#WrestleOttawa

Olympic Champions Borrero Molina, Burroughs and Snyder Set for Pan American Championships in Ottawa

By Taylor GREGORIO

Photo of Jordan BURROUGHS (USA). Photo by Tony Rotundo.

The Pan American Championships are set for March 6-9 in Ottawa, Canada, and will feature nearly 200 athletes from 19 different countries, including six World and Olympic champions.

Men’s freestyle (March 8-9)

Leading the field in men’s freestyle are Olympic champions Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) and Kyle SNYDER (USA). Both are two-time Pan Am Games champions as well.

Burroughs, who will compete at 74 kg, is a 2012 Olympic champion and four-time World champ, with his most recent World gold coming in 2017. In 2018 and 2019, he tallied back-to-back World bronze medals.

Looking to knock off Burroughs at 74 kg, is a duo of past World medalists, Jeandry GARZON CABALLERO (CUB), a 2007 World silver medalist and three-time World bronze winner, and Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR), who won silver at the 2011 World Championships.

Burroughs defeated both Garzon Caballero and Gomez Matos en route to his Pan Am Games title. Gomez Matos finished with silver, while Garzon Caballero earned bronze.

Photo of Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB) and Kyle SNYDER (USA). Photo by Tony Rotundo. 

Snyder is a 2016 Olympic champion and 2015 and 2017 World champion. He also owns World silver from 2018 and World bronze from 2019. Snyder will compete at 97 kg.

Also at 97 kg is two-time World silver medalist and 2010 World bronze winner Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB). Salas Perez is a five-time Pan American Championships gold medalist as well as a 2015 Pan Am Games champion.

Other returning Pan American Games champions expected to compete include Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (CUB) at 65 kg and Yurieski TORREBLANCA QUERALTA (CUB) at 86 kg.

Valdes Tobier enters the tournament with 2017 and 2018 World bronze medals. Joining him at 65 kg with World medals is John (Yianni) DIAKOMIHALIS (USA), who is a two-time Cadet World champion, winning gold in 2015 and 2016.

Aside from Torreblanca Queralta, in the mix at 86 kg is Carlos IZQUIERDO MENDEZ (COL), who was fifth at the 2019 World Championships and was one of only three men’s freestyle athletes from the Pan-American region to qualify their weight for the 2020 Olympics (the other two being Burroughs and Snyder).

Either James Patrick DOWNEY III (USA) or Alex DIERINGER (USA) will represent the United States at 86 kg. Both are Junior World silver medalists with Downey winning his in 2012 and Dieringer claiming his in 2013.

Photo of Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB). Photo by Sachiko Hotaka. 

Favored at 57 kg is 2017 and 2019 U23 World champion Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB). In addition to his World golds, Andreu Ortega also owns a gold from the 2018 Pan American Championships and has collected bronzes at the 2019 Pan Am Games as well as the 2017 and 2019 Pan Am Championships.

Leading the field at 125 kg is Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB), who is a three-time World medalist in Greco-Roman, including a silver at the 2019 World Championships to qualify Cuba for the Olympic Games at 130 kg in Greco. Last season, he balanced both styles, competing in freestyle at the Pan American events and wrapping up his season in Greco at Worlds. For 2020, Pino Hinds is expected to compete exclusively in freestyle.

At last year’s Pan American Championships, Pino Hinds won bronze, and just months later, he improved to a silver medal at the Pan American Games.

Looking to challenge him at the weight is 2014 Junior World champion Amarveer DHESI (CAN). This week will mark his first Pan Am event at the Senior level.

While all 10 Worlds weights will be contested, there are few competing at the non-Olympic weights. Some of note include 2019 Senior World fifth-place finisher Tyler GRAFF (USA) at 61 kg, 2019 Pan American Championships gold medalist Anthony ASHNAULT (USA) at 70 kg and 2019 Junior World bronze medalist Hunter LEE (CAN) at 92 kg.

Photo of Adeline GRAY (USA). Photo by Kadir Caliskan. 

Women’s freestyle (March 7-8)

Three World champions highlight the women’s freestyle entries, including 2019 World champs Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA) at 68 kg and Adeline GRAY (USA) at 76 kg and 2018 World champion Justina DI STASIO (CAN) at 76 kg.

Mensah-Stock and Gray are the only two Pan-American athletes in women’s freestyle to qualify their weights for the 2020 Tokyo Games, thanks to their medal-winning performances at the 2019 World Championships.

