Three members of the U.S. Women's World Team claimed silver medals at the 1997 Women's World Wrestling Championships in Clermont-Ferrand, France, which completed on Saturday, July 12. 
 The three U.S. athletes, Shannon Williams (Simi Valley, Calif./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, dropped their bouts in the gold-medal finals. 
 Williams lost a 7-3 decision to Joanna Piasaecka of Poland in the championship finals. 
 It was the fourth career World silver medal for Williams, who was competing in her seventh World Championships. 
 Bacher injured her knee in the opening seconds against defending World Champion Christine Nordhagen of Canada in the gold-medal finals, and lost the bout by injury default in just 13 seconds. It was the third career World gold medal for Nordhagen. 
 Bacher was ninth in the 1995 World Championships and fourth in the 1996 World Championships at 154 pounds. 
 Stenglein was defeated in the finals by Kyals Hamaguchi of Japan, 4-0. It was the second straight year that Stenglein has won a silver medal at the World Championships.  
 Lauren Wolfe (Okemos Mich./ Michigan WC) had a 1-1 record on Saturday at 136.5 pounds, and placed fifth in the tournament. 
 Wolfe dropped her first consolation bout of the day to Malgorzata Bassa of Poland, 5-2, her second loss of the tournament. In the fifth-place match, she stopped Kim Bergey of Canada. 
 Wolfe was also fifth in the 1995 World Championships and eighth in the 1996 World Championships, competing at 143 pounds. 
 Japan defended its World Team title, scoring 43 points, followed by host France with 41 points. The United States placed third with 33 points. Germany was fourth and Russia placed fifth. 
 The third place finish by the United States matches its highest finish ever. The U.S. Women's World Team was led by head coach Mike Duroe of Deerfield, Ill., assistant coach Doug Reese of Morris, Minn. and National Developmental Coach Roye Oliver of Colorado Springs, Colo.  
  
 WOMEN'S WORLD WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS 
 July 12, 1997 
 U.S. results 
 51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Shannon Williams, Simi Valley, Calif, 2nd - lost dec. to Joanna Piasecka, Poland, 7-3 
 62 kg/136.5 lbs. - Lauren Wolfe, Okemos, Mich., 5th - lost dec. to Malgorzata Bassa, Poland, 5-2; dec. Kim Bergey, Canada 
 68 kg/149.75 lbs. - Sandra Bacher, San Jose, Calif., 2nd - lost by inj. dft. to Christine Nordhagen, Canada, 0:13 
 75 kg/165.25 lbs. - Kristie Stenglein, Albany, N.Y., 2nd - lost dec. to Kyals Hamaguchi, Japan, 4-0