NEW YORK, N.Y. - It was a great day for the USA, which took 11 of the 14 medals awarded during the first day of the New York Athletic Club Holiday International on Saturday. U.S. wrestlers won six of the seven Greco-Roman gold medals, and five of the seven women's freestyle gold medals in this respected international competition. Three wrestlers were able to win NYAC Holiday International titles for the second straight year: Spenser Mango (Florissant, Mo./Gator WC/USOEC) at 55 kg/121 lbs., and Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in Greco-Roman along with Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. in women's freestyle. Mango won the NYAC Holiday International for the second straight year, defeating Romania's Virgil Munteanu of Romania in a wide open 3-3, 7-0 match. Mango had some spectacular throws and was able to turn Munteanu on the mat for exposure points in the second period. It was a rematch from the dual meet held in New Jersey on Thursday night, which was won by Munteanu, 6-0, 1-2, 3-0. "The other night he beat me in three periods," said Mango. "I was losing weight for the tournament, but I knew when he gets to me in the tournament, I would be ready. (Coach) Ivan (Ivanov) told me to open it up on him and to score some points. It worked out. I feel like I am ready for the Olympic year. I will take them one match at a time." Ruiz, a 2005 World bronze medalist, defeated R.C. Johnson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) in the finals, 2-0, 2-0. "I think I wrestled all right," said Ruiz. "I tried a few more things on my feet and changed my pressure and motion. It is coming along. It is nice to get some matches and see where I am going. I am going to Vaanta and Haparanda (tournaments) next. It will be nice to string these tournaments in a row. It is nice to start the season like this and get in these tournaments." Downing, a two-time World bronze medalist, defeated Asuka Sato of Japan in the championship finals, 3-0, 1-1. "I felt a little slow, like I waited eight hours for one match, then waited four more hours for the other," said Downing. "I'm glad I had one more chance to wrestle my weight class domestically. I will have one more shot internationally at the World Cup and my true weight class. Now I am getting excited about going heavyweight." 2002 World champion Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) dominated the action 120 kg/264.5 lbs. in Greco-Roman. He defeated his Army teammate Tim Taylor in the gold-medal match, 5-0, 1-1. "It was OK. I tried a few things. I always try to do something new in each tournament, or use something I haven't done in a long time," said Byers. "I had my teammate in the finals. I couldn't ask for anything better. He is on my tail every day. This (the Olympics) is more than important. Everything is about this happening and having this come to pass. If it is not about getting the medal, I want it out of my life. I have been doing it. I did it at the World Championships and I am going to do it for this Olympics." One of the top showdowns in the finals came at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., when Randi Miller (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) upset 2004 Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann (Gaffney, S.C./Sunkist Kids), 0-2, 1-1, 1-0. Miller scored the only takedown of the final period to secure the win. It is the second time that Miller has defeated McMann in the finals of an international competition on U.S. soil, to go along with her win at the 2007 Dave Schultz Memorial International. McMann has also won a World silver medal and two World bronze medals. "Today I wanted to wrestle well and I did. I wanted to start off good and ended well. I tried to stay consistent throughout the day, keep up the pressure and try to score," said Miller. "I am always happy to win tournaments. This is just the New York AC. Last year, I had a good year and didn't do well at the Trials. Today was a very good day, but it is not my goal." Three other members of the 2007 U.S. World Team, Greco-Roman wrestlers Joe Betterman (Chicago, Ill./New York AC) and T.C. Dantzler (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) and women's freestyle wrestler Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), won gold medals. Betterman captured the 60 kg/132 lbs. division, shutting out Marco Lara (/New York AC) in the finals, 4-0, 3-0. "This is the first time winning this tournament. I place second and third a lot," said Betterman. "I took that loss on Thursday night in the dual meet and put it in my head that I had to win the tournament. I regrouped and put it back together. I am glad I had a chance to wrestle my New York Athletic Club teammate in the finals. I'd like to thank the New York Athletic Club for all it has done for me." Dantzler, competing at 84 kg/185 lbs., which is one weight class above his regular division at 74 