U.S. WINS SEVEN OF EIGHT MATCHES DURING FIRST DAY AT WOMEN'S WORLD WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN BODEN, SWEDEN, SEPT. 10The United States won seven of eight matches during the first day of competition at the 12th Women's World Championships in Boden, Sweden, Friday, Sept. 10.
Three-time World Champion Tricia Saunders (Phoenix, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) won her first match at 101.25 pounds, stopping Julia Vojtova of Ukraine, 5-1.
Saunders is the only U.S. wrestler to ever win a gold medal at the Women's World Championships, and boasts a record nine U.S. Nationals titles. This is her eighth World Championship appearance.
Three-time World silver medalist Kristie Marano (Albany, N.Y./ATWA) pinned two opponents at 165.25 pounds, stopping May Bente Eriksen of Norway and Jelena Jinnova of Russia.
Marano was a 1998 Junior World Champion and has won four U.S. Nationals titles. Marano is competing in her fourth World tournament.
Two-time World medalist Sandra Bacher (San Jose, Calif./Dave Schultz WC) scored a pin over Tomoe Miyamoto of Japan in 5:50 in the opening round at 149.75 pounds.
Bacher was a 1997 World silver medalist and 1998 World bronze medalist. She has been a member of two U.S. Olympic judo teams. Bacher is wrestling in her fifth World Championships.
Stephanie Murata (Boca Raton, Fla./Sunkist Kids) pinned both of her opponents at 112.25 pounds, stopping Marta Wojtandwska of Poland and Annett Kamke of Germany.
With the two victories, Murata won her pool competition, and has advanced into the quarterfinal round, where she is expected to face Natali Karamtjakova of Russia.
Murata placed fourth in the 1998 World Championships. Murata has won four U.S. Nationals titles, and is on her third World team.
Lauren Lamb (Troy, N.Y./Michigan WC) opened with a 9-5 win over Sandrine Seve of France at 136.5 pounds on Friday.
Lamb is competing in her fifth World Championships. She has placed fifth in the World tournament on two occasions.
The only wrestler to lose a match on Friday was Tina George (Colorado Springs, Colo./Minnesota Storm) at 123.25 pounds. George was edged in a wild shootout by Haiying Cao of China, 13-12. She still has another match in her pool competition on Saturday. George is competing in her second World Championships.
Two team members were recently married. Marano previously wrestled under her maiden name Stenglein, and Lamb competed under her maiden name Wolfe.
The U.S. team is talented and experienced, and includes the same six members that placed third in the final team standings at the 1998 World Championships. Russia is the defending World team champions in Women's wrestling.
The U.S. team is led by head coach Rob Eiter of Chicago, Ill., assistant coach Shannon Yancey of Simi Valley, Calif. and USA Wrestling Freestyle Developmental Coach Mike Duroe of Colorado Springs, Colo.
The 12th Women's World Wrestling Championships will continue on Saturday, Sept. 11, and will conclude with medal matches on Sunday, Sept. 12.
1999 WOMEN'S WORLD WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS at Boden, Sweden, Sept. 10
U.S. results
46 kg/101.25 lbs. - Tricia Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids) - dec. Julia Vojtova (Ukraine), 5-1
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Stephanie Murata, Boca Raton, Fla. (Sunkist Kids) - pin Marta Wojtandwska (Poland)*; pin Annett Kamke (Germany), 3:44
56 kg/123.25 lbs. - Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm) - lost dec. to Haiying Cao (China), 13-12
62 kg/136.5 lbs. - Lauren Lamb, Troy, N.Y. (Michigan WC) - dec. Sandrine Seve (France), 9-5
68 kg/149.75 lbs. - Sandra Bacher, San Jose, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC) - pin Tomoe Miyamoto (Japan), 5:50
75 kg/165.25 lbs. - Kristie Marano, Albany, N.Y. (ATWA) - pin May Bente Eriksen (Norway)*; pin Jelena Jinnova (Russia), 0:38
* = time unavailable
Saturday's pairings
46 kg/101.25 lbs. - Tricia Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids) - vs. Lindsay Belisle of Canada
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Stephanie Murata, Boca Raton, Fla. (Sunkist Kids) - vs. Natali Karamtjakova of Russia in the quarterfinal round
56 kg/123.25 lbs. - Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm) - vs. Tanja Sauter (Germany)
62 kg/136.5 lbs. - Lauren Lamb, Troy, N.Y. (Michigan WC) - vs. Ludmila Golovtjena (Ukraine)
68 kg/149.75 lbs. - Sandra Bacher, San Jose, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC) - vs. Heidi Skemark of Sweden
75 kg/165.25 lbs. - Kristie Marano, Albany, N.Y. (ATWA) - vs. Bailing Ma of China
Head Coach - Rob Eiter, Chicago, Ill.
Assistant Coach - Shannon Yancey, Simi Valley, Calif.
National Developmental Coach - Mike Duroe, Colorado Springs, Colo.