U.S. wins six medals to take second in women’s division at Grand Prix of Spain

The U.S. women's team poses with its second place trophy from the Grand Prix of Spain. Photo courtesy of Shannyn Gillespie

MADRID, Spain - Six U.S. women wrestlers won medals to lead the United States to a second place finish at the Grand Prix of Spain.

This was a Senior-level event which featured a number of top European teams. A squad of University-age athletes went on the tour, formed from athletes who competed at the University National Championships and the WCWA Nationals.

Claiming silver medals were Nicole Woody (Gambrills, Md./OCU Stars) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and Natasha Umemoto (Oklahoma City, Okla./OCU Stars) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs.

Woody, a 2006 Junior World champion, won her first two matches to reach the finals, where she was defeated by three-time European medalist Francine DePaola of Italy.

Umemoto, a former U.S. Nationals champion, also won two matches to reach the finals, falling to two-time Junior World champion Sofia Mattsson of Sweden.

The four American bronze medalists were Joey Miller (Woodward, Okla./OCU Stars) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Melissa Apodaca (Chugiak, Alaska/USOEC) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., Lauren Knight (Vallejo, Calif./Univ. of the Cumberlands) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. and Erin Clodgo (Richmond, Vermont/USOEC) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

All four scored clutch wins in their bronze-medal match to capture a medal for the United States.

The U.S. placed second in the team standings, behind a strong team from Sweden, and ahead of host Spain in third place.

Coaching the U.S. athletes were Archie Randall and Link Davis of Oklahoma City Univ. and Shannyn Gillespie of the U.S. Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan.

GRAND PRIX OF SPAIN
At Madrid, Spain, July 11-12

U.S. women's performances

48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Nicole Woody, Gambrills, Md. (OCU Stars), 2nd
WIN Joey Miller (USA)
WIN D. Robertson (Great Britain)
WIN Francine DePaola (Italy)

48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Joey Miller, Woodward, Okla. (OCU Stars), 3rd
LOSS Nicole Woody (USA)
WIN D. Robertson (Great Britain), pin

51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Natasha Umemoto, Oklahoma City, Okla. (OCU Stars), 2nd
WIN Liliana Santos (Portugal), pin
WIN Estera Dobre (Romania)
LOSS Sofia Mattsson (Sweden)

51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Emily Martin, Frisco, Texas, dnp
LOSS Sofia Mattsson (Sweden)
LOSS Roxana Zasina (Poland)

55 kg/121 lbs. - Ashley Hudson, Wildwood, Mo. (OCU Stars), 8th
WIN Ana Pereira (Portugal)
LOSS Giada Guglielmino (Italy)

55 kg/121 lbs. - Michaela Hutchison, Soldotna, Alaska (OCU Stars), dnp
LOSS Hyllegaard (Denmark)

59 kg/130 lbs. - Sheila McCabe, San Diego, Calif. (OCU Stars), 7th
WIN Connell (Great Britain), pin
LOSS Sabrina Esposito (Italy)

63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Melissa Apodaca, Chugiak, Alaska (USOEC), 3rd
WIN Berta Rodriguez (Spain)
LOSS Hanna Johansson (Sweden)
WIN Niskiewicz (Poland)

63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Samantha Phillips, Mateca, Calif. (OCU Stars), 8th
LOSS Maria Diana (Italy)

63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Tessa Plana, Irving, Texas (OCU Stars), dnp
LOSS Simona Corbani (Italy)

67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Lauren Knight, Vallejo, Calif. (Univ. of the Cumberlands), 3rd
LOSS Martine Dugrenier (Canada)
WIN Jennifer Bunten (Germany)

72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Erin Clodgo, Richmond, Vermont (USOEC), 3rd
WIN Gonzalez (Spain)
LOSS Emma Weberg (Sweden)
WIN Melissa Simmons (USA)

72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Melissa Simmons, Ridgefield, Wash. (OCU Stars), 5th
LOSS Emma Weberg (Sweden)
LOSS Erin Clodgo (USA)

Team Standings
1. Sweden
2. United States
3. Spain

Coach Shannyn Gilliespie's photos of the medalists and team

Coach Shannyn Gillespie's photos from the tour