kg/163 lbs. He stopped Melo Noumanvi of France in a very competitive finals bout by a 4-0, 0-6, 3-1 decision in the finals. "I just kept feeling like it was practice for me," said Dantzler. "I only dropped 1 kilo to make weight. I'm in a new weight division. They know what I do, but not how I do it. It is like hunting in a different jungle. It is different game, bigger game. I had fun today. There was no pressure on me today." Van Dusen needed three periods to defeat 2003 World bronze medalist Jenny Wong (Gaffney, S.C./Sunkist Kids), 2-1, 2-3, 3-0. "I had to get back on the mat. I missed a few tournaments taking a break after the World Championships. It was great to be on the mat and get things clicking," said Van Dusen. "Jenny slows me down with her style. I have to remember to keep up the pace with here. I lose a lot of first periods against her. My number on focus now is the Pan American Championships in February (the Olympic qualifier)." Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC), a two-time World bronze medalist, captured the 59 kg/130 lbs. title in women's wrestling, stopping Othella Lucas (San Diego, Calif./New York AC) in the championship finals. Roberts returned to competition over the summer, after missing a season to injuries. "It is fun for me. It is not even about winning the tournament. It is so much better than where I was at (being injured). I feel like I am almost where I was at. There are some things I wanted to improve, even before I was hurt. I could win tournament then, but I really want to win the tournaments, know what I mean. I have been working very deliberately in the room and training hard," said Roberts. The other two individual champions from the USA were Jake Fisher (Platte City, Mo./New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs. in Greco-Roman and Stephany Lee (Honolulu, Hawaii/Sunkist Kids) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. Fisher defeated Ionel Puscasu of Romania in the gold-medal match, 2-1, 1-1. Fisher trains at the U.S. Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan Univ. "My first few matches were rough. I was banged up in training. I had a strategy in each match. Now I have the Thanksgiving break to heal up a bit," said Fisher. "I have seen him wrestle. Harry (Lester) wrestled him in Azerbaijan. I stuck with Harry's game plan. The New York AC is my sponsor, so it is nice to win here." Lee pinned Pamela Wilson of Canada in the championship finals in 1:30. She had a strong tournament, also defeating World medalist Svitlana Saenko of Ukraine in the semifinals. "I wrestled well. I have a few things to work on, but the result was good. This is the right time for me to have everything come together," said Lee. "In the finals, I tried a front headlock, and went into an inside trip, and she ended up on her back. You don't really remember those things exactly." The three champions from other nations were Canadian women wrestlers Carol Huhyn at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and Erica Sharp at 51 kg/112.25 lbs., along with Greco-Roman wrestler Tsutomu Fujimura of Japan at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. The New York AC Holiday International concludes on Sunday with the men's freestyle competition. NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB HOLIDAY INTERNATIONAL At New York, N.Y., November 17, 2007 Men GR - 55 KG / 121 lbs 1st Place - Spenser Mango of Gator/USOEC 2nd Place - Virgil Munteanu of Romania 3rd Place - Sam Hazewinkel of Gator Wrestling Club 4th Place - Nate Engel of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club 1st Place Match - Spenser Mango (Gator/USOEC) won by decision over Virgil Munteanu (Romania) (Dec 3-3,7-0) 3rd Place Match - Sam Hazewinkel (Gator Wrestling Club) won by decision over Nate Engel (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) (Dec 5-0,6-0) Men GR - 60 KG / 132.25 lbs 1st Place - Joe Betterman of NYAC 2nd Place - Marco Lara of NYAC 3rd Place - Yuki Takeda of Japan 4th Place - Aurelian Leciu of Romania 1st Place Match - Joe Betterman (NYAC) won by decision over Marco Lara (NYAC) (Dec 4-0,3-0) 3rd Place Match - Yuki Takeda (Japan) won by decision over Aurelian Leciu (Romania) (Dec 4-2,2-1) Men GR - 66 KG / 145.5 lbs 1st Place - Tsutomu Fujimura of Japan 2nd Place - Yesid Alfredo Meneses of Colombia 3rd Place - Mark Rial of Gator Wrestling Club 4th Place - Foruk Sahin of US Army 1st Place Match - Tsutomu Fujimura (Japan) won by 3 caution rule over Yesid Alfredo Meneses (Colombia) (6-0,3 Cau.) 3rd Place Match - Mark Rial (Gator Wrestling Club) won by decision over Foruk Sahin (US Army) (Dec 0-3,5-0,1-1) Men GR - 74 KG / 163 lbs 1st Place - Jacob Fisher of NYAC 2nd Place - Ionel Puscasu of Romania 3rd Place - Cheney Haight of NYAC 4th Place - Kenneth Cook of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club 1st Place Match - Jacob Fisher (NYAC) won by decision over Ionel