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The U.S. also qualified 12 of the 18 combined weight classes in men’s and women’s freestyle, and Greco-Roman for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The top eight finishers in each weight class at the 2007 World Championships qualified their country for the Olympics.

The U.S. qualified five of the seven weight classes for the Olympics in men’s freestyle, three of the four classes in women’s freestyle and four of the seven divisions in Greco-Roman. Each style has three more qualifiers apiece where it can qualify the remaining weight classes for the Olympics.

The U.S. Greco-Roman team gained Olympic qualifications from World silver medalist Brad Vering (84 kg/185 lbs.), World bronze medalists Harry Lester (66 kg/145.5 lbs.) and Dremiel Byers (120 kg/264.5 lbs.), and World fifth-place finisher Lindsey Durlacher (55 kg/121 lbs.). The U.S. has three remaining qualifiers – including the Pan American Championships in Colorado Springs - to try and gain Olympic qualification at 60 kg/132 lbs., 74 kg/163 lbs. and 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

The U.S. edged Russia 31-30 to win the World team title in Greco-Roman. The previous best finish by an American team in the World Championships was third-place finishes in 2001 and 2006.

The U.S. men’s freestyle team gained Olympic qualifications from World bronze medalist Daniel Cormier (96 kg/211.5 lbs.) along with World fifth-place finishers Doug Schwab (66 kg/145.5 lbs.), Joe Heskett (74 kg/163 lbs.), Joe Williams (84 kg/185 lbs.) and Tommy Rowlands (120 kg/264.5 lbs.). The U.S. will have three qualifiers to try and gain Olympic qualification at 55 kg/121 lbs. and 60 kg/132 lbs.

The American men’s freestyle team placed fourth in the team standings at the 2007 Worlds.

The U.S. women’s freestyle team gained qualifications from World silver medalist Kristie Marano (72 kg/158.5 lbs.), World bronze medalist Sara McMann (63 kg/138.75 lbs.) and World fifth-place finisher Stephanie Murata (48 kg/105.5 lbs.). The U.S. has three more events to try and gain Olympic qualification at 55 kg/121 lbs. The women compete in four weight classes in the Olympics.

The U.S. women placed fifth in the team standings at the World Championships. Marano tied Bruce Baumgartner’s U.S. record by winning her ninth World medal. Marano now owns two golds, five silvers and two bronzes in World competition.

10/4/07

Brad Vering, Greco-Roman, 84 kg/185 lbs. The 30-year-old Vering – a native of Howells, Neb., population 640 – broke through to win a silver medal at the World Championships on Sept. 18 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Vering, who failed to medal in three previous trips to the Worlds and one trip to the Olympics, led the U.S. to its first World team title in Greco-Roman wrestling.
VERING DATA: High School: Howells, Neb.; College: Nebraska; Residence: Colorado Springs, Colo.

Kristie Marano, women’s freestyle, 72 kg/158.5 lbs. The 28-year-old Marano tied a U.S. record by winning her ninth World medal after earning a silver medal at the World Championships on Sept. 23 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Marano, a two-time World champion, tied freestyle legend Bruce Baumgartner’s American record of nine medals at the World Championships. Marano has medaled in each of her nine trips to the Worlds. She also is raising her 9-year-old daughter, Kayla, who just started wrestling competitively this year.
MARANO DATA: High School: Albany, N.Y. (Colonie Central): College: Hudson Valley CC; Residence: Colorado Springs, Colo.

Daniel Cormier, freestyle, 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Cormier placed fifth at the 2003 World Championships and fourth in the 2004 Olympics, but had never won a medal in three previous trips to the Worlds and one trip to the Olympics before this year. That changed when he broke through to earn a bronze medal at the 2007 World Championships. Cormier now takes aim at making his second straight Olympic Team. Cormier has overcome a number of issues off the mat, including the death of his young daughter four years ago.
CORMIER DATA: High School: Lafayette, La. (Northside); College: Oklahoma State, Colby CC; Residence: Stillwater, Okla.

Dremiel Byers, Greco-Roman, 120 kg/264.5 lbs. The 2002 World champion spent a number of years stuck behind Olympic and World champion Rulon Gardner on the U.S. team. But Byers delivered with a bronze medal to help the American team clinch its first Greco-Roman team title at the 2007 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. Byers has emerged as the leader on a veteran U.S. squad and he takes aim at making his first Olympic Team in 2008.
BYERS DATA: High School: Kings Mountain, N.C.; College: North Carolina A&T; Residence: Colorado Springs, Colo.

Patricia Miranda, women’s freestyle, 48 kg/105.5 lbs. The 2004 Olympic bronze medalist and past World silver medalist is one of the best medal hopes for the U.S. women at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. Miranda recently graduated from Yale Law School and now turns her focus back to training full-time for the Olympics. Her husband, Levi Weikel-Magden, also is a lawyer and serves as a coach to Patricia and other members of the U.S. women’s team. Miranda did not compete at the 2007 World Championships for medical reasons, but is expected back on the mat in the next few months.
MIRANDA DATA: High School: Saratoga, Calif.; College: Stanford, Yale Law; Residence: Colorado Springs, Colo.