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