Mensah-Stock had a breakout year in 2019, winning the Pan Am Championships and Pan American Games titles at 68 kg and finishing off the season with a World gold medal. But looking to stop her hot streak is Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB), a 2018 U23 World champion. Sanchez Rodriguez also owns a 2017 Junior World silver and a 2017 U23 World bronze.

Perhaps one of the most star-studded weights in women’s freestyle is 76 kg.

Last year, Gray became the first athlete in U.S. wrestling history to win five World titles, surpassing legends like John Smith and Tricia Saunders. In every Pan Am event she has competed in, Gray has won gold, including the 2015 Pan Am Games and the 2018 and 2019 Pan Am Championships.

Di Stasio is a three-time Pan American Championships gold medalist (2015, 2016, 2017) as well as a 2019 Pan Am Games champion at the weight class. She won her 2018 World title at 72 kg.

Joining them at 76 kg is 2019 U23 and Junior World champion Malaimys MARIN POTRILE (CUB) and 2014 World silver medalist Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA).

Photo of Jackeline RENTERIA CASTILLO (COL). Photo by Tony Rotundo. 

The 62 kg weight class features a pair of World medalists, including two-time Olympic bronze medalist and 2017 World bronze medalist Jackeline RENTERIA CASTILLO (COL) and 2018 World bronze medalist Mallory VELTE (USA). 

Also in the mix is 2019 Pan American Championships gold medalist and 2019 Pan Am Games bronze medalist Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA).

Competing at 57 kg is reigning Pan Am Games champion Lissette ANTES CASTILLO (ECU), who also won the Pan Am Championship last year in Lima, Peru. Additionally, she owns bronze medals from the 2011 and 2015 Pan Am Games.

Also seeking the top spot at 57 kg is 2018 Senior World bronze medalist Lianna MONTERO HERRERA (CUB) and 2019 U23 World bronze medalist Hannah TAYLOR (CAN).

Athletes to watch at the lower weights include two-time Junior World champion Victoria ANTHONY (USA) at 50 kg, reigning Pan American Championships gold medalist Yusneylys GUZMAN LOPEZ (CUB) at 50 kg and 2011 Junior World bronze medalist Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU) at 53 kg.

Photo of Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB). Photo by Tony Rotundo. 

Greco-Roman (March 6-7)

Four of the six 2019 Pan American Games champions will compete later this week in Ottawa, highlighted by 2016 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB).

Borrero Molina, a five-time Pan American Championships gold medalist, will compete at 67 kg this weekend. He is one of only two Pan-American Greco-Roman athletes to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Games. The other to qualify the weight in Greco was Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) at 130 kg, who is expected to compete in freestyle for the 2020 season.

The other Pan Am Games champions slated for competition are Patrick SMITH (USA) at 77 kg, Luis AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN) at 87 kg and Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB) at 97 kg.

Photo of Luis AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN). Photo by Tony Rotundo. 

Seeking to dethrone Avendano Rojas at 87 kg is two-time U23 World medalist Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB), who won silver at the 2018 U23 Worlds and bronze at the 2019 U23 Worlds.

Rosillo Kindelan appears to be the favorite at 97 kg as he is coming off an impressive 2019 season, where he won Pan American Championships titles in the Junior and Senior divisions, a Pan Am Games title and a Junior World gold.

Also registered at 97 kg is 2016 Junior World bronze medalist G’Angelo HANCOCK (USA), who met up with Rosillo Kindelan in the 2019 Championships and Games finals. Additionally, Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON), a 2011 Cadet World bronze winner, will be at the event.

While 2019 World silver medalist Pino Hinds will not be competing in Greco, the 130 kg weight class will still have exciting competition, including World medalists Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI) and Adam COON (USA).

Coon is a 2018 World runner-up, while Acosta Fernandez is a 2017 World bronze medalist. Additionally, Acosta Fernandez is a 2019 Pan Am Games bronze winner.

Others to watch out for in Greco are 2019 Pan American Championships gold medalists Max NOWRY (USA) at 55 kg and Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB) at 60 kg.

