Van Dusen stuns Olympic and World champion Yoshida to lead U.S. past Japan

United States women´s freestyle wrestling team knocked off reigning World team champion Japan on Saturday to reach the finals of the World Cup.

The U.S. will now face China in Sunday night´s finals. The American team is looking for its first World Cup title since 2003.

2007 World Team member Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) upset five-time World champion and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Saori Yoshida at 55 kg/121 lbs. to spark the U.S. to the 4-3 upset over the powerful team from Japan. Van Dusen snapped Yoshida´s 119-match winning streak.

The American squad won the final three matches against Japan as Sara McMann (Gaffney, S.C./Sunkist Kids), Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) and Stephany Lee (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) each posted victories. McMann competes at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., Downing wrestles at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. and Lee is at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

Japan, the 2007 World Cup champion, will face Kazakhstan for third place. Canada will battle Ukraine for fifth place.

The American squad opened with a 4-3 win over Ukraine. Van Dusen, Leigh Jaynes (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army), McMann and Downing each earned victories for the United States in that dual. Jaynes competes at 59 kg/130 lbs.

2008 WORLD CUP

Pool A

Japan dec. Ukraine 6-1
USA dec. Ukraine 4-3
USA dec. Japan 4-3

Pool B

China dec. Canada 7-0
China dec. Kazakhstan 6-1
Kazakhstan dec. Canada 4-3

Sunday´s medal matches

5th Place - 10:30 a.m. China time - Canada vs Ukraine
3rd Place - 5 p.m. - Japan vs Kazakhstan
1st Place -

United States women´s freestyle wrestling team knocked off reigning World team champion Japan on Saturday to reach the finals of the World Cup.

The U.S. will now face China in Sunday night´s finals. The American team is looking for its first World Cup title since 2003.

2007 World Team member Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) upset five-time World champion and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Saori Yoshida at 55 kg/121 lbs. to spark the U.S. to the 4-3 upset over the powerful team from Japan. Van Dusen snapped Yoshida´s 119-match winning streak.

The American squad won the final three matches against Japan as Sara McMann (Gaffney, S.C./Sunkist Kids), Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) and Stephany Lee (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) each posted victories. McMann competes at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., Downing wrestles at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. and Lee is at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

Japan, the 2007 World Cup champion, will face Kazakhstan for third place. Canada will battle Ukraine for fifth place.

The American squad opened with a 4-3 win over Ukraine. Van Dusen, Leigh Jaynes (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army), McMann and Downing each earned victories for the United States in that dual. Jaynes competes at 59 kg/130 lbs.

2008 WORLD CUP

Pool A

Japan dec. Ukraine 6-1
USA dec. Ukraine 4-3
USA dec. Japan 4-3

Pool B

China dec. Canada 7-0
China dec. Kazakhstan 6-1
Kazakhstan dec. Canada 4-3

Sunday´s medal matches

5th Place - 10:30 a.m. China time - Canada vs Ukraine
3rd Place - 5 p.m. - Japan vs Kazakhstan
1st Place -