going first, then the women on Sunday.

James Green's whirlwind schedule continues, as we have seen him in action at the World Cup, Poland and now Spain. Last year, he beat 65kg world champion Frank Chamizo in the finals of this event in one of the more confusing matches of 2015. Green should be a heavy favorite in a bracket with no other ranked wrestlers.

Zahid Valencia was second in Madrid last year, but the 86kg bracket this year includes guys like David Taylor, Reineris Salas Perez (CUB), the Georgians Dato Marsagishvili and Sandro Aminashvili, as well as Istvan Vereb (HUN). 

Also in the mix are Daton Fix and Seth Gross. Fix will be in the 57kg weight and his first round opponent is Mukhamed Kuatbek, who beat Daton in 54kg Youth Olympic Games finals two years ago. Should he win, his next opponent will be Erdenebat (MGL). Seth Gross will be at 61kg, and he has African 57kg champ Adama Diatta (SEN) first round; Diatta is currently ranked 20th at 57kg by UWW.

The women’s tournament alone will be worth the price of admission, especially at 53kg. America is sending defending 55kg world champ Helen Maroulis, but we could also see a couple rematches from the Golden Grand Prix.

Sofia Mattsson (SWE) and Odunayo Adekuoroye (NGR) are ranked second and third in the world, respectively. Helen had two close matches with them in November, as you can see below. Hopefully they match up again so the fans can get a great preview of what Rio will be like at this weight.

Helen Maroulis vs Sofia Mattsson, GGP Final

Helen Maroulis vs Odunayo Adekuoroye, GGP Quarterfinals


The United States’ other world champ will also be in action this weekend, but Adeline Gray will be challenged by seven of the top 12 in this month’s rankings. Aline da Silva Ferreira (BRA) had Adeline on her back in Vegas last year, but still wound up losing 8-2.

Adeline fights off her back to beat Brazil:


Half of the top 20 in UWW’s July rankings at 48kg are listed in the preliminary entry list. This includes Olympic Trials finalists Haley Augello and Victoria Anthony.

Last we saw Augello, she took second in Mongolia to qualify the weight for the Olympics. Anthony has won her past three tourneys featuring international competition, and the inside trip maestro also took a bronze in Spain last year.

At 63kg, Elena Pirozkhkova’s primary competition will be Anastasija Grigorjeva (LAT), who won the Klippan Open and European championship this year. Elena will look to bounce back from a 2-2 performance in Poland.

The Greco team will be led by former world teamer Patrick Martinez, who hopes to improve on his fifth-place finish from a year ago. His first round opponent at 80kg will be Jose Juan Ruiz of Spain. The Greco field will include world champions Roman Vlasov (RUS) and Mijain Lopez (CUB).

Madrid is seven hours ahead of east coast time. Weigh-ins were at noon eastern time, and we will have brackets up as soon as they are posted. Wrestling begins on both days at 3AM eastern. The event website is here.

Men's Freestyle Brackets

Greco-Roman Brackets

U.S. women’s freestyle roster
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Haley Augello, Lockport, Ill. (New York AC/OTC)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Victoria Anthony, Huntington Beach, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Nicole Woody, Odenton, Mich. (Terrapin WC)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Cody Pfau, Brush, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
53 kg/116.5 lbs. – Helen Maroulis, Huntington Beach, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Becka Leathers, Choctaw, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC)
58 kg/128 lbs. - Randi Beltz, Chesterfield, Mo. (Titan Mercury WC)
58 kg/128 lbs. – Jacarra Winchester, San Leandro, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
58 kg/128 lbs. – Kayla Miracle, Campbellsville, Ky. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Maya Nelson, Denver, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Amanda Hendey, San Gabriel, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Mallory Velte, Sacramento, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
69 kg/152 lbs. - Tamyra Mensah, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
69 kg/152 lbs. - Forrest Molinari, Benicia, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
69 kg/152 lbs. - Rachel Watters, Ankeny, Iowa (Gator/OKCU Women’s RTC)
75 kg/165 lbs. – Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC/OTC)
National Women’s Coach – Terry Steiner, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach – Afsoon Johnston, San Diego, Calif.
Coach – Valentin Kalika, Aliso Viejo, Calif.
Coach – Maxim Molonov, Colorado Springs, Colo.

U.S. Men’s freestyle roster
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Daton Fix, Sand Springs, Okla. (Team BIG)
65 kg/143 lbs. – Seth Gross, Rosemount, Minn. (Jackrabbit WC)
70 kg/154 lbs. – James Green, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC)
86 kg/189 lbs. - David Taylor, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
86 kg/189 lbs. – Zahid Valencia, Bellflower, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
Coach – Zeke Jones, Tempe, Ariz.
Coach – Lee Pritts, Tempe, Ariz.
Coach – Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu, State College, Pa.

U.S. Greco-Roman roster
71 kg/156 lbs. – Raymond Bunker, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps)
75 kg/165 lbs. – Jayshon Wilson, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps)
80 kg/176 lbs. – Patrick Martinez, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
98 kg/215 lbs. – Daniel Miller, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps)
Coach – Jason Loukides, Quantico, Va.

Event Schedule

Saturday, July 9
Men’s freestyle (all weights)
Greco-Roman (all weights)
Wrestling starts at 3am eastern

Sunday, July 10
Women’s freestyle (all weights)
Wrestling starts at 3am eastern