#Fortaleza2018

Junior Pan American finale set for Sunday night in Brazil

By Taylor Miller

FORTALEZA, Brazil – The United States put on a show in the first half of the Junior Pan American Championships freestyle tournament, with seven athletes in position to compete for gold tonight at 5 p.m. ET in Fortaleza, Brazil.

Two other U.S. wrestlers, Anthony CASSIOPPI and Cameron CAFFEY, already claimed Junior Pan American freestyle titles to double up on 2018 Pan Am golds after successful morning sessions, with each wrestler going 4-0.

Cassioppi, who won the Golden Boot in Greco-Roman, secured the crown at 125 kg, while Caffey won at 97 kg.

With the highest amount of entrants among the three styles, there are five weights with finals, 57 kg, 61 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg and 74 kg.

At 57 kg, Kevin CHAVES BETANCUR (COL) will challenge 2017 Cadet South American champion Jonathan PRATA ALAS (ARG) for gold.

Greco champion Dylan GREGERSON (USA) will go up against Marco PALMERO (CAN) for the title at 61 kg.

The 65 kg finals features Andrew ALIREZ (USA) and 2015 Cadet Pan American freestyle champion Cristian SANTIAGO PEREZ (MEX). Alirez outscored his opponents, 20-0, while Santiago outscored his opponents, 20-5.

Emerging from pool play at 70 kg was Jose VALERA GARCIA (GUA) and Austin O’CONNOR (USA). Both athletes bounced back from first-round losses to move on to the finals.

At 74 kg, Junior World representative for Canada Ty BRIDGEWATER won by two technical falls to advance to the finals. Tonight, he will go against Jeremiah MOODY (USA) for gold, who was also dominant.

Anthony MANTANONA (USA) went 3-0 in the morning session at 79 kg to enter tonight as the only undefeated wrestler at the weight. Should he win his match against Miguel ORNELAS REYNOSO (MEX), he will seal the gold medal in the 79 kg bracket.

Ornelas and Phelipe DOS SANTOS (BRA) head into the final round with 2-1 records.

It’s a similar situation at 86 kg, with Kordell NORFLEET (USA) collecting a 3-0 record. He will face Connor PATTISON (CAN) in the fifth round.

In the other 86 kg match, Junior Pan Am Greco-Roman bronze medalists Nicolas BAEZ (ARG) and Jhon CARMONA (COL), who each are 2-1, will go head-to-head.

Should Austin HARRIS (USA) win his third-round match against Emiliano PRADO GUZMAN (MEX) at 97 kg, he will secure the gold medal. Harris won tech falls over Richard DESCHATELETS (CAN) and Guilherme PRADELLA LIMA (BRA) in the morning session.

The finals are set for 5 p.m. ET live on unitedworldwrestling.org.
 

#WrestleZagreb, #development

Enhance Zagreb experience: Conferences, workshops, fan zones

By United World Wrestling Press

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 3) -- The World Championships in Zagreb will be another milestone for United World Wrestling and its promote wrestling.

From assistance to first-ever world conference, UWW is set to host numerous activities before and during the World Championships that enhance the experience of wrestlers, coaches, fans and other stakeholders.

As many 114 athletes and coaches from 41 countries will receive financial assistance from UWW's Technical Assistance Program for the World Championships. They will receive financial support to participate in the tournament for their respective nations. 

Continuing it's Elite Female Coaches Scholarships, UWW has awarded it to five coaches for the World Championships. Four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO (JPN) and Africa's first Olympic medalist in Women's Wrestling Marwa AMRI (TUN) will be two of the beneficiaries of this scholarships.

During the World Championships, UWW will host its first-ever World Conference, from September 17-19. The three-day event will bring together leaders from national federations and various commissions to discuss the future of wrestling. Key topics include athlete career transitions, anti-doping, sports nutrition, and the advancement of women's wrestling.

A workshop for the National Federations is also scheduled to be held on September 19 during the World Conference.

The Scientific Symposium will also held during September 17-19 to discuss scientific wrestling, weight management, data analysis among other topics.

The World Championships will also witness the UWW Athletes' Commission Elections. These will be held throughout the World Championships, September 13-21, with participating wrestlers able to vote for the nominees.

For the wrestlers, the Croatian Wrestling Federation, with the support of UWW will organize an acclimatization camp from September 5 to 16 in Porec, organized by the Croatian NF and financially supported by UWW.

During the acclimatization camp, an education booth will be set up by the Integrational Testing Agency (ITA), on September 8 and 9. The booth is set up to educate wrestlers, coaches and mangers about anti-doping programs.
 
The Zagreb Arena will have fan zones with activities as well throughout the September 13-21 World Championships.