Schedule (U.S. Eastern Time)
Friday, March 6
10:30 a.m. – Qualification and repechage (GR 55-6-63-67-72-97-130 kg)
4 p.m. – Opening Ceremony
5 p.m. – Finals (GR 55-6-63-67-72-97-130 kg)

Saturday, March 7
10:30 a.m. – Qualification and repechage (GR 77-82-87 kg, WFS 55-59-65-72 kg)
5 p.m. – Finals (GR 77-82-87 kg, WFS 55-59-65-72 kg)

Sunday, March 8
10:30 a.m. – Qualification and repechage (WFS 50-53-57-62-68-76 kg, MFS 79-92 kg)
5 p.m. – Finals (WFS 50-53-57-62-68-76 kg, MFS 79-92 kg)

Monday, March 9
10:30 a.m. – Qualification and repechage (MFS 57-61-65-70-74-86-97-125 kg)
5 p.m. – Finals (MFS 57-61-65-70-74-86-97-125 kg)

 

#WrestleZagreb

World Championships 2025 Day 1 FS 61kg, 70kg, 86kg, 125kg Highlights

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 13) -- The World Championships are underway in Zagreb. The competition kicks off with four weight classes in 61kg, 70kg, 86kg and 125kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | FREESTYLE PREVIEW

14:35: European champion Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) given no chance to Vlagyiszlav BAJCAJEV (HUN) and wins his quarterfinal at 125kg 7-0.

14:34: Robert BARAN (POL), a four-time European medalist, moves closer to his first world medal with a dramatic 6-3 come-from-behind victory over Mohsen SIYAR (GER) in their 125kg quarterfinal. Siyar scored a first-period takedown and added a stepout early in the second to lead 3-0. But with :33 to go, Baran gets behind for a takedown, then goes ahead with another at the :13 mark. He adds a gut wrench in the final seconds to cap an amazing win.

14:27: Asian bronze medalist Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) uses a well-time counter lift to roll back and put Abdulla KURBANOV (UWW) directly onto his back. After a short fight, Sharipov secures the fall at the 2:00 mark to advance to the 125kg semifinals. 

14:30: A technical superiority win and into the semifinals is world champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) at 125kg. He scores two takedowns in the first period before a takedown and turn in the second for a 10-0 win over Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO).

14:23: Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) is in the semifinals at 61kg with an 8-4 victory over Kamil KERYMOV (UKR). Javan looks in control of his opponents throughout the bout as he showed today.

14:20: Teen phenom Jax FORREST (USA) continues his amazing run in Zagreb, scoring a pair of 4-point takedowns before holding off a late surge from Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) to win 13-8 and advance to the 61kg semifinals.

14:18: Zavur UGUEV (UWW) was down 2-1 against Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ) but launches a gut-wrench and storms to a 13-2 victory at 61kg. He looks pretty determined to win that gold after six years.

14:13: Kum Hyok KIM (PRK) gets the takedown, puts his head between the legs of Leomid COLESNIC (MDA) and rolls four times for a 10-0 victory in 1:32 and a place in the 61kg semifinals.

14:11: Former world U20 champion Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) with a big win over Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) in the 86kg quarterfinals. Ishiguro built a 6-2 lead before he got a counter for four and gave up two on exposure and led 10-4. But Azerbaijan challenged the call only to lose it and Ishiguro got one more points. Dzhioev scored two takedowns but they were not enough. Ishiguro won 11-8.

14:08: No last second heartbreaks for Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) as he stuns Ibragim KADIEV (UWW) in the 86kg quarterfinals. Ghasempour led 1-0 after Kadiev was called passive but Kadiev scored a takedown to make it 2-1. Both wrestlers locked each other in chestwraps and threw. It was scored four for Kadiev and two for Ghasempour. Iran challenged the call and it was assessed that there was no danger in the throws. Kadiev got the takedown so he kept his two points to lead 4-1 with 1:28 left.

Ghasempour then waited to set Kadiev up. He faked a shot and Kadiev jumped for his legs. But Ghasempour, who was waiting for it, jumped over and to score the takedown and a turn to lead 5-4. He defended his lead for the last 20 seconds and enter the semifinals.

13:58: If Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) leaves Zagreb with a medal, it will have to be his third world bronze after he was decimated by Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) in their 86kg quarter. Down 1-0, Magamadov secured a high lace lock and muscled Dauletbekov over five times for a 12-1 win in 1:04.

13:54: Zahid VALENCIA (USA) rolls to his third straight 10-0 victory, and this time he ended all in one swoop to advance to the 86kg semifinals. Valencia gets the takedown, then reels off four gut wrenches and that's all for Ivars SAMUSONOK (LAT) in just 35 seconds.

