#WrestleGuatemalaCity

Cuatro Países Recogen Múltiples Campeonas de Estilo Libre Femenina

By Taylor Miller

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – Cuatro países ganaron más que una campeona en la acción de jueves del Campeonato Panamericano Juvenil en la Ciudad de Guatemala.

USA tuvo tres campeones en el estilo libre femenina, mientras Brasil, Colombia y Cuba ganaron dos campeonas cada uno.

Los Estados Unidos ganó el título del equipo con 210 puntos. En segundo lugar fue Canadá con 134 puntos y Brasil terminó en tercer lugar con 102 puntos.

Final team standings
1. USA – 210
2. Canada – 134
3. Brazil – 102
4. Ecuador – 72
5. Cuba – 70
6. Colombia – 50
7. Peru – 42
8. Panama – 31
9. Guatemala – 24
10. Argentina – 22

50 kg: Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) fue impresionante con tres victorias de puesta espalda y una victoria por decisión. En los finales Yépez derrotó a la Campeona Olímpica Juvenil y Campeona Mundial en la categoría cadetes Emily SHILSON (USA), 5-4. Es su tercer título panamericano y primero en el nivel juvenil.

GOLD – Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) df. Emily SHILSON (USA), 5-4
BRONZE – Evelyn MATOS SANTOS (BRA) df. Alexia SEAL (CAN), fall 2:27

53 kg: Laura HERIN AVILA (CUB) ganó el oro en 53 kg. Derrotó a la medallista de bronce mundial Tiare IKEI (USA) en su final combate, 10-0.

GOLD – Laura HERIN AVILA (CUB)
SILVER – Tiare IKEI (USA)
BRONZE – Becky CORNEJO MUNOZ (ECU)

55 kg: Alisha HOWK (USA) fue la primera campeona de los Estados Unidos de la noche. Dos de sus cuatro victorias fueron por puesta espalda.

GOLD – Alisha HOWK (USA)
SILVER - Nathaly HERRERA HUACRE (PER)
BRONZE - Virginie KAZE GASCON (CAN)

57 kg: Ana PEREIRA FRANCA (BRA) gano el primer oro del noche para Brasil. Nadie pudo marcarle puntos durante todo el torneo.

GOLD – Ana PEREIRA FRANCA (BRA)
SILVER – Gabrielle SKIDMORE (USA)
BRONZE – Jolie BRISCO (CAN)

59 kg: Katherine RENTERIA CUERO (COL) repitió como campeona panamericana juvenil. Ella recibió la bota de oro por ser la luchadora más destacada del torneo. Ganó cuatro combates con dos puestas espaldas y dos superioridades técnicas.  

GOLD – Katherine RENTERIA CUERO (COL)
SILVER – Emma PARKER (CAN)
BRONZE – Mia MACALUSO (USA)

62 kg: Dayselis RODRIGUEZ GARCIA (CUB) ganó el oro en su primera competencia panamericana. En su final lucha, Rodríguez ganó contra Meiriele CHARAMBA SANTOS HORA (BRA) por puesta espaldas.

GOLD – Dayselis RODRIGUEZ GARCIA (CUB)
SILVER – Alex LILES (USA)
BRONZE – Meiriele CHARAMBA SANTOS HORA (BRA)

65 kg: Cara BROADUS (CAN) tuvo un día fuerte con dos victorias por puesta espalda para ganar su primer título panamericano. Ella fue la segunda campeona de USA.

GOLD – Cara BROADUS (USA)
SILVER – Jamilex CUMBICOS CASTILLO (ECU)
BRONZE – Katie MULKAY (CAN)

68 kg: La segunda campeona brasileña fue Thamires MARTINS MACHADO (BRA). Todas de sus victorias fueron por superioridad técnica. Ha mejorado mucho desde su último torneo panamericano, donde resulto en el sexto lugar en 2017.

GOLD – Thamires MARTINS MACHADO (BRA)
SILVER – Alma MENDOZA (USA)
BRONZE – Berit JOHNSON (CAN)

72 kg: Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) ganó el segundo oro para Colombia. En su final combate, derrotó a Dymond GUILFORD (USA) con una acción de cinco puntos.

GOLD – Tatiana RENTERIA (COL)
SILVER – Dymond GUILFORD (USA)
BRONZE – Lily FRENCH (CAN)

76 kg: Kenya-Lee SLOAN (USA) fue la tercera campeona estadounidense. En camino a su medalla de oro, Sloan derrotó a la Campeona Olímpica Juvenil Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) en la cuarta ronda por puesta espalda.

GOLD – Kenya-Lee SLOAN (USA)
SILVER – Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB)
BRONZE – Jasmine THEBEAU (CAN)

#JapanWrestling

I Want to Win Second Olympic Gold at LA 2028: Higuchi

By United World Wrestling Press

TOKYO (May 22) -- Paris Olympic champion at 57kg Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) returned to competition for the 2026 Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships in Tokyo. After reaching the 61kg final on Saturday, Higuchi defeated Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN), 3-0, in the gold medal bout.

Normally, the two should have wrestle off to earn a spot on the Japan team for the 2026 World Championships. However, Higuchi withdrew from the play-off to everyone's surprise. He later talked to the press. Excerpts:

UWW Plus

-- On withdrawing from World Championships wrestle-off against Hasegawa

Higuchi: In December, the qualifying process at 57kg starts for [the 2028] Los Angeles [Olympics]. There is the World Championships, but all I am thinking of is a second straight title in Los Angeles. Strategically speaking, I have six months from now to get my body ready and drop to 57kg, and I want to give that priority. That's how I came to this decision."

-- On his performance at the Meiji Cup

Higuchi: I tried various new takedowns, and I was able to apply pressure in the clinch as well. I think it went pretty well, more or less. There was one throw I felt I could have executed better, and there were a few other areas where I wanted to finish things off more decisively. I guess there’s a mix of things to reflect on and things that went well. It feels like a bit of a mixed bag. 

-- On his return after 21 months since 2024 Paris Olympics

Higuchi: It was definitely fun. It was my first match in a long time, so I was really excited and nervous, but I’m not the type to feel too much pressure. Even as an Olympic champion, how should I put it?, I’m sure there were people hoping for an upset, but whether I win or lose, the fact that I’m an Olympic gold medalist doesn’t change. So in that sense, I was able to let go of the pressure and really enjoy the wrestling.

-- On his physical health

Higuchi: In the first match, I definitely felt like my legs were really heavy. It had been a while since my last match, and it had been a while since I’d reduce weight too. There were moments where I wondered, “Is this really okay?” But by the second match, the semifinal, I was gradually finding my rhythm and moving well. I really feel it was great that I was able to compete once six months ago, rather than starting all of a sudden this December.

-- On any improvements for future

Higuchi: First of all, I need to build a body that’s properly suited for the 57kg weight class. It’s been a while since I’ve competed, so I didn’t perform as well as I’d hoped. I think if I refocus and tighten up my game, I’ll be able to deliver an even better performance. I really want to get back to training soon. It was so much fun. It’s been a while, but I feel like I can pull off all sorts of new moves and do so much more, so I’m eager to get back to training. 

-- On motivation for LA 2028

Higuchi: There’s only one person in the history of Japanese wrestling [Freestyle] who has won back-to-back Olympic gold medals. My goal is to become the strongest wrestler in the history of Japanese wrestling. In terms of records. There are many great predecessors, but I want to break their records. I want to become the kind of figure where people say, “Rei Higuchi was the strongest in Japanese wrestling history.”

I want to wrap things up by winning two consecutive gold medals in Los Angeles.