Pan-Am Championships Greco-Roman Preview

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

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) 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.

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) 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.

#WrestleMonterrey

Freestyle history for Argentina, Mexico at Pan-Ams

Monday, May 12, 2025 - 07:28 By Vinay Siwach

MONTERREY, Mexico (May 11) -- On a historic day in Monterrey, Argentina won its first-ever Freestyle gold medal at the Pan-American Championships while Mexico ended its drought for gold with two golds on Sunday.

Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG), who was silver medalist last year and has four bronze medals, defeated Joseph MC KENNA (USA) in a thrilling final to create history for Argentina. For Mexico, Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) won the gold medal at 57kg, thus ending a 32-year wait for the top medal at Pan-Ams. A few minutes later, Austin GOMEZ (MEX) also won gold to add his name to history.

The United States, however, was the best Freestyle team of the tournament as it won the team title after adding four more golds to the three it won on Saturday. It finished at the top with 230 points, way ahead of second-placed Canada which had 144 points. Mexico was third with 139 points.

Destribats came close to the historic gold medal last year but had to pull out injured in the final and won a silver medal. The story was different this year.

After a tough 4-4 win in the semifinal, Destribats was in for a tougher challenge against McKenna in the final. But his defense in the first period saw him escape McKenna's attacks. He scored a stepout and led 1-0 at the break.

Destribats was about to be hit with an inactivity call when he headlocked McKenna and tried to pin. The pin was called but not upheld as it seemed that McKenna may have lost consciousness due to the hold. However, McKenna sprung back on his feet as soon as the whistle was blown and Destribats let go.

The fall was cancelled but Destribats now led 3-0. McKenna got on the scoreboard with a stepout to cut the lead to 3-1. Destribats, who was avoiding engagement, was hit with the passivity call and as he failed to scored McKenna got a point.

McKenna hit a leg attack and put forward pressure even as Destribats tried to avoid exposure using a chestwrap. But two points were awarded to McKenna which gave him a 4-3 lead with 11 seconds left.

Destribats did not give up and used an inside trip to score. While he failed to execute the trip, he managed to take McKenna out of bounds for a point to take a 4-4 criteria lead as the scorer of the latest point. The U.S. challenged the call but lost it, making the score 5-4 for Destribats which he defended for the final five seconds.

Before Destribats, only three other wrestlers from Argentina had made it to the finals at Pan-Ams in Freestyle with Yuri MAIER (ARG) being the last one in 2013.

Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) battles Lucas RODRIGUEZ (PUR) in the 57kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

Mexico rejoiced as Bravo Young won the gold medal at 57kg to start the evening session. He blanked Lucas RODRIGUEZ (PUR), 12-0, for the gold medal which was the first for Mexico in Freestyle since 1993.

Felipe GUZMAN (MEX), the Olympian from 1996, was the last wrestler to win gold for Mexico at the Pan-Ams in Freestyle.

Bravo Young, who moved to Mexico in 2024 before Paris Olympics, used different techniques including sweep single, double-leg attack to score four takedowns and lead 8-0. He finished the match with a fireman's carry for four points.

Austin GOMEZ (MEX), red, celebrates after winning the 70kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

Soon after, Gomez, who also transferred to Mexico before the Paris Olympics, posted an 11-0 win over Ian PARKER (USA) in the 70kg final to win the gold medal.

Gomez blanked his opponents 33-0 in three bouts that he wrestled for the gold medal. In the final, Gomez tossed Parker with a headlock for four and then turned him twice using the same for an 8-0 lead. The U.S. challenged for two points as Parker held Gomez on the mat for a moment but it was lost on review, making the score 9-0 for Gomez.

A double-leg blast from Gomez was enough for him to finish the final and win 11-0 and the second gold medal for Mexico on Sunday.

U.S. wins four golds

The gold medals for the U.S. on Sunday began when Evan WICK (USA) won all four of his bouts in the round-robin bracket at 79kg. Wick outscored his opponents 40-0 in four bouts to clinch the gold medal, first of Sunday and fourth overall for the U.S.

Trent HIDLAY (USA) added to the count by winning the 92kg gold medal, winning all four of his bouts in the round-robin.

Justin RADEMACHER (USA) scores a takedown against Arturo SILOT (CUB) in the 97kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

At 97kg, Justin RADEMACHER (USA) held on to a 5-4 victory over Arturo SILOT (CUB) in the final to clinch the gold medal, the seventh straight year a U.S. wrestler has won at 97kg.

Rademacher was the first to strike, scoring a takedown on the edge for two points. After a bit of struggle, Silot managed to get on board with a takedown and take a 2-2 criteria lead. Rademacher hit back instantly, scoring with a single-leg attack and reclaiming the lead 4-2.

In the second period, Rademacher was awarded a point as both wrestlers went out after a scramble but it was Silot who put his hand outside the zone first. Silot hit back with a counter takedown to cut the lead to 5-4 with two minutes left on the clock. However, Rademacher defended his lead first with attacks and later by seeing off any attacks that Silot did.

Rademacher survived a flurry in the final 10 seconds, including a challenge for fleeing, to win, as Silot tried making sense of the match as he walked off the mat.

Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) showed little mercy for his 125kg opponents, winning the gold medal via a fall Richard DESCHATELETS (CAN) in the final, which included a slam which left the crowd in awe.

A double-leg attack gave Hendrickson the first four points of the final and he later locked Deschatelets from behind, lifted him well above the mat and slammed him for a five-pointer. He secured the fall in 24 seconds to finish the final.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) df. Lucas RODRIGUEZ (PUR), 12-0

BRONZE: Edwin SEGURA GUERRA (GUA) df. Eduardo PALAS SEQUEIROS (PER), 7-0
BRONZE: Liam CRONIN (USA) df. Pedro MEJIAS (VEN), 5-4

65kg
GOLD: Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) df. Joseph MC KENNA (USA), 5-4

BRONZE: Wilfredo RODRIGUEZ (VEN) df. Matias MUNOZ (CHI), 10-0
BRONZE: Peiman BIABANI (CAN) df. Matheus DA LUZ (BRA), 10-0

70kg
GOLD: Austin GOMEZ (MEX) df. Ian PARKER (USA), 11-0

BRONZE: Sixto AUCCAPINA (PER) df. Jorge GATICA (CHI), 12-2
BRONZE: Jacob ALEXANDER TORRES (CAN) df. Royglen TEMPLE BATISTA (PAN), 10-0

79kg
GOLD: Evan WICK (USA)
SILVER: Shane JONES (PUR)
BRONZE: Jasmit PHULKA (CAN)

92kg
GOLD: Trent HIDLAY (USA)
SILVER: Andrew JOHNSON (CAN)
BRONZE: Edwin MORALES (PUR)

97kg
GOLD: Justin RADEMACHER (USA) df. Arturo SILOT (CUB), 5-4

BRONZE: Nishan Preet RANDHAWA (CAN) df. Ricardo BAEZ (ARG), 11-0

125kg
GOLD: Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) df. Richard DESCHATELETS (CAN), via fall (9-0)

BRONZE: Jose DIAZ (VEN) df. Maxwell LACEY (CRC), 3-2
BRONZE: Gino AVILA (HON) df. Rizieri CHAVEZ (MEX), 10-0

Pan-Am Championships Greco-Roman Preview

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Freestyle history for Argentina, Mexico at Pan-Ams