Sara McMann, Katie Downing win gold medals at Warsaw Cup

WARSAW, Poland - Sara McMann and Katie Downing each won gold medals to lead the United States Women's Freestyle Team at the Warsaw Cup on Aug. 18-19.

McMann (Gaffney, S.C./Sunkist Kids) defeated Ludmila Golovchenko of the Ukraine in the finals at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Golovchenko twice has placed fourth in the World. McMann, a past Olympic silver medalist, beat 2006 World bronze medalist Monika Rogien of Poland in the quarterfinals.

Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) defeated Volha Khilko of Belarus in the finals at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. Downing is a past World bronze medalist.

The U.S. team won the team title with Ukraine second and Russia third.

The U.S. women took part in a training camp and competition in Europe as they continue preparations for next month's World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. McMann and Downing are part of the seven-member U.S. World Team in women's freestyle wrestling.

Also from the U.S., two-time World champion Kristie Marano placed second after falling to 2006 World champion Stanka Zlateva of Bulgaria in the finals at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. Marano is seeking her American record ninth World medal this year. American Stephany Lee (Honolulu, Hawaii/Missouri Valley) placed third at 72 kg.

Americans Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) and Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) also finished second.

Murata, a past World silver medalist, competes at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and will compete in Azerbaijan next month. Murata scored a big win in the quarterfinals, beating 2006 World bronze medalist Francine DePaola of Italy.

Roberts, a past World bronze medalist, is just returning to the mat from an injury. Roberts competes at 59 kg/130 lbs. 2007 World Team member Leigh Jaynes (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) placed fifth at 59 kg.

American Julieta Okot (New York, N.Y./New York AC) took third at 51 kg/112.25 lbs.

2007 U.S. World Team member Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) placed fifth at 55 kg/121 lbs.

WARSAW CUP, AUG. 18-19, WARSAW, POLAND

48 KG/105.5 LBS.
Gold - Irini Merlini (Ukraine)
Silver - Stephanie Murata (USA)
Bronze - Natali Budu (Moldova)
Bronze - Lilia Kaskarakova (Russia)

51 KG/112.25 LBS.
Gold - Alexandra Engelhardt (Germany)
Silver - Roksana Zasina (Poland)
Bronze - Julieta Okot (USA)
Bronze - MaMar Serrano (Spain)

55 KG/121 LBS.
Gold - Anna Zwirydowska (Poland)
Silver - Ida-Theres Krisson (Sweden)
Bronze - Tetyana Lazereva (Ukraine)
Bronze - Minerva Montero (Spain)

59 KG/130 LBS.
Gold - Natalya Synyshyn (Ukraine)
Silver - Sally Roberts (USA)
Bronze - Ludmila Cristea (Moldova)
Bronze - Stephanie Gross (Germany)

63 KG/138.75 LBS.
Gold - Sara McMann (USA)
Silver - Ludmila Golovchenko (Ukraine)
Bronze - Maite Piva (Italy)
Bronze - Ljubov Volosova (Russia)

67 KG/147.5 LBS.
Gold - Katie Downing (USA)
Silver - Volha Khilko (Belarus)
Bronze - Natalia Kuksina (Russia)
Bronze - Michala Spoustka (Czech Republic)

72 KG/158.5 LBS.
Gold - Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria)
Silver - Kristie Marano (USA)
Bronze - Stephany Lee (USA)
Bronze - Maider Unda (Spain)

U.S. match-by-match results

48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) - 2nd
WIN Brigitte Wagner (Germany)
WIN Francine De Paola (Italy)
WIN Lilia Kaskarakova (Russia)
LOSS Irini Merleni (Ukraine)

51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Julieta Okot, New York, N.Y. (New York AC) - 3rd
Match results not available

55 kg/121 lbs. - Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) - 5th
WIN Jessica Bechtel (Germany)
WIN Tulia Ratkievic (Azerbaijan)
LOSS Anna Zwirydowska (Poland)
LOSS Minerva Montero (Spain)

55 kg/121 lbs. - Sharon Jacobson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
LOSS Minerva Montero (Spain)

59 kg/130 lbs. - Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) - 2nd
WIN Elmira Mursalova (Azerbaijan)
WIN Stephanie Gross (Germany)
LOSS Natalya Synyshyn (Ukraine)

59 kg/130 lbs. - Leigh Jaynes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) - 5th
WIN Simona Corbani (Italy)
WIN Ulya Rekvava (Russia)
LOSS Natalya Synyshyn (Ukraine)
LOSS Ludmila Cristea (Moldova)

63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Sara McMann, Gaffney, S.C. (Sunkist Kids) - 1st
WIN Ljubov Volosova (Russia)
WIN Monika Rogien (Poland)
WIN Kristine Odrina (Latvia)
WIN Ludmila Golovchenko (Ukraine)

63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Tori Adams, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
LOSS Maite Piva (Italy)

63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Randi Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
LOSS Teodora Dimitrova (Bulgaria)

67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Katie Downing, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) - 1st
WIN Irina Bogdanowa (Russia)
WIN Kateryna Burmistrova (Ukraine)
WIN Natalie Kusina (Russia)
WIN Volha Khilko (Belarus)

72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) - 2nd
WIN Maider Unda (Spain)
WIN Agnieszka Wieszczek (Poland)
LOSS Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria)

72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stephany Lee, Honolulu, Hawaii (Missouri Valley) - 3rd
WIN Marina Gastl (Austria)
LOSS Stanka Zlateva (Bulgaria)
WIN Svitlana Saienko (Ukraine)