Defending Pan American champions Stephanie Murata (Phoenix, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) at 123.25 pounds, Sandra Bacher (San Jose, Calif./Dave Schultz WC) at 149.75 pounds and Kristie Stenglein (Albany N.Y./ATWA) at 165.25 pounds will lead the U.S. women's team in the 1998 Pan American Wrestling Championships to be held March 23-28 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. 
 Murata, a 1997 U.S. World Team member, is the reigning national champion at 123.25 pounds. 
 Bacher, a 1997 World silver medalist, is a two-time U.S. national champion. She was also a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Judo team. She was named 1997 USOC Women's Wrestler of the Year. 
 Stenglein, a two-time world silver medalist, has also claimed a pair of U.S. national titles. 
 Also competing will be 1997 World silver medalist Shannon Williams (Simi Valley, Calif./Sunkist Kids) at 112.25 pounds and 1997 U.S. World Team member Afsoon Roshanzamir (Davis, Calif./Peninsula Grapplers) at 101.25 pounds. 
 Williams, a 1993 Pan Am champion, is a five-time World silver medalist and has won four U.S. national titles. 
 Roshanzamir, a three-time U.S. national champion, is a two-time World medalist and has competed in four world championships. 
 Rounding out the lineup is Jimi Dawn Hornbuckle (Poteau, Okla./unattached) at 136.5 pounds. Hornbuckle is currently ranked second in the U.S. in her weight class. 
 The women's competition will be held on March 26. The preliminary session will take place from 10:00 a.m. - .1:00 p.m. The finals session will be held from 7:00-9:00 p.m. 
 The U.S. women's team will be coached by Doug Reese of Morris, Minn. 
  1998 Pan American Championships 
 Winnipeg, Canada, March 23-28 
 U.S. Women's Lineup 
 46 kg/101.25 lbs. - Afsoon Roshanzamir, Davis, Calif. (Peninsula Grapplers) 
 51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Shannon Williams, Simi Valley, Calif. (Sunkist Kids) 
 56 kg/123.25 lbs. - Stephanie Murata, Phoenix, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids) 
 62 kg/136.5 lbs. - Jimi Dawn Hornbuckle, Poteau, Okla. (unattached) 
 68 kg/149.75 lbs - Sandra Bacher, San Jose, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC) 
 75 kg/165.25 lbs. - Kristie Stenglein, Albany N.Y. (ATWA)