#WrestleAcapulco

Pan-American Championships 2024 Entries

By United World Wrestling Press

ACAPULCO, Mexico (January 25) -- United World Wrestling has released the entry list for the Pan-American Championships which will be held in Acapulco, Mexico from February 21 to 24.

The tournament precedes the Pan-American Olympic Qualifiers which can have only those countries which participated in the Pam-American Championships.

Note: The entries are subject to change till three days before the official draw of the wrestling style.

Freestyle

57kg
Davi SILVA (BRA)
Garette SAUNDERS (CAN)
Oscar TIGREROS URBANO (COL)
Peter HAMMER CUDE (CRC)
Osmany DIVERSENT MARTINEZ (CUB)
Guesseppe REA VILLARROEL (ECU)
Jaime PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)
Jorge OLVERA RODRIGUEZ (MEX)
Enrique HERRERA (PER)
Jacob MORAN (PUR)
Spencer LEE (USA)
Pedro MEJIAS (VEN)

61kg 
Edwin TERAN MENDOZA (COL)
Edwin SEGURA GUERRA (GUA)
Juan LAVAT CORTEZ (MEX)
Jose BENITES VASQUEZ (PER)
Joseph SILVA (PUR)
Nicholas SURIANO (USA)

65kg
Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG)
Shannon HANNA (BAH)
Matheus DA LUZ BARRETO (BRA)
Jacob ALEXANDER TORRES (CAN)
Matias MUNOZ RAMIREZ (CHI)
Elkin ESPANA SANTA (COL)
Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (CUB)
Albaro RUDECINDO CAMACHO (DOM)
Joshua Alexander KRAMER (ECU)
Esteban David PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)
Jordan Alexander MITCHELL (JAM)
Hector GONZALEZ (MEX)
Sixto AUCCAPINA (PER)
Rafael GARCIA (PUR)
Nicholas LEE (USA)

70kg
Mauricio LOVERA (ARG)
Peiman BIABANI (CAN)
Yean SUAREZ RIVAS (COL)
Austin GOMEZ (MEX)
Victor SOTO RIVERA (PUR)
Alec PANTALEO (USA) 

74kg
Cesar BORDEAUX REGO ALVAN (BRA)
Adam THOMSON (CAN)
Hernan GUZMAN (COL)
Jeandry GARZON (CUB)
Julio RODRIGUEZ ROMERO (DOM)
Enrique PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)
Luis BARRIOS ROCHEZ (HON)
Diego SANDOVAL ZARCO (MEX)
Angel CORTES BONILLA (PAN)
Shane JONES (PUR)
Kyle DAKE (USA)
Anthony MONTERO CHIRINOS (VEN)

79kg 
Jasmit PHULKA (CAN)
Jose CANO LOPEZ (MEX)
Dylan PALACIO PINTADO (URU)
Alexander FACUNDO (USA)

86kg
Jorge LLANO (ARG)
Pedro GONCALVES DA SILVA (BRA)
Ahmed SHAMIYA (CAN)
Eduardo GAJARDO MENESES (CHI)
Carlos IZQUIERDO MENDEZ (COL)
Yurieski TORREBLANCA QUERALTA (CUB)
Kevin DE LEON TREVINO (MEX)
Pool AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER)
Jose SANCHEZ (PUR)
Chandler MARSTELLER (USA)
Pedro CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN)

92kg
Tejvir Singh BOAL (CAN)
Luis VILLAGOMEZ PAREDES (ECU)
Cesar UBICO ESTRADA (GUA)
Erwin VARGAS MARTINEZ (MEX)
Jose BETANCOURT KOCK (PUR)
Nathan JACKSON (USA)

97kg
Ricardo Adrian BAEZ (ARG)
Ailton BRITO ROCHA (BRA)
Riley OTTO (CAN)
Matias URIBE SEPULVEDA (CHI)
Maxwell LACEY GARITA (CRC)
Arturo SILOT TORRES (CUB)
Luis PEREZ SOSA (DOM)
Cristian SANCHEZ HERNANDEZ (MEX)
Marcos SANTOS BONNET (PUR)
Kyle SNYDER (USA)
Cristian SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN)

