Japan Wins First Annual Women's World Cup in Levallois, France; United States Places Fourth
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Heather Van Peursem (USA Wrestling)
11/06/2001
Japan Wins First Annual Women's World Cup in Levallois, France, Nov. 3; United States Places Fourth Japan won the first annual Women's World Cup in Levallois, France Nov. 3 featuring the top women's wrestling nations in the world. The United States finished in fourth place with 74 points and a 3-3 team record. This tournament included numerous World medalists and Olympic hopefuls. 2001 National Team member Katie Downing (Pendleton, Ind./UM-Morris) was the lone U.S. wrestler that went undefeated throughout the competition at 149.75 pounds. She pinned her first four opponents in a total time of 4:80: Sveta Iarochevitch of Russia in 2:03, Shannon Samler of Canada in 1:00, Yang Yanli of China in 0:29 and Ben Sassi Soremaya of Tunisia in 1:48. She then won by injury default over Mimi Sugawara of Japan and by a 9-4 decision over Caroline Dos Santos of France. Downing is a 1999 Junior World Silver Medalist and is on the U.S. National Team for her third year. Three members of the U.S. team finished with 3-3 records. 2000 World Silver medalist Patricia Miranda (Stanford, Calif./Dave Schultz WC) at 112.25 pounds as well as 2001 National Team members Clarissa Chun (Kapolei, Hawaii /Missouri Valley College) at 101.25 pounds and Carrie Birge (Marshall, Mo./Missouri Valley College) at 123.25 pounds. Chun won a silver medal at the 2001 Pan American Championships and is ranked second in her weight class. Birge finished third in the 2001 Missouri Valley International Open and is ranked second in the U.S. at 123.25 pounds. No individual medals were awarded by the organizers. According to the U.S. coaching staff, Katie Downing went undefeated and qualified for a Gold Medal. The U.S. team was coaches by Thomas Bailey of Hailey, Idaho and Kent Sherrow of Hermann, Mo.