Moore, Lightner, Schwab and Branka win Manitoba Open titles

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
02/05/2002


Four U.S. wrestlers claimed gold medals at the 2002 Manitoba Open, held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, February 2.    Claiming men's freestyle gold medals were Teague Moore (Pittsburgh, Pa./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Michael Lightner (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Doug Schwab (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.    Claiming a women's freestyle gold medal was Samantha Branka (Lincoln Park, Mich./UM-Morris) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.    The United States, which included athletes from a number of U.S. clubs, placed second in the team standings in both men's freestyle and women's freestyle. Canada won the team title in both styles.    Orville Palmer (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids), a U.S. resident who is a citizen of Jamaica, claimed a gold medal at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.    Winning U.S. silver medals were 1999 World Champion Sammie Henson (State College, Pa./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Danny Felix (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 60 kg/132 lbs.) in the men's tournament, plus Katie Downing (Pendleton, Ind./UM-Morris) at 67 kg/158.5 lbs. and Alicia Wilson (Santee, Calif./UM-Morris) in the women's tournament.    Winning a bronze medals in the women's event was Jenny Wong (Stillwater, Minn./Sunkist Kids) at 51 kg/112 lbs.)