Miranda, Murata, Heskett and Lashley advance from pools at Kiev Grand Prix in Ukraine

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
02/21/2003


Four U.S. wrestlers captured their pool competitions, and advanced into the championship bracket, at the respected Kiev Grand Prix in Kiev, Ukraine, Feb. 21.    Two U.S. women's freestyle wrestlers won their bouts, and have advanced into the semifinals. They are Patricia Miranda (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs. Both won two bouts in their pools to advance.    Miranda will face 2002 World Champion Bridget Wagner of Germany in the semifinals. Murata will battle an opponent from Ukraine in her semifinal match.    Two U.S. men's freestyle wrestlers also claimed their pools and will advance into the championship draw. They are Joe Heskett (San Luis Obispo, Calif. /Gator WC) at 74 kg/163 lbs.  and Franklin Lashley (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.    Both of these wrestlers are in large weight classes, and will have to win at least one more match in the championship bracket before they qualify for the medal rounds.    A total of 12 U.S. wrestlers were defeated at least one time in their pool and did not advance.    Among those eliminated was Cael Sanderson (Ames, Iowa /Sunkist Kids), the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the United States at 84 kg/185 lbs.  Sanderson lost a 7-6 match to a Russian opponent in his pool. His other match was against American Markus Mollica, who he defeated.     Jesus Wilson (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) was leading 2001 World Champion Giuvu Sissaouri of Canada by a 6-0 margin in their bout but Sissaouri rebounded for a 14-6 victory.    Athletes with one victory in their pool who did not advance were  men freestylers Doug Schwab (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 66 kg /145.5 lbs. and Charles Daniels (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 84 kg/185 lbs. plus women freestylers Tori Adams (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and Mollie Keith (Aurelia, Iowa/Missouri Valley) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs.    Coaching the U.S. athletes are National Women's Coach Terry Steiner of Colorado Springs, Colo. and U.S. Army coach Mike Van Arsdale of Colorado Springs, Colo.    KIEV GRAND PRIX  in Kiev, Ukraine, Feb. 21  Day one records    Men's Freestyle     55 kg/121 lbs. - Eric Albarracin, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) -0-2 record, eliminated    60 kg/132 lbs. - Jesus Wilson, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) -0-2 record, eliminated    66 kg /145.5 lbs. - Doug Schwab, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) - 1-1 record, eliminated    66 kg /145.5 lbs. - Ron Groves, Colorado Springs, Colo. - 0-2 record, eliminated    66 kg /145.5 lbs. - Max Shingara, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) - 0-2 record, eliminated    74 kg/163 lbs. - Joe Heskett, San Luis Obispo, Calif. (Gator WC) - 3-0 record, advances    74 kg/163 lbs. - Donny Pritzlaff, Madison, Wis. (Dave Schultz WC) - 0-2 record, eliminated    84 kg/185 lbs. - Cael Sanderson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) - 1-1 record, eliminated    84 kg/185 lbs. - Charles Daniels, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) - 1-1 record, eliminated    84 kg/185 lbs. - Markus Mollica, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dave Schultz WC) - 0-2 record, eliminated    96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Franklin Lashley, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) - 2-0 record, advances    96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Dean Morrison, Colorado Springs, Colo (New York AC) - 0-2 record, eliminated    Women's Freestyle  48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Patricia Miranda, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dave Schultz WC) - 2-0 record, advances    55 kg/121 lbs. - Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) - 2-0 record, advances    63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Tori Adams, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) - 1-1 record, eliminated    67 kg/147.5 lbs. -Mollie Keith, Aurelia, Iowa (Missouri Valley) - 1-2 record, eliminated