UNITED STATES PLACES FOURTH IN WOMEN'S DUAL MEET TOURNAMENT IN TOURCOING, FRANCE, JAN. 21A team of U.S. women wrestlers placed fourth in a six-team dual meet competition held in Tourcoing, France, Jan. 21. The competition featured many of the best women's international teams in the world.
Only five of the six international weight classes were contested in the dual meets, and each of the individual matches was shorter than normal as part of the modified format.
The U.S. opened the tournament with a 4-1 loss to Canada. Three-time World silver medalist Kristie Stenglein (Albany, N.Y./ATWA) was the lone winner, with a 1:19 pin over Tamara Medwinski at 165.25 pounds.
The U.S. followed with an impressive 5-0 victory over Tunisia. Stenglein scored her second fall of the day, pinning Saida Raobi in 3:00. Also winning by fall were Julie Gonzales (Vallejo, Calif./Peninsula Grapplers) at 105.5 pounds and Lauren Wolfe (Okemos, Mich./Michigan WC) at 143 pounds.
Tina George (S. Euclid, Ohio/UM-Morris) won by technical fall at 127.75 pounds, and Patricia Miranda (Saratoga, Calif./Dave Schultz WC) claimed an injury default at 116.5 pounds.
In the third-place dual meet, Japan stopped the United States, 3-1. There was no bout in the super heavyweight division. Claiming the lone victory for the USA was George, who pinned Ayako Suga in 1:46 at 127.75 pounds.
The U.S. team was coached by Bill Rackley of Niceville, Fla. and National Developmental Coach Mike Duroe of Colorado Springs, Colo.
France won the team title, defeating Poland in the championship finals, 3-2.
CANADA 4, UNITED STATES 1 105.5 - Tanya DiBenidetto, Canada, dec. Julie Gonzales, Vallejo, Calif., 7-1; 116.5 - Erica Sharpe, Canada, pin Patricia Miranda, Saratoga, Calif., 1:21; 127.75 - Janey Piroli, Canada, pin Tina George, S. Euclid, Ohio, 1:11; 143 -Trish Leibel, Canada, dec. Lauren Wolfe, Okemos, Mich., 3-0; 165.25 - Kristie Stenglein, Albany, N.Y. pin Tamara Medwinski, Canada, 1:19; Exhibition 143 - Shannon Samler, Canada, won by tech. fall over Katie Downing, Pendleton, Ind., 13-3, 1:45
UNITED STATES 5, TUNISIA 0
105.5 - Julie Gonzales, Vallejo, Calif. pin El Outi Fahila, Tunisia, 1:08; 116.5 - Patricia Miranda, Saratoga, Calif., won by inj. dft. over Saoussene Raouaji, Tunisia, 1:36; 127.75 - Tina George, S. Euclid, Ohio, won by tech. fall over Sonia Zitouini, Tunisia, 10-0, 1:46; 143 -Lauren Wolfe, Okemos, Mich. pin Sknouther Ghanmi, Tunisia, 1:23; 165.25 - Kristie Stenglein, Albany, N.Y. pin Saida Raoabi, Tunisia, 3:00
JAPAN 3, UNITED STATES 1
105.5 - Momoko Sera, Japan, dec. Julie Gonzales, Vallejo, Calif., 10-1; 116.5 - Chiharu Icho, Japan, dec. Patricia Miranda, Saratoga, Calif., 3-0; 127.75 - Tina George, S. Euclid, Ohio, pin Ayako Suga, Japan, 1:46; 143 -Ayako Shoda, Japan, dec. Lauren Wolfe, Okemos, Mich., 5-4; 165.25 - no match