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

Tuesday, March 3, 2020 - 19:06 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

Zagreb Open 2026 Day 5 Greco-Roman Highlights

Sunday, February 8, 2026 - 09:18 By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 8) -- All Greco-Roman day at the Zagreb Open on Sunday with 55kg, 60kg, 72kg, 82kg, 97kg and 130kg weight classes in action. World and Olympic champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR) will be in action today after being away for 2 years.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 4 RESULTS

15:25: 130kg semifinals - Riza KAYAALP (TUR) is back in a Ranking Series final after he beats Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ), 4-0. He par terre positions in both periods and a turn the first time to lead 4-0. Syrlybay did get the third passivity which is without any points but he did not score. To capture the gold medal, Kayaalp will face Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) who posted a 2-1 victory over Artur SARKISJAN (CZE). He got a reversal when Sarkisjan was put on top.

15:10: 97kg semifinals - Alex SZOKE (HUN) gets par terre in both the periods of his semifinals against Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ) to win the bout 2-0 and a place in the final. He will face another Kazakhstan wrestler in former U20 world champion Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) who managed to get past Mihail KAJAIA (SRB), 5-3, after a big throw from par terre in the first period. Kajaia failed to turn Yevloyev from par terre but got two points for a defensive foul.

14:55: 82kg semifinals - Mihail BRADU (MDA) blocks Reza MOKHTARI (IRI) when the Iranian was trying to turn Bradu from par terre and he gets the fall. Mokhtari is devasted. Bradu is hyped as he will wrestle for gold against Yuksel SARICICEK (TUR) who defeated Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ) 4-3 after scoring two stepouts and overturn the result.

14:45: 72kg semifinals - Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY), former U20 world champion, beats Almatbek AMANBEK (KAZ), 8-1, and moves into the final at 72kg. He will face Nika BROLADZE (GEO) for the gold medal after the Georgian found a way to beat Shakhzod KUCHKOROV (UZB) despite being down 2-1. Both wrestlers had locked each other but then Broladze just flung Kuchkorov for two points. He continued the action and scored a suplex for four points to extend his lead to 7-2, which was also the winning score.

14:35: 60kg semifinals - Alisher GANIEV (UZB) takes 29 seconds to finish his semifinal against Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) at 60kg. He gets a bodylock throw for four points and then lifts Shiotani again and completes the suplex for another four points and the world silver medalist reaches the final. But for the gold medal, he will have to go through another Japanese phenom in U23 world champion Koto GOMI (JPN) who rolls to a 10-0 technical superiority win over Sajjad ABBASPOUR (IRI).

14:25: 55kg semifinals - Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) gets Arsen ZHUMA (KAZ) in a front headlock and continues throwing him until securing a 9-0 lead for the win. It is ultimately called a fall. Botirov will face Mohammad HOSSEINVAND (IRI) for the gold medal after he defeated Iran's longtime 55kg wrestler Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) 1-1.

14:00: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) must be heartbroken with that loss. He led 7-0 against Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) in the 60kg quarterfinal but Shiotani gets the par terre in the second period and punishes Tibilov with two reverse lifts. A defensive foul and lost challenge give Shiotani a 11-7 lead. Another reverse lift for four points helps him win 15-7

13:45: ~~In a battle of two age-group champions, Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) pins Abror ATBAEV (UZB) and advances to the semifinal at 72kg.~~ After a review on challenge from Uzbekistan, they cancelled the fall for a foul from Alameldin. However, the Egyptian still posts a 2-1 victory to advance.

13:30: Reza MOKHTARI (IRI) takes out Olympic silver medalist Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) with a 3-1 victory at 82kg. A turn in par terre was all that was needed for Mokhtari to win the bout

13:15: Two of the most talented wrestlers at 60kg and both U23 world champions in different years, Koto GOMI (JPN) and Alisher GANIEV (UZB), have made it to the semifinals in Zagreb. A treat awaits if both reach the final

12:55: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) looks extremely good in his comeback! Using the gut-wrench against, he marches on with yet another 9-0 win at 130kg, this time over Rati TALIKISHVILI (GEO)

12:45: U23 world champion Koto GOMI (JPN) with two beautiful throws to beat Pouya NASERPOUR (IRI), 9-0, and advance to the quarterfinals at 60kg

12:40: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) continues his good form in Zagreb with another technical superiority win at 60kg. This time he beats Mert ILBARS (TUR) 10-0

12:30: Mihail KAJAIA (SRB), a mainstay of the Serbian team, begins his 97kg team with 9-2 victory over NITESH (IND). Kajaia had flirted with the idea of moving up to 130kg but has returned to 97kg.

12:20: Yu SHIOTANI (JPN), known for his explosive reverse lift, keeps it simple against Maxwell BLACK (USA) at 60kg and battles out a controlled 8-4 win to advance.

12:00: Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), Olympic silver medalist at 77kg in Paris, gets the fall over Alexander JOHANSSON (SWE) in their bout at 82kg.

11:45: Riza KAYAALP (TUR), returning to action after two years, begins with a 9-0 technical superiority win over Aden ATTAO (USA). He scores four turns from par terre for the victory at 130kg

11:35: Not something we see everyday but Marko MILANOVIC (CRO), the son of President of Croatia, is wrestling. At 130kg, he is off to a flying start with a technical superiority 9-0 victory over Joginder RATHEE (IND). After leading 5-0 at the break, Milanovic hits a suplex for four to finish the bout.

11:25: World silver medalist Alisher GANIEV (UZB) wins his opening bout at 60kg, 9-0. But that's not the story. He defeated former United States team member in Freestyle Zane RICHARDS (USA), who wrestled Greco-Roman for the first time internationally.

11:05: Arsen ZHUMA (KAZ) stuns former European champion Artiom DELEANU (MDA) at 55kg. He finishes the bout after rolling from par terre and winning 9-0

10:55: Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) takes his match into the second period but has not trouble in winning the 82kg bout against Marek VRBA (CZE), 9-0.

10: 45: World bronze medalist and big hope for a medal for the hosts Croatia Karlo KODRIC (CRO) drops his opening bout against Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO) 1-1 after failing to score any points from the two par terre positions he got in the 97kg bout.

10:30: Six Greco-Roman weight classes in action but Riza KAYAALP (TUR) comeback will be the most anticipated event on Sunday in Zagreb

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

Comments

Zagreb Open 2026 Day 5 Greco-Roman Highlights