Toronto, Greco-Roman, Pan American Games

Montano Wins First Wrestling Gold for Ecuador at Pan Am Games

Thursday, July 16, 2015 - 03:41 By William May

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TORONTO, Canada (July 14) – Andres MONTAÑO (ECU) won Ecuador’s first gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Pan American Games on Wednesday with an 11-0 technical triumph over Ali SOTO (MEX).

Montaño converted an early takedown into a lift and turn for a 6-0 lead and then slammed the door on Soto with a bodylock takedown to the secure the gold medal.

It was the first gold medal for Ecuador in the classic style and first wrestling gold medal since 1971 when Sergio GONZALEZ (ECU) won the 48kg crown in freestyle in Cali, Colombia.

Meanwhile, U.S. wrestlers won two out of three in the gold medal finals as Andrew BISEK (75kg) and Jon ANDERSON (85kg) both dialed up technical falls in the finals.

Bisek converted in par terre with a chest-high gut wrench and lift to back-arching throw for a quick win over Alvis ALMENDRA (PAN), who takes home Panama’s first wrestling medal from the Games since 1991 despite the loss. Bisek outscored his opponents 25-0.

Anderson won his first Pan Am gold with a dominant tournament, matching Bisek’s output, beating opponents by a combined 25-0 score. Anderson pushed through Querys PEREZ (VEN) 9-0, finishing the bout with two takedowns.

Venezuela stands second in the medals table with one gold and one silver medal. Anderson won last year’s Pan Am Championships in Mexico City at 80kg.

Wuileixis RIVAS (VEN), the 2014 Pan Am champion at 71kg, gave Venezuela a wrestling gold medal for a second straight Games with a 13-1 technical fall win over Bryce SADDORIS (USA).

At 59kg, Cristobal TORRES (CHI) scored with a late go-behind takedown to sew up a 3-0 win over Dylan WILLIAMS (CAN) for one bronze medal.

Spenser MANGO (USA), the Pan American runner-up in April, flipped Jansel RAMIREZ (DOM) with a reverse waistlock and short lift in the first period and held on for a 6-3 win and the other bronze medal.

At 66kg, Miguel MARTINEZ (CUB), the gold medalist at the Pan Am Championships, scored with a go-behind takedown and bodylock before Jair Alexis CUERO (COL) defaulted. Mario MOLINA (PER) shook off an early four-point throw and forced a disqualification on Jefrin MEJIA (HON) in the second period for the second bronze.

Despite a disastrous opening session for Cuba, Martinez and Alan VERA (85kg) were able to secure a pair of bronze medals for the traditional Pan Am powerhouse.

Pan American runner-up Juan ESCOBAR (MEX) was the only wrestler to secure a fall in the medal matches Wednesday, when he stepped over an arm throw attempt by Luis AVENDANO (VEN) and pressed for the fall.

Greco-Roman Medal Match Results
59kg
GOLD: Andres MONTANO (ECU) df. Ali SOTO (MEX) by TF, 11-0
BRONZE: Cristobal TORRES (CHI) df. Dylan WILLIAMS (CAN), 3-0
BRONZE: Spenser MANGO (USA) df. Jansel RAMIREZ (DOM), 6-3

66kg
GOLD: Wuileixis RIVAS (VEN) df. Bryce SADDORIS (USA) by TF, 13-1
BRONZE: Miguel MARTINEZ (CUB) df. Jair Alexis CUERO (COL) by Default (6-0)
BRONZE: Mario MOLINA (PER) df. Jefrin MEJIA (HON) by Disqualification (9-4)

75kg
GOLD: Andrew BISEK (USA) df. Alvis ALMENDRA (PAN) by TF, 8-0
BRONZE: Carlos MUNOZ (COL) df. Maximiliano PRUDENZANO (ARG), 4-3
BRONZE: Juan ESCOBAR (MEX) df. Luis AVENDANO (VEN) by Fall

85kg
GOLD: Jon ANDERSON (USA) df. Querys PEREZ (VEN) by TF, 9-0
BRONZE: Cristian MOSQUERA (COL) df. Alfonso LEYVA (MEX) by TF, 8-0
BRONZE: Alan VERA (CUB) df. Oscar MARTINEZ (HON) by TF, 9-0

#WrestleAthens

World champions Sanchez, Rashidov set up golden clash at U17 Worlds

Saturday, August 2, 2025 - 14:49 By Vinay Siwach

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ATHENS, Greece (August 2) -- It will be world champion clashing with another for the 51kg gold medal on Sunday at the World U17 Championships in Athens, Greece.

