#WrestleBuenosAires

Pan-Am Championships Greco-Roman Preview

Tuesday, May 2, 2023 - 14:21 By Jimmy Pawelski

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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (April 26) -- The 2023 Pan-American Championships is scheduled to kick off May 3 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with Greco-Roman wrestlers being the first competitors to take the mat.

Wrestling in 55kg, 60kg, 63kg, 67kg, 72kg, 97kg and 130kg will compete on Wednesday, May 3, while 77kg, 82kg, and 87kg participants will compete on Thursday, May 4. Action will begin on both days at 10:00 local time starting with qualification rounds and repechages followed by the finals round at 18:00 local time.

55kg
The lightest weight class of the tournament will be a round-robin style bracket with only three competitors registered to compete at 55kg -- Axel Gabriel ROLON (ARG), Jose RODRIGUEZ (MEX) and Dalton DUFFIELD (USA).

Notably, Rodriguez is dropping down two weight classes from his 2022 Pan-American silver-place finish at 63kg. Duffield is fresh off a fifth-place finish at the 2023 Zagreb Open in January.

60kg
Each of the two returning Pan-American Championships bronze medalists, Dicther TORO (COL) and Joao BENAVIDES (PER), at 60kg are set to take the mat again this year.

Also in contention for a podium finish will be world ranked 14 Ildar HAFIZOV (USA). The 35-year-old previously represented his home country Uzbekistan on the international Greco stage before switching to the USA in 2016.

Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB)Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) will compete at 67kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

67kg
Tokyo Olympic champion at 60kg Luis ORTA (CUB) will be at the Pan-Ams at 67kg as he bids for another Olympic medal. He has competed at 67kg in two events this year, claiming gold at the Henri Deglane Grand Prix and bronze at the Zagreb Open.

Reigning Pan-American and South American champion Julian HORTA (COL) will aim for back-to-back titles at 67kg while returning bronze medalist Nilton SOTO (PER) is also registered to compete in Buenos Aires. World number 14 Alejandro SANCHO (USA) will also be in Buenos Aires along with Edsson OLMOS (MEX) who was a silver medalist at 72kg last year. 

72kg
Patrick SMITH (USA), a three-time Pan-American Championships gold medalist, will look to once again conquer the 72kg bracket. In last year’s tournament, he finished each match by way of technical superiority with the exception of one, a 4-2 victory over Olmos who is notably registered to compete at 67kg this year. Smith will face tough competition in world number 13 Jose VARELA (GUA), who went 1-1 for an 8th place finish at the 2022 edition of the event at 67kg.

Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB)Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB) and David CHOC (GUA) are expected to have a rematch like the 2022 Pan-Am finals. (Photo: UWW / Osvaldo Aguilar)

77kg
A loaded 77kg bracket features three returning Pan-American medalists -- gold medalist Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB), silver medalist David CHOC (GUA) and bronze medalist Joilson DE BRITO (BRA). The highest world-ranked competitor in the bracket is number 24 Emmanuel BENITEZ (MEX), who is a 2019 Junior Pan-American champion.

All the while, human highlight reel Kamal BEY (USA) will look to put on an exciting show per usual as he marks his return to this tournament after four years.

82kg 
Only five competitors are registered to compete in the 82kg bracket, none of whom are returning Pan-American Championships medalists. Spencer WOODS (USA) is the highest world-ranked wrestler at the weight at number 27 and is riding on a fifth-place finish at the 2023 Zagreb Open.

Daniel VICENTE (MEX)2022 Pan-Am 82kg champion Daniel VICENTE (MEX) is moving up to 87kg. (Photo: UWW / Osvaldo Aguilar)

87kg
The 87kg bracket is the only weight class with multiple returning Pan-American champions as reigning gold medalist Daniel GREGORICH (CUB) will look to defend his title against reigning gold medalist from 82kg Daniel VICENTE (MEX). However, Vicente is no stranger to 87kg as he previously placed second in the 2021 edition at the weight class.

Additionally, Alan VERA (USA), a 2016 Pan-American champion at 80kg when he represented Cuba, is registered to compete along with Johan BATISTA (DOM), a two-time Pan-American finalist.

Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON)Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON) will be aiming for his third straight Pan-Am title. (Photo: UWW / Osvaldo Aguilar)

97kg
Honduras native Kevin MEJIA (pictured above) will be aiming for his third consecutive Pan-American title in Buenos Aires this year. He dominated his way through the tournament in 2022 and has not given up a single point at the championships in the past two years.

His primary challenger will be Carlos ADAMES (DOM), a 2022 Pan-American Championships bronze medalist.

130kg 
The heavyweight bracket is the only weight class with all four returning 2022 Pan-American Championships medalists, highlighted by the reigning champion Oscar PINO (CUB) who is currently ranked 14th in the world. He will be attempting to claim his fifth Pan-American title.

Meanwhile, the highest-ranked competitor registered to compete in this year’s tournament at number 13, Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA), will be his primary challenger. Additionally, both returning bronze medalists are set to compete again this year in Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) and Leo SANTANA (DOM).

How to Follow Along
Fans can track the action on United World Wrestling's mobile app or uww.org. Download #TheHomeOfWrestling, United World Wrestling's mobile app to access real-time match center data, get regular updates on tournaments and receive all the latest wrestling news in a flash.

#WrestleBudapest

Ranking Series: Maroulis, Blades lead strong U.S. team to Budapest

Saturday, July 12, 2025 - 09:46 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 11) -- Although it will a Ranking Series by name, Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial tournament starting on Thursday in Budapest will serve more than just that for many wrestlers.

