Patricia Miranda (New Haven, Conn./Sunkist Kids) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for the week of March 21-27.

Each week, TheMat.com will select an Athlete of the Week, based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level. The announcement will be made each week on Wednesday.

Miranda, a 2004 Olympic bronze medalist, earned a gold medal at 51 kg/112.25 pounds in women's freestyle wrestling at the Alexander Medved International on March 24 in Minsk, Belarus.

Miranda won four straight matches to capture the gold medal, including a 1-0, 3-0 victory over Alaina Kareisha of Belarus in the finals. Kareisha won a bronze medal at the 2005 World University Games and was fourth at the 2003 World Championships.

Miranda opened the tournament with a technical fall victory, beating Maryna Shishkina of Russia 6-0, 7-0. In the second round, she stopped Christyna Shnipko of Ukraine 3-0, 7-0. In the semifinals, she pinned Sarka Andrilova of the Czech Republic.

It was the second international tournament Miranda has won, and third international medal she has earned, since she returned to the mat. She took a year off after the 2004 Olympics in Athens. She also won the Dave Schultz Memorial International and placed second at the New York AC Holiday International.

Miranda also has won a pair of World silver medals, in 2000 and 2003, in her career.

Miranda is expected to compete at the U.S. Nationals on April 12-15 in Las Vegas. She is ranked No. 1 nationally at 112.25 by TheMat.com.

Note: To nominate a wrestler for TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week, send the athlete's name, accomplishments for the week and career accomplishments to Craig Sesker at csesker@usawrestling.org