#development

Lithuania organizes course to develop FS/WW coaches

Monday, November 21, 2022 - 14:18 By United World Wrestling Press

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SIAULIAI, Lithuania  (November 21) – The Lithuanian Wrestling Federation, in partnership with the Lithuania Olympic Committee, are working to grow and develop Freestyle and Women Wrestling in their country.  After a long success in Greco-Roman, the LTU Federation wanted to begin to develop the other Olympic styles. As a result, they organized a Level 2 coaching course from 7-11 November 2022 with the emphasis of developing and training their current FS/WW coaches. This course was conducted in conjunction with Olympic Solidarity and United World Wrestling. 

The Level 2 Coaching course was conducted by Mr. Yusup ABDUSALAMOV (POL) – UWW Coach Educator and former Olympic silver medalist. The course had 25 participants (17 men and 8 women). “Here I saw educated, interested and very diligent coaches," said Mr. Abdusalamov. "They managed very well with all the tasks that were set before them and found unconventional, non-standard and creative approaches to solving them.”

The coach participants focused on many topics surrounding the idea of developing training sessions for wrestlers. Some of the topics included coaching the basic skills or wrestling, introduction to performance analysis, theoretical framework to planning, practice plan essentials, strength and conditioning, and nutrition and weight management. During the course, the coaches participated in practical assessments to demonstrate their knowledge.

"I have to say that we are very satisfied with how the course went. We had different expectations from the upcoming training, but we were all pleasantly surprised by the level of positivity in the learning, the number of creative tasks, the fullness of the practical sessions, the amount of imagination and thinking that this process required from us." said Sergejus Kasimovas (Head Coach of LTU National Freestyle Team). "It was a very useful and interesting experience for all of us. I am very grateful to our Wrestling Federation for organizing this course, and to UWW and the Olympic Solidarity Foundation for supporting and funding this event. We look forward to similar events in the future.”

LTHParticipants go through on-the-mat training during the course in Lithuania. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

“The seminar went exactly according to plan. It was very informative and useful for every coach and athlete. Theoretical knowledge was precisely applied in practice. Every lecture we learned new things about coaching and training planning," said Giedre Darge (WW Coach). "Trainers share their personal experiences with each other’s. Students in the course were involved in the discussions, as a result they could express their opinions. The lecturer was very competent and perfectly able to share his knowledge. A lot of attention was made to team building, which is very important for achieving a best result. Every participant after seminar were satisfied that they learned new things.” 

“I have to say that the course went very well with a high level of feedback, enthusiasm on both sides, great effort and commitment on the part of the participants." said Mr. Abdusalamov. "The organization of the course was at a good level. I would like to thank the board and staff of the Lithuanian Wrestling Federation, represented by President Giedrius Dambrauskas, and Siauliai Sports Gymnasium for the support in organizing the course."

#WrestleMonterrey

Pan-American Championships 2025 Preview

Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - 08:11 By Vinay Siwach

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MONTERREY, Mexico (May 6) -- The Pan-American Championships 2025 in Monterrey can be a different story from the past as the United States is sending a much depleted squad for the tournament.

Will other countries rise up this year?  The Pan-American Championships will be live on UWW+ on uww.org and the UWW+ [FloWrestling for the U.S. and Canada] from May 8 to 11. Follow United World Wrestling on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube and TikTok.

DOWNLOAD/READ THE FULL PREVIEW HERE

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Greco-Roman

The biggest stars in Greco-Roman will be the three entries of Cuba. The nation has both of its Paris Olympic bronze medalists making a return to competition. World champions Luis ORTA (CUB) and Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) will be in action at 67kg and 97kg respectively and will be the favorite to win the gold medal. It also has Oscar PINO (CUB) at 130kg, who won the Pan-Am gold a couple of years ago.

The U.S. is banking on a mix of youth and experience. Young star Jayden RANEY (USA), who won U17 world title in 2024, is at 55kg, Maxwell BLACK (USA) is making his Pan-Ams debut at 60kg while veteran Ellis COLEMAN (USA) is returning to this tournament after six years.

Former champion Alejandro SANCHO (USA) has moved up a weight class to 72kg, big-throwing Kamal BEY (USA) is at 77kg and history-maker at the U23 World Championships with a silver medal Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) will be the favorite at 82kg. Paris Olympian Payton JACOBSON (USA) will be at 87kg and former U17 world champion Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) is at 130kg.

