UPDATED: U.S. women's freestyle team finishes second in World Cup after dropping 4-3 decision to China
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by Craig Sesker
TAIYUAN, China - The United States women's freestyle team finished second at the World Cup after dropping a 4-3 decision to China in the finals on Sunday night.
The United States received wins from Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) and Stephany Lee (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids). Murata competes at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Van Dusen wrestles at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Lee is at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Van Dusen capped a superb weekend where she went 3-0 at the World Cup. She upset five-time World champion and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Saori Yoshida of Japan on Saturday. She snapped Yoshida's 119-match winning streak.
The U.S. was seeking its first World Cup title since 2003.
The American squad forfeited at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. because of an injury to Olympic and World silver medalist Sara McMann (Gaffney, S.C./Sunkist Kids), who won both of her matches Saturday. McMann was injured in her second match on Saturday, a win over a wrestler from Japan.
Two-time World bronze medalist Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) was off to a quick start against 2006 and 2007 World champion Rui Xue Jing of China before being caught and pinned in the second period. Downing won the first period 2-0 and led 2-0 in the second period before Jing recorded the fall at 67 kg/147.5 lbs.
"First of all, congratulations to China for finding a way to get the job done," USA Coach Terry Steiner said. "I think we had a strong performance tonight and we have clearly made a statement that we are back. Now we need to learn from this and move forward.
"Team USA needs to expect success when we step on the mat, we need to train with purpose each and every day. Our goals this summer are simple. Win as individuals and win as a team. We cannot forget that each day in training, each repetition. It has to burn inside of us at all times. We have come a long way and have worked hard to have this feeling. We need to ensure that next time is the outcome we want. To do that we must focus on the process.
"I'm very proud to be a part of this team - they competed with a lot of courage and heart."
Reigning World team champion Japan rebounded from a loss to the U.S. to beat Kazakhstan 5-2 in the third-place dual.
Ukraine beat Canada 4-3 in the fifth-place match.
FIRST-PLACE MATCH: CHINA 4, UNITED STATES 3
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) dec. Liu 1-0, 1-0
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Ren dec. Jenny Wong (Gaffney, S.C./Sunkist Kids) 2-0, 0-1, 1-0
55 kg/121 lbs. - Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) dec. Dongmei Sun 2-1, 2-0
59 kg/130 lbs. - Zhang dec. Leigh Jaynes (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) 2-0, 1-0
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - China wins by forfeit
67 kg.147.5 lbs. - Rui Xue Jing pinned Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stephany Lee (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) dec. Xu 4-0, 2-0
The United States received wins from Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) and Stephany Lee (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids). Murata competes at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Van Dusen wrestles at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Lee is at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Van Dusen capped a superb weekend where she went 3-0 at the World Cup. She upset five-time World champion and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Saori Yoshida of Japan on Saturday. She snapped Yoshida's 119-match winning streak.
The U.S. was seeking its first World Cup title since 2003.
The American squad forfeited at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. because of an injury to Olympic and World silver medalist Sara McMann (Gaffney, S.C./Sunkist Kids), who won both of her matches Saturday. McMann was injured in her second match on Saturday, a win over a wrestler from Japan.
Two-time World bronze medalist Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) was off to a quick start against 2006 and 2007 World champion Rui Xue Jing of China before being caught and pinned in the second period. Downing won the first period 2-0 and led 2-0 in the second period before Jing recorded the fall at 67 kg/147.5 lbs.
"First of all, congratulations to China for finding a way to get the job done," USA Coach Terry Steiner said. "I think we had a strong performance tonight and we have clearly made a statement that we are back. Now we need to learn from this and move forward.
"Team USA needs to expect success when we step on the mat, we need to train with purpose each and every day. Our goals this summer are simple. Win as individuals and win as a team. We cannot forget that each day in training, each repetition. It has to burn inside of us at all times. We have come a long way and have worked hard to have this feeling. We need to ensure that next time is the outcome we want. To do that we must focus on the process.
"I'm very proud to be a part of this team - they competed with a lot of courage and heart."
Reigning World team champion Japan rebounded from a loss to the U.S. to beat Kazakhstan 5-2 in the third-place dual.
Ukraine beat Canada 4-3 in the fifth-place match.
FIRST-PLACE MATCH: CHINA 4, UNITED STATES 3
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) dec. Liu 1-0, 1-0
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Ren dec. Jenny Wong (Gaffney, S.C./Sunkist Kids) 2-0, 0-1, 1-0
55 kg/121 lbs. - Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) dec. Dongmei Sun 2-1, 2-0
59 kg/130 lbs. - Zhang dec. Leigh Jaynes (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) 2-0, 1-0
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - China wins by forfeit
67 kg.147.5 lbs. - Rui Xue Jing pinned Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stephany Lee (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) dec. Xu 4-0, 2-0
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