USA Wrestling has announced its 2006 Winter Tour schedule for women's freestyle wrestling. The nation's top Olympic-caliber women wrestlers will compete in a number of major international competitions this winter, testing themselves against many of the world's greatest wrestlers and teams.

Each year, USA Wrestling sends teams on international tours, which allows top athletes to improve themselves by competing against talented international opponents and gaining experience at the highest levels. The tours also allow the wrestlers to prepare for the major domestic events later in the year, including the U.S. Nationals and World Team Trials.

The first U.S. women's tour team will travel to Krasnoyarsk, Russia to compete in the Ivan Yarygin Memorial International Jan. 26-27. Five members of the 2005 U.S. World Team will participate in this tour.

Among the stars on this trip is 2005 World champion Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. Two-time World bronze medalist Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) will wrestle at 59 kg/130 lbs. Two other past World medalists, 2001 World silver medalist Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) and 2003 World bronze medalist Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) will wrestle at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. Also on this tour is 2004 University World champion Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs.

The next U.S. women's tour will compete in two events in Europe, the Vehbi Emre Golden Grand Prix in Izmir, Turkey, Feb. 24-26 and the Klippan Ladies Golden Grand Prix in Klippan, Sweden, March 3-5. Both of these events are among the new FILA Golden Grand Prix events, which provides prize money to athletes based upon their placement.

Two-time World champion Kristie Marano (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) will compete at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. on this tour. In addition, all five of the past U.S. World medalists who were on the tour to Russia will also attend the tour to Turkey and Sweden. This includes Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs., Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs., Tina George (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 59 kg/130 lbs. and Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. 

The final U.S. women's tour team will travel to Minsk, Belarus to compete at the Alexander Medved International, March 24-26. Leading the U.S. team will be 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Patricia Miranda (New Haven, Conn./Sunkist Kids) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. Also on the tour are 2005 World bronze medalist Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs and 2003 World bronze medalist Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. Two-time Junior World champion Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./Univ. of Regina) will compete on the tour at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

Women's Freetyle Tours

Ivan Yarygan Memorial International, Krasnoyarsk, Russia, Jan. 26-27
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Jenny Wong, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
59 kg/130 lbs. - Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Coach - Sergei Beloglazov, Gilbert, Ariz.

Vehbi Emre Golden Grand Prix in Izmir, Turkey, Feb. 24-26
Klippan Ladies Golden Grand Prix in Klippan, Sweden, March 3-5
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Jenny Wong, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Mary Kelly, Mahomet, Ill (USOEC/New York AC)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Chelynne Pringle, Hugo, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Tina Pihl, Colorado Springs, Colo. (unattached)
59 kg/130 lbs. - Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Elena Pirozhkov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (unattached)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Ashley Sword, Colorado Springs, Colo. (unattached)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Coach - Mike Marr, LaFarge, Wis.
 
Alexander Medved International in Minsk, Belarus, March 24-26
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Sara Fulp-Allen, Half Moon Bay, Calif. (Menlo College)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Rachel Holthaus, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Jenny Wong, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Patricia Miranda, New Haven, Conn. (Sunkist Kids)
59 kg/130 lbs. - Leigh Jaynes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Alaina Berube, Escanaba, Mich. (New York AC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Vanessa Oswalt, Mount Vernon, Ohio (Simpson WC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Elena Pirozhkov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (unattached)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Katie Downing, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Heather Martin, Wellington, Ohio (New York AC)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn. (Univ. of Regina)
Coach - Levi Weikel-Magden, Charlottesville, Va.