Two American women wrestlers claimed gold medals at the Tourcoing Golden Grand Prix in Tourcoing, France, Feb. 17.

2004 Olympic bronze medalist Patricia Miranda (New Haven, Conn./Sunkist Kids) won the title at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. and 2004 University World champion Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) was the champion at 55 kg/121 lbs.

Miranda won four matches on the way to the title, including a strong 5-0, 6-0 decision over Anna Trusova of Russia in the gold-medal finals.

Miranda opened with a 3-0, 1-0 win over American Jenny Wong, then won two straight technical falls, stopping Natascha Marchandise of France), 6-0, 7-0 and Estera Dobre of Romania, 7-1, 7-0.

Van Dusen also scored four wins during the tournament. She needed three periods to capture the gold medal finals against Maria Gurova of Russia, 0-4, 1-0, 3-0.

Van Dusen opened with a win over Dalila Rouabhia of Algeria, 3-2, 3-0, then pinned Audrey Prieto Bokhashvili of France in the second period. In the semifinals, she defeated Alena Filipava of Belarus, 1-1, 4-0.

"Both of our champions wrestled their style. They stuck to their game plan," said National Women's Coach Terry Steiner. "In both matches, we had Russians and they came out hard after us. They couldn't keep up the intensity. We stayed calm and steady and we eventually got to them. Sticking with the game plan was key."

Both Miranda and Van Dusen were also gold medalists at the Dave Schultz Memorial International in Colorado Springs, Colo. a week earlier.

Two U.S. women won silver medals, 2005 World bronze medalist Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. and 2005 World champion Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 72 kg/158.5. lbs.

Both women won their first three matches, then were pinned in the gold-medal finals. Downing fell in the finals to 2005 World silver medalist Martine Dugrenier of Canada. Smith was defeated by 2004 Olympic silver medalist Guzel Manyurova of Russia.

Downing won a 1-0, 2-3, 1-0 match in the semifinals over 2000 World silver medalist Anna Shamova of Russia, the first time Downing had beaten Shamova. Smith also had a strong semifinal win, stopping 2005 World bronze medalist Marina Gastl of Austria, 3-0, 9-0.

"Until the finals, Katie and Iris wrestled very solid," said Steiner. "In the finals, both got away from their game plan a little bit. They wrestled hard, but were not smart. We will learn from this."

Two U.S. wrestlers won bronze medals, Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. and Randi Miller (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Both came back strong with wins in the wrestleback rounds. Miller finished with a 3-1 record in the tournament, and Wong ended with a 2-1 record.

2006 World Team member Mary Kelly (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) placed fifth at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.

The United States placed second in the team standings with 52 points, behind team champion Russia with 59 points. France, Belarus and Germany rounded out the top five in the standings in a field of 23 teams.

The U.S. team will continue on to Kiev, Ukraine, to compete in the Kiev International next weekend.

TOURCOING GOLDEN GRAND PRIX
At Tourcoing, France, Feb. 17

48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold - Lorisa Oorzhak (Russia)
Silver - Anne Catherine Delunsche (France)
Bronze - Cristina Croitoru (Romania)
Bronze - Sofia Mattson (Sweden)
5th - Mihaela Munteanu (Romania)
5th - Mary Kelly (USA)

51 kg/112.25 lbs.
Gold - Patricia Miranda (USA)
Silver - Anna Trusova (Russia)
Bronze - Aureile Basset (France)
Bronze - Jenny Wong (USA)
5th - Amandrine Lanoo (France)
5th - Estera Dobre (Romania)

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold - Marcie Van Dusen (USA)
Silver - Maria Garova (Russia)
Bronze - Alena Filipava (Belarus)
Bronze - Anna Gomis (France)
5th - Audrey Prieto Bokhashvili (France)
5th - Nicole Hauptmann (Germany)

59 kg/130 lbs.
Gold - Annette Hoie (Norway)
Silver - Maria Smolyakova (Russia)
Bronze - Meyriem Selloum (France)
Bronze - Tatiana Bokhan (Belarus)
5th - Birit Stern (Austria)
5th - Alexandre Leuca (France)

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold - Lise Legrande (France)
Silver - Volha Khilko (Belarus)
Bronze - Randi Miller (USA)
Bronze - Stephanie Gross (Germany)
5th - Hanna Beliayeva (Belarus)
5th - Martina Zykovla (Czech Republic)

67 kg/147.5 lbs.
Gold - Martine Dugrenier (Canada)
Silver - Katie Downing (USA)
Bronze - Anna Shamova (Russia)
Bronze - Susan Koller (Germany)
5th - Kristin Buttner (Germany)
5th - Rovana Ianculovici (France)

72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Gold - Guzel Manyurova (Russia)
Silver - Iris Smith (USA)
Bronze - Unda Maider (Spain)
Bronze - Vasalisa Marzuliuk (Belarus)
5th - Marina Gastl (Austria)
5th - Masira Admiraal (Netherlands)

U.S. performances

48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Mary Kelly, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 5th
WIN Mihaela Radoi (Romania), 4-0, 1-0
WIN Martina Da Skova (Czech Republic), 3-0, 5-0
LOSS Loris Oorzhak (Russia), 0-1, 0-4
LOSS Sofia Mattson (Sweden), 0-3, 0-5

51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Jenny Wong, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 3rd
LOSS Patricia Miranda (USA), 0-3, 0-1
WIN Natascha Marchandise (France), 3-0, pin
WIN Estera Dobre (Romania), pin

51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Patricia Miranda, New Haven, Conn. (Sunkist Kids), 1st
WIN Jenny Wong (USA), 3-0, 1-0
WIN Natascha Marchandise (France), 6-0, 7-0
WIN Estera Dobre (Romania), 7-1, 7-0
WIN Anna Trusova (Russia), 5-1, 6-0

55 kg/121 lbs. - Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 1st
WIN Dalila Rouabhia (Algeria), 3-2, 3-0
WIN Audrey Prieto Bokhashvili (France), 0-1, pin 2nd
WIN Alena Filipava (Belarus), 1-1, 4-0
WIN Maria Gurova (Russia), 0-4, 1-0, 3-0

63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Randi Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 3rd
WIN Adrienne Lugasi (Germany), 3-0, 6-0
LOSS Volha Khilko (Belarus), pin 1st
WIN Magail Navarro (France), 2-0, 2-0
WIN Hanna Beliayeva (Belarus), 3-1, 3-0

67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Katie Downing, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 2nd
WIN Mava Erlandsen (Norway), pin
WIN Kristin Buttner (Germany), 1-0, 2-0
WIN Anna Shamova (Russia), 1-0, 2-3, 1-0
LOSS Martine Dugrenier (Canada), pin 1st

72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 2nd 
WIN Si Houda Dahi Nour (Algeria), 5-0, 5-0
WIN Under Maider (Spain), 3-0, 4-0
WIN Marina Gastl (Austria), 3-0, 9-0
LOSS Guzel Manyurova (Russia), pin 1st

Team standings
1. Russia, 59 pts.
2. USA, 52 pts.
3. France, 37 pts.
4. Belarus, 34 pts.
5. Germany, 29 pts.
6. ROB club, 18 pts.
7. FRB club, 17 pts.
8. (tie) Norway, 16 pts.
8. (tie) Romania, 16 pts.
10. (tie) Austria, 14 pts.
10. (tie) Czech Republic, 14 pts.
of 23 teams