For some it will be about the ranking points, for other it is a preparatory tour for the World Championships. The United States is bringing its world team, almost while some others will test this event to select their representatives for the World Championships, to be held in September in Zagreb.

Helen MAROULIS (USA), who has not wrestled since winning the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics in August 2024, will be leading the team which also has Paris Olympics silver medalist Kennedy BLADES (USA), who continues to shine at 68kg, a weight class she moved from 76kg at the start of the season.

Turkiye, Canada, India, Kazakhstan and a few United World Wrestling wrestlers will light up Budapest from July 17 to 20. Women's Wrestling will be held on 18 and 19. 

A few other individual stars will be making an appearance, namely, Irina RINGACI (MDA), Grace BULLEN (NOR), Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ).

Here's a breakdown of all 10 weight classes for Women' Wrestling in Budapest:

For Maroulis, who booked her World Championships spot on the U.S. team in June, the Budapest Ranking Series will pose a challenge as she returns to the mat. Having dominated the 'Final X' competition in the U.S., Maroulis will now look to show her dominance at the international stage. The U.S. has also entered Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) to the competition at 57kg.

Tokyo silver medalist and former European champion Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW) and 2025 European champion Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) look to be the toughest challenge for Maroulis in the bracket. 

India's world U17 champion and world U20 medalist NEHA (IND) has made a few headlines by winning the Mongolian Open Ranking Series and followed that up with a gold medal at Yasar Dogu. Budapest will be a stern test for the youngster.

European silver medalist Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) is also in the mix to get Ranking points and get a seed for the World Championships.

Blades should run through the 68kg bracket in Budapest. She has the likes of world champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) and European champion Alina SHEVCHENKO (UWW) in the draw but Blades is a level above the field entered for the competition.

Blades won the Zagreb Open Ranking Series in February and also her first Pan-Am title in May. She is currently 12th in the rankings but has a chance to jump as high as sixth with a gold medal.

Tosun won a bronze medal at the European Championships in her first competition since the Paris Games and looked in good form, something she would love to carry to Budapest as well. An appearance in the final and she can well become the top ranked wrestler at 68kg.

Shevchenko made a great impression by winning the European gold in a tough bracket and has a consolidate on that win with a good show in Budapest.

Other names include Kendra DACHER (FRA), Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ) and Brooklyn HAYS (USA).

Dymond GUILFORD (USA)Both Dymond GUILFORD (USA) and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) are entered at 76kg which could give us a rematch of Tirana final from February. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 76kg, a rematch of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series final is on the cards as both Medet Kyzy and Dymond GUILFORD (USA) are entered. Guilford managed to beat Medet Kyzy in the final in Tirana but Medet Kyzy has since won the Asian Championships and Yasar Dogu golds.

Two young stars in the bracket include PRIYA (IND) and Elmira YASIN (TUR), both have multiple age-group continental and world medals. Former Asian champion Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) is also entered.

The 62kg and 65kg weight classes can throw some interesting match-ups, especially with Bullen and Rigaci continuing their season at 65kg. Bullen is a regular 62kg while Ringaci was at 68kg at Olympics and World Championships.

Ringaci and Bullen met in the 65kg final of the European Championships this year and the latter managed to beat Ringaci to capture the gold medal. Both can meet again in Budapest.

World bronze medalist Macey KILTY (USA), who will be in Zagreb for the U.S., will look to win gold and throw her hat in the ring as a contender for world title in Zagreb.

Dudova, Ana GODINEZ (CAN), MANISHA (IND), Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA), Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) and Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) are some of the names that highlight 62kg.

Dudova won bronze at the European Championships while Godinez won the Pan-Am gold in May. Manisha was the Asian champion in April but lost at the Mongolian Open in June and will be keen on returning to winning ways.

Kolawale is the African champion while Nwachukwu won the 'Final X' and will be in Zagreb for the World Championships. Kasabieva has blown hot and cold so far, but had good wins at the Mongolian Open to build some momentum in the season.

Tandelova, the youngster with medals at Zagreb Open and European U23s, finished fifth at the senior Europeans but has the potential to be on the podium in Budapest.

At 53kg, world and Asian bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) will start as the favorite in the bracket, especially after her domination at the Mongolian Open. She won gold in Mongolia without giving up a point in four bouts.

European medalist Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), Felicity TAYLOR (USA) and Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) will look to finish on the podium as well.

In what will be one of the biggest brackets in Budapest, the 50kg will see European silver medalist Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), Mongolia Open winner Natalia PUDOVA (UWW), European bronze medalist Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (UWW), multiple world age-group medalist Audrey JIMENEZ (USA), Madison PARKS (CAN), Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) among others.

Pudova and Demirhan put on a stunning 50kg final in Ulaanbaatar which the former managed to win 7-6 despite comebacks from Demirhan. A medal in Budapest will put Pudova as one of the contenders for a podium-finish in Zagreb.

Pan-Am champion Karla GODINEZ (CAN), European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) and the U.S. rep for Zagreb Worlds Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) and Turkiye's young sensation Tuba DEMIR (TUR) will be the key names at 55kg.

At 59kg, world bronze medalist Othelie HOEIE (NOR) will look to win her first Ranking Series medal but has a tough road to medal bouts. She will have Elena BRUGGER (GER), Erika BOGNAR (HUN), Bediha GUN (TUR), Abigail NETTE (USA) and Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) in the same bracket.

Gun suffered a heartbreaking loss in the European finals but won Yasar Dogu tournament and will likely finish on podium in Budapest. Nette and Sidelnikova are strong contenders for a place in the final.

Three-time world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) should have an easy path to 72kg gold unless Alexandria GLAUDE (USA) or HARSHITA (IND) spring a surprise to deny her.