RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - The United States won't duplicate its feat of winning all four weight classes like it did four years ago at the Pan American Games. But the American women's freestyle team still has a shot at flying back home with three gold medals.

U.S. wrestlers Marcie Van Dusen, Sara McMann and Kristie Marano each advanced to the final round of the Pan American Games with two wins apiece on Thursday morning at the Riocentro Sports Complex.

American Stephanie Murata will wrestle for the bronze medal.

The finals are set for 6 p.m. (5 p.m. Eastern) Thursday in Rio de Janeiro.

The U.S. women swept all four weight classes in the 2003 Pan American Games.

Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), a past World University champion, seemed to be in big trouble after dropping the first period 7-0 to Canada's Tonya Verbeek in the semifinals. Verbeek, a past Olympic silver medalist and World bronze medalist, scored a takedown early in the second period and Van Dusen seemed on the verge of being swept. But Van Dusen recovered to win the final two periods 2-1, 7-2.

Van Dusen, who made her first U.S. World Team this year, seemed to grow stronger the longer the match progressed at 55 kg/121 lbs. She will meet Jackeline Renteria of Colombia in the finals.

McMann (Gaffney, S.C./Sunkist Kids), a past Olympic silver medalist, rolled to a pair of convincing wins to reach the finals at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. She recorded a pin and a 7-0, 4-0 decision. McMann will look to repeat as Pan Am Games champion on Thursday night. She will face Yoselin Rojas of Venezuela in the finals.

Marano (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), a two-time World champion and eight-time World medalist, actually had to come from behind in her semifinal win over Brazil's Rosangela Conceicao at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. Marano trailed 1-0 in the first period before hitting an arm throw late in the period to prevail 3-1. Marano was down 1-0 in the second period before she spun around Conceicao for the winning takedown in the closing seconds.

Marano kept her composure despite falling behind and wrestling in front of a boisterous contingent of Brazilian fans at the Riocentro Sports Complex. She will now face Ohenewa Akuffo of Canada in the finals. Marano beat Akuffo in the bronze-medal match at the 2006 World Championships.

Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), a past World silver medalist, ran into a tough semifinal foe in past World silver and bronze medalist Carol Huynh of Canada at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. Murata shot in for a quick opening takedown, but Huynh quickly regrouped to dominate the rest of the match in a 5-1, 1-0 win.

Murata will meet Ecuador's Diana Piza in the bronze-medal match.

The women compete in the four Olympic weight classes at the Pan American Games.

The seven-man men's freestyle team is scheduled to compete Friday and Saturday.

The U.S. medal count in wrestling now stands at nine with the three women reaching the finals. The American Greco-Roman team captured three golds, two silvers and a bronze during the first two days of the five-day wrestling competition.

U.S. MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS

48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Daney Cespedes (Peru) fall
LOSS Carol Huynh (Canada) 5-1, 1-0

55 kg/121 lbs. - Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Tahamara Barron (Mexico) 7-1, 8-0
WIN Tonya Verbeek (Canada) 0-7, 2-1, 7-2

63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Sara McMann, Gaffney, S.C. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Megan Dolan (Canada) fall
WIN Candida de Armas (Cuba) 7-0, 4-0

72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
WIN Sulmira Brea (Dominican Republic) 6-0, 4-2
WIN Rosangela Conceicao (Brazil) 3-1, 1-1