125kg
Catriel MURIEL (ARG)
Gabriel DE SOUSA SILVA (BRA)
Richard DESCHATELETS (CAN)
Jhoan OCORO PALOMINO (COL)
Maxwell LACEY GARITA (CRC)
Ibrain TORRES ESPINOSA (CUB)
Elison ADAMES GARCIA (DOM)
Gino AVILA DILBERT (HON)
Aaron JOHNSON (JAM)
Josue CAMPOS ARIZPE (MEX)
Jonovan SMITH (PUR)
Mason PARRIS (USA)
Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN)

Oscar PINO (CUB)Oscar PINO (CUB) will look to defend his Greco-Roman 130kg title. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Mario CHOC CHOC (GUA)
Marco GARCIA ALVAREZ (MEX)
Camden RUSSELL (USA)

60kg
Erivan CONSTANTINO ROCHA (BRA)
Keeyan TROTMAN (CAN)
Cristobal TORRES NUNEZ (CHI)
Dicther TORO CASTANEDA (COL)
Yerony LIRIA CARRERAS (DOM)
Jeremy PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU)
Angel SEGURA TELLEZ (MEX)
Randon MIRANDA (USA)
Raiber RODRIGUEZ OROZCO (VEN)

63kg
Carlos GONZALEZ VAHOS (COL)
Kevin DE ARMAS RODRIGUEZ (CUB)
Hector SANCHEZ ZAPATA (MEX)
Hayden TUMA (USA)

67kg
Mauricio LOVERA (ARG)
Gavin ELDRIDGE (CAN)
Nestor ALMANZA TRUYOL (CHI)
Julian HORTA ACEVEDO (COL)
Luis ORTA (CUB)
Starlin LAGUERRE LAUREUS (DOM)
Andres MONTANO ARROYO (ECU)
Cristian MEJIA TEPEN (GUA)
Edsson OLMOS GUTIERREZ (MEX)
Nilton SOTO GARCIA (PER)
Lee A MAURAS (PUR)
Alejandro SANCHO (USA)

72kg
Calebe CORREA FERREIRA (BRA)
Jose VARELA GARCIA (GUA)
Alexis VARGAS RAMIREZ (MEX)
Noah WACHSMUTH (USA) 

77kg
Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARG)
Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA)
John YEATS (CAN)
Eduardo BERNAL MOLINA (CHI)
Jair CUERO MUNOZ (COL)
Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB)
David CHOC HUOC (GUA)
Raul UNZUETA TORRES (MEX)
Alvis ALMENDRA JIMENEZ (PAN)
Jonathan VIRUET (PUR)
Kamal BEY (USA)
Wuileixis RIVAS ESPINOZA (VEN)

82kg
Sosruko KODZOKOV (BRA)
Diego MACIAS TORRES (MEX)
Mahmoud SEBIE (USA)

87kg
Jorge LLANO (ARG)
Ronisson BRANDAO SANTIAGO (BRA)
Ioannis NARLIDIS (CAN)
Jose MORENO BUSTOS (CHI)
Carlos MUNOZ JARAMILLO (COL)
Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB)
Ariel ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ (HON)
Daniel VICENTE GOMEZ (MEX)
Spencer WOODS (USA)
Luis AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN)

97kg
Ricardo GOMEZ (ARG)
Kauan FERREIRA GOMES (BRA)
Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB)
Carlos ADAMES PALMER (DOM)
Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON)
Pedro BELLO SOTO (MEX)
Max MADRID DE LEON (PAN)
Alan VERA GARCIA (USA)
Luillys PEREZ MORA (VEN)

130kg
Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA)
Jorawar Singh DHINSA (CAN)
Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI)
Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB)
Beder CANTU MARTINEZ (MEX)
Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA)
Moises PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN)

