Patricia Miranda takes record fifth title at Dave Schultz Memorial International Open

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.) - It was fitting that Patricia Miranda wrestled the first finals match of the night.

And that Dremiel Byers competed in the final match.

Miranda won her record fifth career Dave Schultz Memorial International Open title and Byers captured his fourth Schultz gold medal late Saturday afternoon at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

They were among nine champions crowned during Day 2 of the three-day event in Colorado Springs.

Miranda, a past Olympic and World medalist, swept Canada's Jessie Bondy 1-0, 2-0 in the women's freestyle finals at 51 kg/112.25 lbs.

"Dave Schultz always meant a lot to me," Miranda said. "That always meant something to me to be able to wrestle in that club and to now be able to represent well at this tournament."

Byers, a past World champion and a 2008 Olympian, swept David Arendt 6-0, 1-1 in the Greco-Roman finals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

"I just did what I am good at and stayed focused," Byers said. "I wanted to score on my feet and it worked out."

Byers' U.S. Army teammate Brad Ahearn also looked impressive in earning a 2-1, 3-1 win over R.C. Johnson in the Greco-Roman finals at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

"This gives me a good boost," Ahearn said. "I knew coming in I could beat all these guys at 96 kg. I knew I could win that match but knowing and doing are two different things."

Byers' Olympic teammate, T.C. Dantzler, looked strong in bumping up a weight class to 84 kg/185 lbs. in Greco-Roman wrestling. Dantzler executed a turn in the final seconds of the second period to sweep Chas Betts 3-1, 3-2 in the title match.

"I've never wrestled Chas or any of these guys so I was just waiting to make the right move," Dantzler said. "I just stuck with it and eventually I was able to get my step over."

American Deanna Rix continued her superb season in women's freestyle as she won the title at 59 kg/130 lbs. Rix downed Canada's Katie Patroch 1-0, 0-3, 1-0 in the finals. The final period came down to the clinch and Rix won it from the offensive position, taking Patroch down to prevail.

"This is really awesome," Rix said. "I've never won this tournament before. This was a big tournament for me to make the World Cup Team. I had a lot of pressure on me."

Three-time World Team member Chris Bono capped a superb day in defeated Brian Stith 3-0, 0-1, 1-0 in the finals at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

"It feels good to get out there and compete again," Bono said. "I love training and I want to finish on a good note."

Adeline Gray won the women's freestyle title at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. after sweeping two matches from Canada's Megan Buydens. Just two wrestlers were entered in that class.

FINAL ROUND RESULTS

FREESTYLE

55 kg/121 lbs.
Makhmud Magomedov (Russia) dec. Danny Felix (Sunkist Kids), 0-1, 3-1, 5-1

60 kg/132 lbs.
Vladimir Vilmov (Russia) dec. Yashar Jamali Esmaeili (Germany), 5-0, 4-0

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Chris Bono (Sunkist Kids) dec. Brian Stith (Sunkist Kids), 3-0, 0-1, 1-0

GRECO-ROMAN

84 kg/185 lbs.
T.C. Dantzler (New York AC) dec. Chas Betts (Minnesota Storm), 3-1, 3-2

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Brad Ahearn (U.S. Army) dec. R.C. Johnson (Sunkist Kids), 2-1, 3-1

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Dremiel Byers (U.S. Army) dec. David Arendt (U.S. Marines), 6-0, 1-1

WOMEN'S FREESTYLE

51 kg/112.25 lbs.
Patricia Miranda (Sunkist Kids) dec. Jessie Bondy (Canada), 1-0, 2-0

59 kg/130 lbs.
Deanna Rix (New York AC) dec. Katie Patroch (Canada), 1-0, 0-3, 1-0

67 kg/147.5 lbs.
Adeline Gray (New York AC) dec. Megan Buydens (Canada), 2 matches to 0 

Author: Craig Sesker 
Organization: USA Wrestling 
Phone: 719-598-8181