World champions Byers and Gardner among semifinalists at Dave Schultz Memorial International in Colo

The semifinal pairings have been determined after the first day at the Dave Schultz Memorial International Championships, held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 7 The 120 kg/264.5 pound division in Greco-Roman features a pair of gold medalists: 2000 Olympic and 2001 World champion Rulon Gardner (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) and 2002 World Champion Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army). Both have qualified for the semifinals. Gardner will battle Eddy Bengtsson of Sweden, while Byers will wrestle Khoren Papoyan of Armenia. The quality of the semifinalists at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. women's division is outstanding. Two-time World Champion Kristie Marano (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) will battle 2003 World bronze medalist Viola Yanik of Canada. In the other semifinal, 2003 World silver medalist Sara McMann (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) will face. 2002 World bronze medalist Lene Aanes of Norway At this division, multiple World Champion Nikola Hartmann-Dunser of Austria was defeated by Yanik and did not advance. Among the semifinalists at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. in the women's draw are 2002 World champion Brigitte Wagner of Germany and 2003 World silver medalist Patricia Miranda (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC). Wagner faces Clarrisa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC), while Miranda will battle Lindsay Belisle of Canada. 2000 Olympic bronze medalist Garrett Lowney (Appleton, Wis./Minnesota Storm), competing in his first event since last June, qualified for the semifinals. In the semifinals, Lowney will face Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), the man Lowney beat in the World Team Trials finals last year. Stephen Abas (Fresno, Calif./Sunkist Kids), ranked No. 1 in the USA in men's freestyle at 55 kg/121 lbs., has a semifinal pairing against Matt Azevedo (San Luis Obispo, Calif./Sunkist Kids) Other U.S. wrestlers who hold No. 1 national rankings in the United States who have moved into the semifinals are two-time women's World silver medalist Tina George (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 55 kg/121 lbs.. two-time women's World silver medalist Toccara Montgomery (Cleveland, Ohio/New York AC) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs., two-time Greco-Roman World Team member T.C. Dantzler (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and two-time World Greco-Roman fifth place finisher Brad Vering (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. There are 288 entries this year, including 102 men freestyle wrestlers, 95 men Greco-Roman wrestlers, and 91 women freestyle wrestlers. The quality of the competition is also high. The field included five past World or Olympic champions, and a total of 20 past World or Olympic medalists. Semifinals pairings (set for Sunday at 9:00 a.m.) Men's freestyle 55 kg/121 lbs. Matt Azevedo USA vs. Stephen Abas USA Jeremy Hunter USA vs. Enkhtur Badamsaikhan MGL 60 kg/132 lbs. Jason Kutz USA vs. Ryan Lewis USA Danny Felix USA vs. Jesus Wilson USA 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Jared Lawrence USA vs. Eric Larkin USA T.J. Williams USA vs. Doug Schwab USA 74 kg/163 lbs. Joe Heskett USA vs. Donny Pritzlaff USA Ramico Blackmon USA vs. Kirk White USA 84 kg/185 lbs. Lee Fullhart USA vs. Mo Lawal USA Nick Preston USA vs. Brandon Eggum USA 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Dean Morrison USA vs. Zach Thompson USA Dawid Rechul USA vs. Tim Hartung USA 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Gold Medal - Steve Mocco USA vs. Sven Thiele GER Bronze Medal - David Otiashvili GEO vs. Mike Faust USA Men's Greco-Roman 55 kg/121 lbs. Bunsei Murakami JPN vs. Lindsay Durlacher USA Mukesh Khatri IND vs. Duaine Martin USA 60 kg/132 lbs. Glenn Nieradka USA vs. Matthew Birner USA Joe Warren USA vs. Jeremy Wynia USA 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Faruk Sahin JPN vs. Oscar Wood USA James Johnson USA vs. Gurbinder Singh IND 74 kg/163 lbs. Katuhiko Nagata JPN vs. T.C. Dantzler USA Mark Madsen DEN vs. Darryl Christian USA 84 kg/185 lbs. Keith Sieracki USA vs. Jake Clark USA Ken Cook USA vs. Brad Vering USA 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Jason Loukides USA vs. Genadiy Chhaidze KGZ Garrett Lowney USA vs. Justin Ruiz USA 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Rulon Gardner USA vs. Eddy Bengtsson SWE Dremiel Byers USA vs. Khoren Papoyan ARM Women's freestyle 48 kg/105.5 lbs. Lindsay Belisle CAN vs. Patricia Miranda USA Clarissa Chun USA vs. Brigitte Wagner GER 51 kg/112.25 lbs. Malinda Ripley USA vs. Carol Huyhn CAN Melina Hutchison USA vs. Debbi Sakai USA 55 kg/121 lbs. Tina George USA vs. Erica Sharp CAN Jen Ryz CAN vs. Christina Oertli GER 59 kg/130 lbs. Erin Tomeo USA vs Brandy Rosenbrock USA Othella Lucas USA vs.Lauren Lamb USA 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Sara McMann USA vs. Lene Aanes NOR Viola Yanik USA vs. Kristie Marano USA 67 kg/147.5 lbs. Gold medal match - Shannon Samler CAN vs. Kelly Branham USA Bronze medal match - Randi Miller USA vs. Malissa Sherwood USA 72 kg/158.5 lbs. Toccara Montgomery USA vs. Anita Schaetzle GER Ohenowa Akuffo CAN vs. Stephany Lee USA