By Craig Sesker USA Wrestling | Feb. 01, 2014, 8:noon (ET)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Randi Miller used her power and strength to win an Olympic bronze medal in 2008.
She used those same qualities to earn a championship at the Dave Schultz Memorial International on Saturday afternoon at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
Miller overcame an early deficit, scoring on two pushouts to down World champion Elena Pirozhkova 2-1 in the women’s freestyle finals at 69 kg/152 lbs.
Miller, 30, competing for the U.S. Army, earned her second Schultz title after winning here in 2007. She stepped away from wrestling after the 2008 Olympics before returning to the mat this season.
Pirozhkova, a 2012 Olympian, has won this event three times.
Miller was named Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.
“Elena’s a tough competitor and it was a good match,” Miller said. “I’m out here to learn and I’m trying to figure out how to beat everyone. I’m just focused on doing the things I need to do to get better.”
World champion Jessica MacDonald of Canada rallied from an early 4-0 deficit to down two-time World bronze medalist Alyssa Lampe of the U.S. 14-4 in the finals at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. MacDonald won her second Schultz title.
MacDonald trailed 4-0 late in the first period before scoring a takedown just before time ran out. She stormed out strong in the second period, scoring on a succession of turns to clinch the win.
World silver medalist Helen Maroulis of the U.S. downed University World champion Katherine Fulp Allen 8-0 in the finals at 53 kg/116.5 lbs. Maroulis won her second straight Schultz title.
“I just focus on my style and myself,” Maroulis said. “I wasn’t really happy with the way I wrestled today, but I really want to wrestle at 53 for the World Cup so I moved down for this tournament.”
China captured the team title with Canada finishing second and India third.
India’s Sakshi Malik defeated Junior World bronze medalist Jennifer Page of the U.S. 14-4 in the finals at 60 kg/132 lbs.
World champion Lan Zhang of China recorded a first-period fall over Junior World silver medalist Braxton Stone-Papadopulous of Canada in the finals at 58 kg/127 lbs.
China’s Zhangting Zhou won by forfeit over World champion teammate Luozhuoma Xi to gain the crown at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.
University World medalist Erica Wiebe of Canada knocked off World champion Fengliu Zhang of China 6-2 in the finals at 75 kg/165 lbs.
China’s Xuechun Zhong won the title at 55 kg/121 lbs. with a first-period fall over India’s Babita Kumari.
This is the final day of the three-day Schultz event. This tournament has been held annually since 1999. It honors the late Dave Schultz, an Olympic and World champion for the U.S.