13:51: Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) pulls off another close victory in advancing at 70kg, scoring a late takedown for an 8-6 victory over Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE). Heybatov led 6-3, scoring three takedowns to Andreasyan's three stepouts. But the Armenian closed the gap with a two stepouts before taking the lead for the first time with a takedown. An unsuccessful challenge added the final point.

13:50: A heat bout between Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) and Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) at 70kg. Muszukajev was complaining of a hit from Aoyagi who himself was complaining of a punch from Muszukajev. But all said and done, Aoyagi is back in the semifinals with an 11-0 win over Muszukajev.

13:49: American-born Austin GOMEZ (MEX), looking to give Mexico its first-ever world medal, storms out to a 6-0 lead in his 70kg quarterfinal with reigning world champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ). But Kaipanov gets a takedown before the break, then a takedown and exposure after it to go ahead 6-6 on criteria. Gomez isn't finished and gets a takedown with 1:04 left, but Kaipanov breaks Mexican hearts with a takedown with :24 left, then defends against a last-ditch attempt to win 10-8.

13:40: Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) with a technical superiority win over Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) in the quarterfinals at 70kg. Tumur Ochir with a takedown and four turns to win 11-0.

Quarterfinals begin at the same time in all the weight classes

13:10: Former world bronze medalist Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) absolutely dominates Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) in the 86kg 1/8 finals. He scored a takedown and two gut-wrench turns in his 8-1 victory.

13:09: European silver medalist Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) makes short work of Gyeongmin KIM (KOR), scoring a quick 10-0 victory to earn a probable quarterfinal clash with Amir ZARE (IRI) at 125kg.

13:08: Leomid COLESNIC (MDA) pulls an upset at 61kg, building a 6-1 lead in the first period and holding on for a 7-4 victory over former world champion Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.

13:02: Suprise on Mat D as Iranian-born Mohsen SIYAR (GER) knocks off two-time world medalist Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) 5-2 for a place in the 125kg quarterfinals. Munkhtur gets an activity point for the lone score of the first period. In the second, the Mongolian is on the activity clock when Siyar scores a snapdown, go-behind takedown. A Munkhtur stepout cuts the lead to 3-2, but Siyar uses a counter lift for 2 to seal the deal.

12:52: Takara SUDA (JPN) cannot handle the pressure from Jaxen FORREST (USA) in their 61kg bout and drops his bout 7-2. Suda was put on the clock first and did not score as Forrest got a 1-0 lead. In the second period, Suda was more active but Forrest had unbelievable positioning to keep his lead. He managed to score a takedown on Suda for a 3-0 lead. He added another for a 5-0 lead before Suda got 2 points for exposure with less than a minute left. He failed to score any and got countered for two points as Forrest won 7-2

12:44: Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) stayed on track to add to his two world golds at 92kg by advancing to the 86kg quarterfinals with a one-sided 10-0 victory over Batbilguun NAADAMBAT (MGL). Ghasempour had four takedowns, including a 4-pointer.

12:35: World U20 champion PJ DUKE (USA) gave it all he had against world champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) but the Kazakhstan wrestler finishes with a 11-7 victory at 70kg. Duke blasted two takedowns and led 4-0 before Kaipanov came back in the second period. He made it 4-4 before a gut-wrench gave him a 6-4 lead. Kaipanov led 9-7 when Duke tried a chest wrap but Kaipanov blocked it and scored the match closing takedown.

12:34: Former world U20 champion Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) launches a big 4-point throw then finishes up a 10-0 win over Mukhammed ALIIEV (UKR) in just 1:25 to advance to the 86kg quarterfinals.

12:33: Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) left it late, but kept alive his bid for a second career world title with a 4-2 victory over Saiyn KAZYRYK (UWW)  to make the 70kg quarterfinals. After giving up a stepout and activity point in the first period, Muszukajev comes back with a pair of stepouts, the second one coming with :51 left to go ahead on criteria. He picks up a takedown to finish the job.

12:32: Zahid VALENCIA (USA) storms into the 86kg quarterfinals with his second straight victory by 10-0 technical superiority. This time he takes out Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG) with a similar combination of single-leg takedowns and lace locks as in his earlier win.

12:30: Returning silver medalist Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) humbles Asian champion Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) at 70kg with a leg-lace. 11-0 victory for Aoyagi

12:26: Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), nursing a 3-1 lead, ties up the arms of Mihail GEORGIEV (BUL) and pancakes him to the mat for a fall at 4:30 and he's into the 70kg quarterfinals.