For Orta, the path to gold appears simple but he has returning silver medalist Andres MONTANO (ECU) and bronze medalist Nestor ALMANZA TRUYOL (CHI). However, it is unlikely that Orta will be challenged in the bracket. Rosillo will be the favorite at 97kg despite the presence of Paris Olympian and defending champion Kevin MEJIA (HON).

Pino, who won the gold at 130kg in 2023, has Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA) and Schultz in the bracket but has experience and quality on his side.

He has been Cuba’s mainstay at 130kg for long but never competed at the Olympics due to the presence of Mijain LOPEZ (CUB). With Lopez retired after winning a record fifth Olympic gold in Paris, the doors to compete at Olympic have opened up for Pino.

The other weight classes will be evenly contested with the absence of Cuba. At 87kg, Sosruko KODZOKOV (BRA) will look to win his second Pan-Am title as he won the 82kg gold medal last year. He has Paris Olympian Payton JACOBSON (USA) and returning silver medalist Luis AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN) as the other big names in the bracket.

The U.S. will bank on Melelashvili to win the 82kg as he has only two other competitors in the weight class. Melelashvili became the first-ever U.S. Greco-Roman wrestler to win a silver medal at the U23 World Championships last year. Former silver medalist David CHOC HUOC (GUA) and returning bronze medalist Diego MACIAS TORRES (MEX) are entered at 82kg.

At 77kg, former Pan-Am champion Bey will be looking for his second title. Former world champion and veteran Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARG), wrestling perhaps for the last time, will be his biggest challenger. The two were involved in a thrilling contest in the 2024 Pan-Am Olympic Qualifier last year but Bey hit a clutch throw to beat Julfalakyan 4-2.

Sancho, who won the gold medal at 67kg last year, is at 72kg and will be the best bet to win the gold medal. Former bronze medalist Cristian MEJIA TEPEN (GUA and recently crowned 2025 U23 Pan-Am champion Jorge GOMEZ GARCIA (MEX) will be his biggest tests.

Another one of Mexico's 2025 U23 Pan-Am champion Diego TERRIQUEZ IBARRA (MEX) will be hoping to win the gold at 60kg. But Patrick RODRIGUEZ QUINTO (ECU), who lost to Ibarra in the final last month will look to avenge that loss and upgrade to gold. Yonaiker MARTINEZ CRAVO (VEN), who has multiple age-group Pan-Am medals, will look to make a mark at the senior level.

Angel SEGURA TELLEZ (MEX) won the gold medal at U23 Pan-Ams at 63kg but the senior competition can prove tougher. He has Coleman, a 2012 Olympian for the U.S. and who recently won a bronze medal at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series.

Jeremy PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU), a silver medalist from 2023, will look to win his first-ever gold medal.

At 55kg, Raney has just Isaac MARIN MATA (MEX) as the only other competitor entered while Colombia's absence from the tournament has offered a chance to a few others to be on the podium in Monterrey.

Women's Wrestling

Three silver and one bronze medalist from the 2024 Paris Olympics are entered in the field for Women's Wrestling. Kennedy BLADES (USA), Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) and Yusneylis GUZMAN (CUB) won silver medals in Paris while Milaimy MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) won bronze.

But the big question will be if the U.S. can dominate Women's Wrestling like it has in recent years.

Undoubtedly, the 76kg weight will be the toughest in Monterrey. Defending champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) has a big task ahead of her with Olympic bronze medalist Marin and world bronze medalist Kylie WELKER (USA) entered in the competition.

Reasco defeated Adeline GRAY (USA), 10-0, last year on her way to the gold. But Marin enjoys a better head-to-head record against Reasco which can put the latter under pressure.

Welker won the gold medal at the World U23 Championships last year and followed it up with a bronze medal at 72kg at the senior level but Pan-Ams will be a huge test for her at a heavier weight category. Reasco had defeated Welker 9-7 at Pan-Am Games in 2023.

Blades, who won silver in Paris at 76kg, continues her new season at 68kg. She will be making her Pam-Am debut and will be the favorite to win the gold medal at 68kg.

At 65kg, world bronze medalist Macey KILTY (USA) will be the favorite to win the gold medal. Former silver medalist Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN) is also entered.

Former world U20 and U23 silver medalist and returning bronze medalist Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) will hope to improve on her past result at 50kg. For that, she will have to go through Olympic silver medalist Guzman, defending champion Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU), Kamila BARBOSA (BRA) and Madison PARKS (CAN) among others.

