Springs resident Murata has chance at Olympics in wrestling

After 15 years of elite-level wrestling, Stephanie Murata remains an underdog. And a familiar foe stands in her way.

For the Colorado Springs resident to cap a distinguished career with a berth in the Beijing Games in August, she must upend Patricia Miranda, the 2004 Olympic bronze medalist in the 105.5-pound freestyle division.

Miranda was sidelined because of a knee injury and Murata settled for a bronze medal Sunday in the Dave Schultz Memorial International, failing to defend their titles at the Olympic Training Center.

Murata went 5-1 on the final day of the annual tournament that drew more than 300 wrestlers from about 30 countries. She beat German Nicol Hofmann and lost to American Alyssa Lampe, then rebounded with wins over American Rachael Holthaus, Poland’s Nina Sadowska, Colorado Springs resident Mary Kelly and Lampe.

Weight class champions were German Andriy Shyyka (163 pounds), Americans Jake Herbert (185) and Sean Stender (211.5) and Colorado Springs resident Steve Mocco (264.5) in men’s freestyle; and Colorado Springs residents Sara Fulp-Allen (105.5) and Sally Roberts (121), American Alaina Berube (138.75) and Bulgarian Stanka Zlateva (158.5) in women’s freestyle.

Miranda, also of Colorado Springs, has not wrestled competitively since Aug. 14, when she tore the ACL in her right knee. She plans to compete in the Pan American Championships, which are Feb. 29 to March 2 at the OTC.

Murata, 37, and Miranda, 28, should anchor the 105.5-pound division at the U.S. Olympic trials June 13-15 in Las Vegas, with the winner joining as many as three other weight class champions in Beijing.

Miranda typically wrestles at 112 pounds, a non-Olympic division with limited domestic challengers. At 105.5, Murata faces stiff competition from Fulp-Allen, Kelly and Colorado Springs resident Clarissa Chun.

“She hasn’t been at 48 kilos (105.5 pounds) for a long time,” Murata said of Miranda. “It’s different when you get down there, very different. Am I going to overlook her? Not at all. But I’m looking forward to the match.”

Said Miranda: “I definitely feel challenged by the girls in the (105.5-pound) weight class. Some people say I’m the person to beat. Some people say with a knee injury, I’m the underdog. Who knows?”

Regardless of the outcome, Murata, a 13-time national team member, probably won’t compete past the Women’s World Championships in October in Tokyo.

She has been to the world championships eight times, winning a silver medal in 2001. She has won the Pan American Championships three times. She has won nine national titles. She has won countless international tournaments, including the Schultz last year.

“If I wasn’t successful and if I wasn’t still in the mix, I wouldn’t be here,” said Murata, who has qualified for the Olympic trials based on her world championships appearances. “That’s why I’ve done it for so long. It’s hard to quit when you’re winning.

“I actually feel stronger, faster. It’s almost like a time warp. I feel like I’m getting better with age. It’s like I’m a wine.”

Asked if she’s capable of beating Miranda, Murata said, “When push comes to shove, I believe I can win.”