12:16: Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) continues to take a cautious approach, but it works for him in posting a 4-1 victory over Viktor VOINOVIC (SRB) to advance to the quarterfinals at 70kg. Andreasyan scores a stepout and activity point in the first period, then two stepouts in the second. Voinovic, trying to get something going, gets the Armenian's leg in the air, but all he can settle for is a stepout.

11:48: Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) with a 13-2 technical superiority Joshua KRAMER (ECU) at 61kg. Great counters from Javan to score takedowns.

11:47: In a classic battle between recent world U23 champions at 125kg, Abdulla KURBANOV (UWW) gets the big points in key situations to score a 14-4 victory over Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA). Kurbanov comes out with single-leg takedown to the back for 4. Hendrickson replies with a stepout, but gives up a 2-point exposure when he tries to get behind. In the second period, Kurbanov gets a counter lift for 2 while giving up 1 for a reversal, making it 8-2. Hendrickson then counter lifts for 2 to pull within four. But Kurbanov stuffs an attempted lift for 2, then adds a gut wrench to finish up the match in the final minute.

11:36: Former world champion Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) scores a second-period takedown while on the activity clock and that's enough to give him a 3-0 victory over Emrah ORMANOGLU (TUR) at 61kg.

11:35: Jaxen FORREST (USA) keeps the unbeaten run of the United States going with a technical superiority win over Sangboum HAN (KOR) at 61kg

11:22: Two-time world bronze medalist Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) overwhelms Paulius LESCAUSKAS (LTU) 10-0 in his opening match at 86kg. Dauletbekov scores a takedown, then rolls Lescauskas back and forth three times to go up 8-0. He ends the match by countering a takedown attempt by locking the Lithuanian in a cradle and turning him over.

11:09: Zahid VALENCIA (USA), a 2023 world bronze medalist at 92kg, gets his campaign at 86kg off to an impressive start with a 10-0 victory over Mukul DAHIYA (IND). Valencia comes out like gangbusters, scoring a takedown and reeling off two lace locks for a quick 6-0 lead. He adds another takedown, but can't turn over Dahiya to go up 8-0. Despite Dahiya's stiff defense, Valencia finally gets behind to end the match.

11:02: Begijon KULDASHEV (UZB) gives up the go-ahead takedown to ROHIT (IND) in their 70kg qualification bout, but comes back with a takedown with :40 left to walk off a 5-4 winner. Next up is second seed Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO).

10:57: Ibragim KADIEV (UWW), a two-time world U20 champion, starts 86kg with a 9-2 controlled win over Cezary SADOWSKI (POL) to advance at 86kg.

10:53: Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) held his own for the first period but is totally outsmarted by Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) in the second period as the Azerbaijan wrestler beats Yazdani 15-4 at 70kg.

10:50: PJ DUKE (USA), coming off a victory at the world U20 a few months ago, got his bid for the senior title at 70kg started with a 11-0 victory over Shuang CHEN (CHN). Duke used a 2-on-1 to score three stepouts, then used it to get behind for a takedown and leveraged Chen over for a 2-point exposure. In the second period, Duke needs just 18 seconds to get behind again, get another exposure and he's into the next round.

10:42: In a fierce opening match on Mat C, European silver medalist Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) comes away with a nail-biting 5-5 over Asian silver medalist Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) at 70kg. Andreasyan holds a 3-3 criteria lead when Rassadin scores a stepout with a fleeing point added on to go ahead with :35 left. But the Armenian is not done yet, and gets a stepout and fleeing point of his own with 2.4 seconds left to notch the win.

10:37: Olympic medalist Islam DUDAEV (ALB), who moved up to 70kg for the World Championships, drops his first match against world champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN). Dudaev led 1-0 but is put on the activity clock in the second period. He fails to score and Muszukajev wins 1-1 ion criteria.

10:36: Saiyn KAZYRYK (UWW) built an 8-2 lead before securing a fall over Oleksii BORUTA (UKR) in the opening round bout at 70kg.

10:34: Two-time world medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) makes short work of Jorge GATICA (CHI) in the opening bout on Mat D at 70kg, finishing off a 10-0 win in just a tick over two minutes. With the win, Akmataliev has set up a rematch with top-seeded Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) of his wild semifinal win at the Asian Championships.

10:30: The World Championships at the Arena Zagreb kicks off today! We have wrestling in 61kg, 70kg, 86kg and 125kg.