53kg has defending champion Yepez who will be the favorite as she returns to competition for the first time since winning the silver medal in Paris. World U20 silver medalist Serena DI BENEDETTO (CAN) and former Pan-Am U20 silver medalist Jaslynn GALLEGOS (USA) are among the challengers.

Canada will be hoping for at least two gold medals, and the Godinez sisters will be the biggest reason. Karla GODINEZ (CAN) at 55kg and Ana at 62kg seem to have a relatively easy path to gold and will be favored to add to their past Pan-Am titles.

Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN), another former Pan-Am champion, can add to the count for Canada.

At 57kg, veteran Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) will look to win a gold medal but she will have to see off Mia FRIESEN (CAN) and Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) among other wrestlers.

Freestyle

The United States won all 10 gold medals last year. Will that be the case this time around? Possible.

The country is counting on a young line-up led by Zahid VALENCIA (USA) to retain their supremacy in the continental championships.

Valencia, who recently defeated Kyle DAKE (USA), will be at 86kg and the favorite to repeat. Veteran Ethan RAMOS (PUR), returning medalist Jorge LLANO (ARG and Steven RODRIGUEZ (VEN) are also there but Valencia clearly has an edge over the field.

At 125kg, former world U23 champion Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) will challenge the field. Hendrickson recently made global headlines after beating Gable STEVESON (USA) to win the NCAA title. Hendrickson will look to complete a U.S. hat-trick of gold at this weight class.

Other U.S. young stars include Jaxen FORREST (USA) at 61kg, Ladarian LOCKETT (USA) at 74kg, Trent HIDLAY (USA) at 92kg, and Justin RADEMACHER (USA) at 97kg. Joseph MCKENNA (USA) is one of the relatively experienced wrestlers at 65kg.

Forrest, who is known for his attacking style, will have his task cut out in his first-ever senior tournament. The 2022 world U17 silver medalist can face tough competition from Joseph SILVA (PUR), a three-time consecutive silver medalist at 61kg, losing all finals to American wrestlers.

Lockett won the world U17 gold in 2023 but ended up with a silver medal at the world U20 in 2024. He will be making his senior-level debut at the Pan-Am Championships. It will be a surprise if he misses out on the gold medal in Monterrey despite his young age.

The 92kg weight class has five wrestlers entered and Hidlay will have to beat everyone to win the gold medal. Given his experience, Hidlay shouldn't have a problem navigating the field which has Andrew JOHNSON (CAN), Miguel LAVIELLE RAMIREZ (MEX), Eduardo VEGA GARCIA (PAN), and Edwin MORALES (PUR).

Paris Olympian Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) has emerged as the favorite to win the gold medal at 57kg. Bronze medal at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series event, Bravo Young had an exceptional performance at the 2024 Pan-Am Olympic Qualifying tournament in which he defeated Zane RICHARDS (USA). He will hold the key to denying the U.S. a clean sweep as he has Liam CORNIN (USA) in his weight class.

Eduardo PALAS SEQUEIROS (PER) will be returning to wrestling at 13 years. He last wrestled at the Pan-Am U20 Championships in 2012 in Greco-Roman.

Mexico's other Paris Olympian in Freestyle -- Austin GOMEZ (MEX) -- is at 70kg and has a good chance to win the gold medal as well over the U.S.

Argentina can finally end its drought of a gold medal at the Pan-Am Championships if Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) can bring out a performance like last year in which he finished with a silver medal.

This year, he will be among the favorites, along with Peiman BIABANI (CAN) who continues to try and make a mark since switching from Iran to Canada. McKenna is another wrestler who can stop Destribats.

The 97kg weight class can also throw a different winner as returning silver Arturo SILOT (CUB) hopes to upgrade his medal. Former silver medalist Nishan RANDHAWA (CAN) will be among the favorites for gold as well.

The U.S. has Rademacher, a bronze medalist at the 2024 World U20 Championships. He can surely surprise all to win the gold medal and continue the U.S. dominance at this weight class, all thanks to Kyle SNYDER (USA).

Returning bronze medalist Cristian SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN) and multiple-time medalist Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN) are also entered at the weight.

At 79kg, Evan WICK (USA) will have his task cut out in the round-robin bracket as his weight class has only five wrestlers. Apart from Wick, Jasmit PHULKA (CAN), Victor HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX), Jose AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER) and Shane JONES (PUR) are registered.