Eight U.S. women wrestlers unbeaten after first day at Klippan Open in Sweden
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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
03/08/2003
Eight U.S. wrestlers were undefeated after the first day of action at the Klippan Ladies Open in Klippan, Sweden, Saturday, March 8. The wrestlers without a loss included: Patricia Miranda (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. Tina George (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 55 kg/121 lbs. Tela O'Donnell (Colorado Springs, Colo.) at 55 kg/121 lbs. Lauren Lamb (Troy, N.Y./Michigan WC) at 59 kg/129 lbs. Sara McMann (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 63 kg/138.5 lbs. Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. Kaci Lyle (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. Miranda went 2-0 for the day. She will face two-time World medalist Carol Huyhn of Canada in the quarterfinals. Miranda beat Huyhn earlier this season at the Kurt Angle Classic. Chun also went 2-0 at that weight class, defeating a German opponent as well as American Gina Heinzelmann. George and O'Donnell both advanced with 2-0 records at the same weight class. O'Donnell will face an athlete from Austria in the quarterfinals. Also 2-0 for the day was Lauren Lamb a weight class higher at 59 kg. McMann's 2-0 record featured wins over talented athletes from Sweden and Japan. She defeated Japan's 2002 World Champion Icho by a 6-3 margin. This was revenge for McMann, as Icho pinned her in the pool competition at the 2002 World Championships. Downing had a 3-0 record for the day, and advanced to the semifinals. Among the athletes she defeated were from Japan and Russia. Lyle was 1-0 with a win over an athlete from the Czech Republic. She still has another match in her pool competition, so she has not yet advanced into the championship bracket. A number of young U.S. athletes participated in the Cadet division of the Klippan Cup. Claiming a gold medal was Ali Bernard of Minnesota. Placing fourth was Minnesota's Kelli Rasmussen. KLIPPAN CUP at Klippan, Sweden, March 8 U.S. athlete first day records 48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Patricia Miranda (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) - 2-0 record 48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) - 2-0 record 48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Gina Heinzelmann (St. Joseph, Minn./Minnesota Storm) - 1-1 record 51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) 1-1 record 51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Katie Kunimoto (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) - 0-2 record 55 kg/121 lbs. - Tina George (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) - 2-0 record 55 kg/121 lbs. - Tela O'Donnell (Colorado Springs, Colo.) - 2-0 record 55 kg/121 lbs. - Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) 1-1 record 59 kg/129 lbs. - Lauren Lamb (Troy, N.Y./Michigan WC) - 2-0 record 63 kg/138.5 lbs. - Sara McMann (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) - 2-0 record 63 kg/138.5 lbs. - Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) - 1-1 record 67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) - 3-0 record 67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Randi Miller (Chanute, Kan./Dave Schultz WC) 1-3 record 67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Elena Mena (Chanute, Kan./Dave Schultz WC) - 0-2 record 72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Kaci Lyle (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) - 1-0 record 72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) 0-1 record