BEIJING, CHINA - The United States had a disappointing morning session at the Junior World Championships in women's wrestling on Friday, losing all four of its matches in the opening rounds at the China Agricultural University Gymnasium.

One of the U.S. wrestlers, Alyssa Lampe (Tomahawk, Wis./USOEC)  at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., is eligible for the wrestleback rounds (also called repechage), and still has an opportunity to challenge for a bronze medal.

Lampe lost her first match, getting pinned by 2006 Junior World bronze medalist Fuyoka Mimura in 1:08. Mimura took down Lampe, turned her over with a bar arm, and secured the fall. 

When Mimura qualified to compete in the gold-medal match, Lampe became eligible for the repechage, and has a chance to wrestle back for a bronze medal. Only athletes who lose to a gold-medal finalist are placed in the wrestleback rounds.

The other three U.S. wrestlers lost their first match, and when the opponents who beat them were defeated in later rounds, they were eliminated from medal contention.

The day started with a loss at 63 kg/138.75 pounds, as Deanna Rix (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) lost to Kundu Suman of India, 0-1, 0-2.  Suman forced Rix to step out in both periods, and also scored the only clean takedown of the match.

At 55 kg/121 lbs., Cherae Pascua (Oahu/Hawaii (USOEC) dropped a close match to A Sandagdorj of Mongolia, 0-2, 2-2. 

In the final U.S. bout of the session, Paige Rife (Fowlerville, Mich./USOEC) was pinned by Jenny Fransson of Sweden at the 1:27 mark of the first period at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

These are the four Olympic weight classes which will be contested at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

On the first day of the Junior World Championships in women's wrestling, the U.S. won two medals, with Whitney Conder (Payallup, Wash./USOEC) claiming a gold medal at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. and Tatiana Padilla (LaVerne, Calif./California Grapplers) winning a silver medal at 59 kg/130 lbs. 

The women's division concludes with the four medal match rounds on Friday night.

The United States entered the day in second place in the team standings, but will not be able to challenge for the title after this session.

China, which led the team race after the first day, put two athletes in the gold-medal finals and has another in a bronze-medal match. Russia, which was third, had a great round, with three wrestlers qualifying for the championship match.

JUNIOR WORLD WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Beijing, China, August 24

U.S. performances in the morning session

48 kg/105.5 lbs.- Alyssa Lampe, Tomahawk, Wis. (USOEC)
LOSS Fuyoka Mimura (Japan), pin 1:08

55 kg/121 lbs. - Cherae Pascua, Oahu, Hawaii (USOEC)
LOSS A Sandagdorj (Mongolia), 0-2, 2-2

63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Deanna Rix, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
LOSS Kundu Suman (India), 0-1, 0-2

72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Paige Rife, Fowlerville, Mich. (USOEC)
LOSS Jenny Fransson (Sweden), pin 1:27