#WrestleOttawa

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

Tuesday, March 3, 2020 - 19:06 By Taylor GREGORIO

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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)

 

#BeachWrestling

Beach Wrestling: Iran's return to top; Puerto Rico, Azerbaijan win first golds

Sunday, September 28, 2025 - 13:44 By United World Wrestling Press

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KATERINI-PIERIA, Greece (September 27) -- Iran’s return to Beach Wrestling after an eight-year absence could have been cautious. Instead, it was commanding.

Iran won four medals, including two golds, to claim the men’s team title at the U17 World Beach Wrestling Championships after a close race with Georgia, which finished second with 75 points to Iran’s 80. Azerbaijan was third with 62 points.

In the women's category, hosts Greece managed to go past France to finish first with 50 points while France ended up second with 42. The United States was third with 32 points.

The U17 World Championships is a significant stop in Beach Wrestling as it will be taken into consideration for while awarding the quotas for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

IranIran's two gold medalists in Greece, Mahdi FOTOUHI (IRI), left, at 90kg and Youssof HOSSEIN (IRI), right, at 70kg.

Gold medalists for Iran, Youssof HOSSEIN (IRI) at 70kg and Mahdi FOTOUHI (IRI) at 90kg, were competing in Beach Wrestling for the first time but never let their inexperience affect their performances.

Hossein, who defeated Stefan MUNTEAN (MDA) in the knockout match, was placed in Group D with Yuki UEDA (JPN), Nikolaos PAPADOPOULOS (GRE) and Ilie TURCAN (MDA). He defeated Papadopoulos 3-1 in the group bout before blanking Turcan 3-0 in just 40 seconds. He was quicker against Ueda, winning in 34 seconds.

Facing Luka MAKHARADZE (GEO) in the quarterfinals, Hossein scored a 3-1 victory and took only 40 seconds to beat Rashad ALIYEV (AZE) in the semifinals.

In an all-Iran final, Hossein fell behind 1-0 against Ilyar VEGHARI (IRI) but stormed back with two straight points with a knee and head touch from Veghari. He used a lateral drop as his final move to win 5-1. Veghari's lost challenge added to Hossein's score and made it 6-1.

Fotouhi was even more dominant at 90kg, winning all three of his group bouts via fall. Charilaos CHAITIDIS (GRE) survived getting pinned in the quarterfinals but Fotouhi was strong enough to win 3-0 and advance to the semifinals.

After winning the semifinal 2-1 against Elgun KARIMLI (AZE), Fotouhi was back to his dominant self and slammed Joni SHAORSHADZE (GEO) to pick his fourth fall in six bouts and the gold medal for Iran.

Fotouhi began with a step out to earn his first point of the final. Both wrestlers arm-locked each other and tried to throw at the edge but it was Shaorshadze who touched outside first which gave Fotouhi his second point.

In one of those moments when his Freestyle instincts took over, Fotouhi went for duckunder and touched his knee on the sand which gave Shaorshadze a point to make the score 2-1. The Georgian tried a fireman carry in the final 10 seconds but Fotouhi pancaked him for a fall.

At 60kg, Mykyta KUZMENKO (UKR) defeated Rati BERIDZE (GEO) twice, first in the group stages and then in final, to claim the gold medal.

Kuzmenko blanked all his opponents barring Beridze who managed to score one point when the two met in the Group B bout. However, the Ukrainian improved and gave no chance to Beridze in the final, winning 3-0.

The Ukrainian was quick to score two step-outs and lead 2-0 and when Beridze tried to score a point, Kuzmenko snapped him down and scored his third and winning point.

Georgia had another silver medalist, Nuradin MUSTAFAEV (GEO), who suffered a one-sided loss in the 80kg final to Nihad SULEYMANLI (AZE), who had represented Azerbaijan at the U17 World Championships in Athens in August.

Suleymanli did not give up a single point in the tournament and won the final against Mustafaev 3-0. He scored a step-out to open the scoring in the final before Mustafaev fell on the ground to give a second point. The Georgian wrestler tried tripping Suleymanli but instead gave a takedown for one point to drop the final.

AzerbaijanAzerbaijan's first-ever gold medalist Ulviyya MUSAYEVA (AZE) with other team members.

Historic golds for Puerto Rico, Azerbaijan

In the women's category, Puerto Rico and Azerbaijan earned historic golds as four different countries crowned champions.

Heklanys RIVERA (PUR), the first woman to compete in Beach Wrestling for her country, made a stunning run to the gold medal at 45kg. She did not give up a single point in six bouts including the final.

Taking on Kaltouma SALISSOU (FRA) in the final, Rivera was put on the 30-second activity clock. With eight seconds remaining, Rivera used an underhook to get the first takedown for a point.

The second point was awarded to Rivera when Salissou committed a foul by grabbing Rivera's shorts. The winning takedown was similar to the first one as Rivera moved from underhook to tripping Salissou.

For Azerbaijan, 15-year-old Ulviyya MUSAYEVA (AZE) needed only 16 seconds to create history. She defeated last year's champion Reisa KOJIMA (JPN) via fall in the 55kg final. Kojima tried hitting a lateral drop in the final but fell on her back, which gave Musayeva three points for the win.

Earlier, Musayeva had lost one of the group bouts against Mia KOVAC (CRO) via fall but rebounded to win all remaining bouts to make the final and then capture the gold medal.

Hosts Greece, which won the team title, earned the gold medal at 75kg through Elena ZAIMIDOU (GRE) who scored a 32-second victory via fall over Madeline HAYDEN (USA) in the final.

Zaimidou, who has competed and won gold in Grappling at the European level, secured three victories via fall, and a victory via superiority over Merily VAESTER (EST) in the semifinals.

In the gold medal bout, Hayden stunned the local fans when she hit a beautiful over-the-head suplex on Zaimidou. Hayden went for a second suplex, but Zaimidou blocked her, using a headlock, and Hayden fell on her back which gave Zaimidou three points and the victory.

Hayden challenged the scoring but the points were confirmed on review and Zaimidou was awarded a point for lost challenge, which made her score 4-1.

European bronze medalist in Women's Wrestling, Alexandra MOISEI (MDA) earned the gold medal at 65kg after some nervous wins. She defeated Thea ROUSSEL (FRA), 3-0, in the final in 49 seconds using three easy snapdowns.