Adeline GRAY (USA)Adeline GRAY (USA) will return to the Pan-Am Championships after two years. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Women’s Wrestling 

50kg
Maia CABRERA (ARG)
Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA)
Katie DUTCHAK (CAN)
Javiera ORTEGA FERNANDEZ (CHI)
Dannia FIGUEROA DUQUE (COL)
Alisson CARDOZO REY (COL)
Yusneylis GUZMAN LOPEZ (CUB)
Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU)
Karla HERNANDEZ GONZALEZ (ESA)
Linda CASTANEDA GAONA (MEX)
Yorlenis MORAN SANCHEZ (PAN)
Antuaneth CASUSOL CASAS (PER)
Audrey JIMENEZ (USA)
Mariana ROJAS DIAZ (VEN)

53kg
Sabrina GAMA TAPAJOS (BRA)
Samantha STEWART (CAN)
Antonia VALDES ARRIAGADA (CHI)
Eva GONZALEZ LANDAZURY (COL)
Laura HERIN AVILA (CUB)
Maria GONZALEZ DE LA ROSA (DOM)
Lucia YEPEZ (ECU)
Karla ACOSTA MARTINEZ (MEX)
Yusneiry AGRAZAL WEST (PAN)
Nathaly HERRERA HUACRE (PER)
Katie GOMEZ (USA)
Betzabeth ARGUELLO (VEN)

55kg
Diana WEICKER (CAN)
Zeltzin HERNANDEZ (MEX)
Alisha HOWK (USA)

57kg
Camila AMARILLA (ARG)
Giullia PENALBER (BRA)
Hannah TAYLOR (CAN)
Andrea GONZALEZ (COL)
Angela ALVAREZ (CUB)
Yocleidy RAMIREZ (DOM)
Luisa VALVERDE (ECU)
Jacqueline HERNANDEZ (ESA)
Bertha ROJAS CHAVEZ (MEX)
Karoline ORTIZ ROSADO (PUR)
Helen MAROULIS (USA)
Betzabeth SARCO (VEN)

59kg
Jessica DERRELL (BAR)
Ana PEREIRA (BRA)
Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN)
Susana LOZANO VEYTIA (MEX)
Michaela BECK (USA)

62kg
Lais NUNES (BRA)
Ana GODINEZ (CAN)
Virginia JIMENEZ (CHI)
Katherine RENTERIA (COL)
Maria SANTANA (CUB)
Eldarah BROWN (JAM)
Arely NOVELO GOMEZ (MEX)
Carina GIANGERUSO (PUR)
Kayla MIRACLE (USA)
Astrid MONTERO (VEN)

65kg
Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN)
Andrea LOPEZ MARTINEZ (MEX)
Macey KILTY (USA)

68kg
Thamires MARTINS (BRA)
Olivia DI BACCO (CAN)
Nicoll PARRADO (COL)
Brenda STERLING MARTINEZ (CUB)
Leonela AYOVI PARRAGA (ECU)
Alejandra RIVERA ARRIAGA (MEX)
Alexandria GLAUDE (USA)
Soleymi CARABALLO (VEN)

72kg
Katie MULKAY (CAN)
Edna JIMENEZ VILLALBA (MEX)
Brooklyn HAYS (USA)

76kg
Linda MACHUCA (ARG)
Meiriele CHARAMBA (BRA)
Shauna KUEBECK (CAN)
Tatiana RENTERIA (COL)
Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB)
Emelyn BAUTISTA CORCINO (DOM)
Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU)
Saidy CHAVEZ FIGUEROA (HON)
Atzimba LANDAVERDE MORENO (MEX)
Adeline GRAY (USA)
Maria ACOSTA (VEN)

#JapanWrestling

Another Ono rises: Konami follows brother's footsteps

By Ikuo Higuchi

TOKYO (August 27) -- When you think of the name Ono from Shimane Prefecture, many will recall Masanosuke ONO (JPN), a world champion who is quickly becoming a global star, who now primarily competes in the United States.

