Sept. 26, 2006

GUANGZHOU, China - Three guys with a grand total of three years of World-level experience turned in one of the best days on the mat in American Greco-Roman wrestling history.

Former Illini All-American Lindsey Durlacher, along with Joe Warren, and Harry Lester, kicked off the 2006 World Championships in grand fashion for the United States team as each won medals during the opening day of the tournament Monday at the Tianhe Sports Center.

Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) captured a bronze medal at 55 kg/121 pounds before Lester (Akron, Ohio/USOEC/Gator WC) followed with a second bronze for Team USA at 66 kg/145.5 pounds. Joe Warren won the gold in his weight class for the American team.

The three U.S. wrestlers, who each competed in their first World meet in 2005, combined to go an unthinkable 13-2 in their matches on Monday. None of the three placed last year in this event. There are still four Greco-Roman weight classes to be contested in the 2006 World Championships, but the American team already has equaled its best medal count ever at a World meet with three medals.

Durlacher shook off a heartbreaking semifinal loss to World champion Hamid Sourian of Iran to earn a 4-0, 2-0 win over Bulgaria's Venelin Venkov in their bronze-medal match. Durlacher, a veteran who turned 32 earlier this month, captured his first World-level medal. The former Illini made his first World team last year and used that experience to medal this year.

"That was just a start - I want the gold next year," Durlacher said. "I've got a responsibility to my country to win medals at the World and Olympic competitions. Brandon Paulson and Dennis Hall have performed in past years and it is my job to fill their shoes. I am trying to fill that gap, the tradition of great American Greco-Roman lightweights."