Two U.S. wrestlers won bronze medals during the first day of the women's freestyle competition at the World University Championships in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, Saturday, June 17. Capturing bronze medals were Liz Short (Lombard, Ill./USOEC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and Alaina Berube (Escanaba, Mich./New York AC) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Short opened the tournament with a 0-2, 1-0, 3-0 victory over I. Kisel of Russia. In the semifinals, she was defeated by Alana King of Canada, 0-1, 0-1. In her bronze-medal match, Short defeated Thi Maiphung of Vietnam, 3-0, 3-0. Short was a 2006 University Nationals champion and is a member of the U.S. Olympic Education Center team at Northern Michigan Univ. Berube opened the tournament with a loss, falling to N. Mio of Japan, 0-3, 0-3. She rebounded with a pair of pins, scoring falls over Andreyeka of Russia in the wrestleback round, then Luong Thi Kuyen of Vietnam in the bronze-medal match. Berube was a 2006 University Nationals champion, and competes for the Univ. of the Cumberlands. She won a bronze medal at the 2005 World University Games held in Turkey. Placing fifth in their divisions after dropping bronze medal matches were Sharon Jacobson (El Cajon, Calif./Gator WC/USOEC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Tabetha Golt (Chesapeake, Va./Univ. of the Cumberlands) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. Jacobson, the 2006 U.S. Nationals champion, opened the tournament with a 7-2, 2-1 win over Britanee Laverdure of Canada. In the semifinals, she was pinned by Ch. Matsukawa of Japan. In the bronze-medal round, Jacobson lost by pin to K. Yevgeni of Ukraine. Golt lost both of her bouts in the tournament, falling to Agnifcska of Poland in her opening bout, 0-1, 0-3, then losing in the bronze-medal round to V. Bumboshotna of Russia. Jacobson is a USOEC athlete at Northern Michigan Univ., while Golt competes for the Univ. of the Cumberlands. Both were University Nationals champions this year. "The first day was a hard fought battle. We wrestled close to our capability," said U.S. coach Shannyn Gillespie. "We were able to get two medals. This tournament is a great opportunity for our athletes. We don't see this high level of competition often. This tournament will make our athletes better for our Senior national team effort." Three U.S. wrestlers compete on Sunday:Sara Fulp-Allen (El Granada, Calif./Menlo College) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs., Othella Lucas (San Diego, Calif./New York AC) at 59 kg/130 lbs. and Randi Miller (Arlington, Texas/USOEC) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. The web page for the World University Championships is: http://www.mssf.mn/index.aspx WORLD UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONSHIPS At Ulan Bator, Mongolia, June 17, 2006 Women's freestyle medalists 48 kg/105.5 lbs. Gold - Ts. Enkhjargal (Mongolia) Silver - Alana King (Canada) Bronze - Liz Short (USA) Bronze - Iwona Sadowska (Poland) 5th - Thi Maiphung (Vietnam) 5th - I Shiskina (Latvia) 7th - I Kisel (Russia) 8th - F. Yuri (Japan) 55 kg/121 lbs. Gold - N. Otgonjargal (Mongolia) Silver - Ch. Matsukawa (Japan) Bronze - Sylwia Bilenko (Poland) Bronze - K. Yevgeni (Ukraine) 5th - T. Ysyrenova (Russia) 5th - Sharon Jacobson (USA) 7th - Brittanee Laverdure (Canada) 8th - Emese Szaba (Hungary) 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Gold - N. Mio (Japan) Silver - B. Odonchimeg (Mongolia) Bronze - V. Viktoriga (Ukraine) Bronze - Alaina Berube (USA) 5th - Hajdu Aniko (Hungary) 5th - Luong Thi Kuyen (Vietnam) 7th - Andreyeka (Russia) 8th - Amanda Gerhardt (Canada) 9th - Huang Yu Ling (Taipei) 10th - Yustuna Barciak (Poland) 72 kg/158.5 lbs. Gold - O. Burmaa (Mongolia) Silver - Agnifczka (Poland) Bronze - Pam Wilson (Canada) Bronze - V. Bumboshotna (Russia) 5th - Tabetha Golt (USA) 5th - Bentorki (France) 7th - Huqng Chia Ling (Taipei) 8th - T. Kie (Japan) U.S. performances 48 kg/105.5 lbs - Liz Short (Lombard, Ill./USOEC), 3rd WIN I. Kisel (Russia), 0-2, 1-0, 3-0 LOSS Alana King (Canada), 0-1, 0-1 WIN Thi Maiphung (Vietnam), 3-0, 3-0 55 kg/121 lbs - Sharon Jacobson (El Cajon, Calif./Gator WC/USOEC), 5th WIN Britanee Laverdure (Canada), 7-2, 2-1 LOSS Ch. Matsukawa (Japan), pin 1st period LOSS K. Yevgeni (Ukraine), 0-7, pin in 2nd period 63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Alaina Berube (Escanaba, Mich./New York AC), 3rd LOSS N. Mio (Japan), 0-3, 0-3 WIN Andreyeka (Russia), pin 2nd period WIN Luong Thi Kuyen (Vietnam), pin 1st period 72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Tabetha Golt (Chesapeake, Va./Univ. of the Cumberlands), 5th LOSS Agnifczka (Poland), 0-1, 0-3 LOSS V. Bumboshotna (Russia), 3-0, 1-3, 2-5