Ono's younger sister Konami, who was undefeated in the national tournament during her elementary school years, is just like her brother. She went on to attend Nippon Sport Science University Ohka High School in Tokyo, where she grew up steadily, winning the Inter-High School Championships in 2023 and also winning silver at the U17 World Championships the same year.

A shoulder injury caused her to slow down, but through repeated practice at Nippon Sport Science University she regained her former strength and won the East Japan Student Championships and the All Japan Amateur Championships [women's competition is open to university students as well] last week.

Konami ONO (JPN)Konami ONO (JPN), left, won a silver medal at the 2023 U17 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Being coached by 2004 Athens Olympic bronze medalist Chikara TANABE and Kaori ICHO, she described herself as being in "the best environment."

Ono had been suffering from pain in the right shoulder and had to undergo a surgery in June last year. She had initially aimed for a comeback last year at the All Japan Championships [Emperor's Cup] in December, but was forced to withdraw. She returned to competition in April of this year at the Junior Queen's Cup U20, where she won one match, but lost the next match to a junior from high school by technical superiority.

"There were times when my shoulder would dislocate just by walking. It was a frustrating year," said Ono with her voice becoming teary, as if the pain had returned. "I'm happy because I was injured and couldn't wrestle for a while," she said but added, "I realized I need to practice more and get stronger."

Inspiration from brother Ono

While she was off the mat, Konami watched her brother Masanosuke win the gold medal at the U20 World Championships in 2024 and later become the world champion at 61kg at the Non-Olympic World Championships.

"It's not something I could ever imitate," she says, and although he is someone she should "admire" rather than "target," he is also someone close to her, having competed alongside since childhood. "I want to study hard and catch up," she says.

Konami ONO (JPN)Konami ONO (JPN) with world and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA). (Photo courtesy: Masaharu Ono) 

Earlier in spring, Konami accompanied her older brother to the United States, where he trains at Pennsylvania State University. She was still recovering and was unable to train, but she watched her brother's win against 2024 Paris Olympic silver medalist Spencer LEE (USA).

"I thought American wrestling was really amazing. It was inspiring," she said.

What made the biggest impression on Konami was how much fun her brother seemed to be having wrestling, even though he was in a foreign country.

"He really enjoys wrestling," she said. "I was amazed that there are people who love wrestling that much [laughs].

"My brother is my role model," she said. "I often watch his techniques and aspire to be like him."

What she finds particularly impressive is his speed, and the way he unconsciously develops his techniques. She herself sometimes has trouble deciding what to do next during a match, but her brother's body moves without a second thought. "I need to be able to come out with techniques one after the other," she said.

Training with Fujinami, Onishi

While Ono found his path in the United States, Konami is thinking of firmly establishing herself in Japan.

"I think that if I stay at Nippon Sport Science University, I will become really strong," she says, believing that his current environment is the place where she can develop the skills to compete on the world stage.

Not only is there an impressive coaching staff, but there are also world-class athletes such as 2024 Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) and Asian champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN) in the 57kg and 59kg weight class, respectively. Fujinami won gold at the Olympics in 53kg.

"I practice with Akari every day. She's really strong..." she said, admiringly, and when she's not sparring, she's always following Fujinami's movements to study them.

Since they are both in the 57kg weight class, could she challenge Fujinami as early as the All Japan Championships in December? To that question, she gave no clear answer, saying, "I'm not at the level where I can fight yet..." and said that she might move up a weight class as her body grows, so it's still up in the air, but perhaps the day is approaching when the middleweight trio, including Onishi, will take to the world stage.

Rather than setting big goals, her current goal is to "compete in many matches and enjoy wrestling." She says that she is actually enjoying it, so perhaps she is getting closer to her brother's level. Her next concrete goal is the All Japan Women's Open Championships in October.

She vowed to make a leap forward, saying, "I want to train both my body and mind and become even stronger. I want to become a star from Shimane Prefecture!"