Puscasu (Romania) (Dec 2-1,1-1) 3rd Place Match - Cheney Haight (NYAC) won by decision over Kenneth Cook (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) (Dec 1-4,3-1,3-1) Men GR - 84 KG / 185 lbs 1st Place - TC Dantzler of Gator Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Melo Noumanvi of France 3rd Place - Cristian Ferney Mosquera of Colombia 4th Place - Dzmitry Kruhlik of NYAC 1st Place Match - Tc Dantzler (Gator Wrestling Club) won by decision over Melo Noumanvi (France) (Dec 4-0,0-6,3-1) 3rd Place Match - Cristian Ferney Mosquera (Colombia) won by decision over Dzmitry Kruhlik (NYAC) (Dec 0-2,2-1,3-1) Men GR - 96 KG / 211.5 lbs 1st Place - Justin Ruiz of NYAC 2nd Place - Rc Johnson of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Adam Wheeler of Gator Wrestling Club 4th Place - Philip Johnston of US Army 1st Place Match - Justin Ruiz (NYAC) won by decision over Rc Johnson (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) (Dec 2-0,2-0) 3rd Place Match - Adam Wheeler (Gator Wrestling Club) won by decision over Philip Johnston (US Army) (Dec 6-0,1-1,1-1) Men GR - 120 KG / 264.5 lbs 1st Place - Dremiel Byers of US Army 2nd Place - Tim Taylor of US Army 3rd Place - Oleksandr Chernetski of Ukraine 4th Place - Mark Simmonds of United States Navy 1st Place Match - Dremiel Byers (US Army) won by decision over Tim Taylor (US Army) (Dec 5-0,1-1) 3rd Place Match - Oleksandr Chernetski (Ukraine) won by decision over Mark Simmonds (United States Navy) (Dec 4-0,3-0) Women FS - 48 KG / 105.5 lbs 1st Place - Carol Huynh of Calgary 2nd Place - Clarissa Chun of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Sara Fulp-allen of NYAC 4th Place - Lindsey Rushton of Guelph 1st Place Match - Carol Huynh (Calgary) won by decision over Clarissa Chun (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) (Dec 1-1,1-0) 3rd Place Match - Sara Fulp-allen (NYAC) won by decision over Lindsey Rushton (Guelph) (Dec 2-0,3-0) 5th Place Match Women FS - 51 KG / 112 lbs 1st Place - Erica Sharp of Calgary Dinos 2nd Place - Jessica Medina of NYAC 3rd Place - Yuliana Alzate Perez of Colombia 4th Place - Danielle Hobeika of NYAC 1st Place Match - Erica Sharp (Calgary Dinos) won by decision over Jessica Medina (NYAC) (Dec 2-0,2-0) 3rd Place Match - Yuliana Alzate Perez (Colombia) won by pin over Danielle Hobeika (NYAC) (Pin 0:54) Women FS - 55 KG / 121 lbs 1st Place - Marcie Van Dusen of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Jenny Wong of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Tetyana Lazareva of Ukraine 4th Place - Jazzie Barker of Calgary Dinos 1st Place Match - Marcie Van Dusen (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by decision over Jenny Wong (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) (Dec 2-3,1-1,3-0) 3rd Place Match - Tetyana Lazareva (Ukraine) won by pin over Jazzie Barker (Calgary Dinos) (Pin 4-1,1:23) Women FS - 59 KG / 130 lbs 1st Place - Sally Roberts of Gator Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Othella Lucas of NYAC 3rd Place - Kelsey Campbell of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club 4th Place - Katharine Patroch of London Western 1st Place Match - Sally Roberts (Gator Wrestling Club) won by decision over Othella Lucas (NYAC) (Dec 1-1,6-0) 3rd Place Match - Kelsey Campbell (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by decision over Katharine Patroch (London Western) (Dec 1-0,1-0) Women FS - 63 KG / 138.5 lbs 1st Place - Randi Miller of Gator Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Sara Mcmann of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Tara Hedican of Guelph 4th Place - Justine Bouchard of Calgary 1st Place Match - Randi Miller (Gator Wrestling Club) won by decision over Sara Mcmann (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) (Dec 0-2,1-1,1-0) 3rd Place Match - Tara Hedican (Guelph) won by decision over Justine Bouchard (Calgary) (Dec 1-0,1-0) 5th Place Match Women FS - 67 KG / 147.5 lbs 1st Place - Katie Downing of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Asuka Sano of Japan 3rd Place - Elena Pirozhkova of Gator Wrestling Club 4th Place - Meaghan Wilton of Guelph 1st Place Match - Katie Downing (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by decision over Asuka Sano (Japan) (Dec 3-0,1-1) 3rd Place Match - Elena Pirozhkova (Gator Wrestling Club) won by decision over Meaghan Wilton (Guelph) (Dec 3-0,3-0) Women FS - 72 KG / 158.5 lbs 1st Place - Stephany Lee of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Pamela Wilson of Calgary 3rd Place - Svitlana Saienko of Ukraine 4th Place - Vanessa Wilson of Calgary Dinos 1st Place Match - Stephany Lee (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by pin over Pamela Wilson (Calgary) (Pin 1:30) 3rd Place Match - Svitlana Saienko (Ukraine) won by decision over Vanessa Wilson (Calgary Dinos) (Dec 3-1,6-0)
NYAC Holiday International Special Section