Returning world champion from 45kg Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) and returning 48kg champion Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB) both won their semifinals and will have a go at each other on Sunday.

Sanchez took just 44 seconds to see of Danael ABDYKASSYM (KAZ), 10-0, in the semifinals at 51kg. He used his gut-wrench to great effect to win via technical superiority.

Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB) had to work harder for his win against Haruku SHIINA (JPN). He set up two takedowns and then scored an exposure by doubl arm-locking Shiina and throwing him on the mat when the Japanese tried to defend using headpinch just before the break. Japan challenged but lost the decision as Rashidov led 7-0 at the break.

He used a takedown and turn to make it 11-0 in three minutes and 57 minutes.

Iran vs U.S. in two finals

Iran and the United States will face off in two finals on Sunday. At 45kg, Parsa TAHMASBI (IRI) and Keegan BASSETT (USA) dominated their semifinals to enter the gold-medal bout.

Tahmasbi pinned Mirjalol MUKAMMILOV (UZB) using a cradle and Bassett posted a composed 6-2 win over Ibragim VELIULLOV (UWW), 6-2.

The second Iran-U.S. final will be at 71kg after Arsham VAHABIAN (IRI) and Jayden JAMES (USA) needed comeback wins in their respective semifinals.

Vahabian was trailing 5-3 but scored a takedown to make it 5-5 against Ayubjon BOZORZODA (TJK), who led on criteria. Bozorzoda added a stepout to take a clear 6-5 lead. However, Vahabian got behind and managed to tilt Bozorzoda more than 90 degrees to score two points in the final five seconds.

Tajikistan challenged the decision but there was no other action as seen in review and the challenge was lost, giving one more point to Vahabian.

In the other semifinal, James was leading 3-3 against Yeghishe MOSESYAN (ARM) when the Armenian used a front headlock for turn and got two points to lead 5-3. But James quickly blocked Mosesyan and broke his lock and held him on the mat for a fall.

Canada could have had its first finalist of a World Championships in Freestyle since 2018 and first time at U17 Worlds since 1989, but Nathan NASH (CAN) failed to hold on to his 3-3 criteria lead against Rihito HIURA (JPN) in the final 30 seconds and suffered a heartbreaking 5-3 loss at 60kg.

Hiura scored a takedown to take a 5-3 lead and tried a leg-lace as the clock ticked and he managed to keep his score till it expired.

The Japanese will face SITENDER (IND) for the gold medal bout after the Indian defeated Bekassyl ASSAMBEK (KAZ), 5-1, in the other semifinal which turned out be a one-big-move match.

Iran had another finalist as Amirali ALIZADEH (IRI) won another one-sided bout. He defeated Elguja LOMIDZE (GEO), 11-0, in the semifinals. 

David DZEBISOV (UWW) made it to the final from other side after he blanked Beibarys YERGALI (KAZ), 9-0, in the other semifinal.

RESULTS

45kg
GOLD: Keegan BASSETT (USA) vs. Parsa TAHMASBI (IRI) 

SF 1: Keegan BASSETT (USA) df. Ibragim VELIULLOV (UWW), 6-2
SF 2: Parsa TAHMASBI (IRI) df. Mirjalol MUKAMMILOV (UZB), via fall

51kg
GOLD: Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB) vs. Samuel SANCHEZ (USA)

SF 1: Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB) df. Haruku SHIINA (JPN), 11-0
Sf 2: Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) df. Danael ABDYKASSYM (KAZ), 10-0

60kg
GOLD: SITENDER (IND) vs. Rihito HIURA (JPN)

SF 1: SITENDER (IND) df. Bekassyl ASSAMBEK (KAZ), 5-1
SF 2: Rihito HIURA (JPN) df. Nathan NASH (CAN), 5-3

71kg
GOLD: Jayden JAMES (USA) vs. Arsham VAHABIAN (IRI)

SF 1: Jayden JAMES (USA) df. Yeghishe MOSESYAN (ARM), via fall (5-5)
SF 2: Arsham VAHABIAN (IRI) df. Ayubjon BOZORZODA (TJK), 8-6

92kg
GOLD: David DZEBISOV (UWW) vs. Amirali ALIZADEH (IRI)

SF 1: David DZEBISOV (UWW) df. Beibarys YERGALI (KAZ), 9-0
SF 2: Amirali ALIZADEH (IRI) df. Elguja LOMIDZE (GEO), 11-0