#WrestleMonterrey

Pan-American Championships 2025 Entries

By United World Wrestling Press

MONTERREY, Mexico (April 29) -- The Pan-American Championships will be held from May 8 to 11 in Monterrey, Mexico.

The competition will see 201 wrestlers in 30 weight classes with the United States, Canada and Cuba bringing strong squads.

The Pan-Ams will be live on UWW+ and FloWrestling with live matches and highlights.

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Note: The entries are preliminary and subject to change. For final entries on the day of the competition, refer to UWW Arena

Greco-Roman

55kg
Isaac MARIN MATA (MEX)
Jayden RANEY (USA)

60kg
Pedro DE SOUZA (BRA)
Patrick RODRIGUEZ QUINTO (ECU)
Diego TERRIQUEZ IBARRA (MEX)
Andres ANDRADE (PAN)
Maxwell BLACK (USA)
Yonaiker MARTINEZ CRAVO (VEN)

63kg
Matias MUNOZ RAMIREZ (CHI)
Jeremy PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU)
Emerson FELIPE ORDONEZ (GUA)
Angel SEGURA TELLEZ (MEX)
Lisandro CABRERA ORTIZ (PAR)
Ellis COLEMAN (USA)

67kg
Joao DE JESUS SILVA (BRA)
Nestor ALMANZA TRUYOL (CHI)
Luis ORTA (CUB)
Andres MONTANO ARROYO (ECU)
Donavan SOLORZANO AMAYA (HON)
Osvaldo YANEZ SILVA (MEX)
Royglen TEMPLE BATISTA (PAN)
Marco FERNANDEZ CUBAS (PER)
Alston NUTTER (USA)
Neiser MARIMON HIDALGO (VEN)

72kg
Luis GUALLPA SUQUILEMA (ECU)
Cristian MEJIA TEPEN (GUA)
Luis BARRIOS ROCHEZ (HON)
Marquis LARMOND (JAM)
Jorge GOMEZ GARCIA (MEX)
Wilfrido SAMANIEGO QUIJADA (PAN)
Nilton SOTO GARCIA (PER)
Alejandro SANCHO (USA)

77kg
Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARG)
Calebe CORREA FERREIRA (BRA)
Eduardo BERNAL MOLINA (CHI)
Oscar BARRIOS ROCHEZ (HON)
Alexis VARGAS RAMIREZ (MEX)
Ryan CUBAS CASTILLO (PER)
Kamal BEY (USA)
Leomar CORDERO DEPOOL (VEN)

82kg
David CHOC HUOC (GUA)
Diego MACIAS TORRES (MEX)
Beka MELELASHVILI (USA)

87kg
Sosruko KODZOKOV (BRA)
Ariel ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ (HON)
Omar MENDOZA DE RAMON (MEX)
Eduardo VEGA GARCIA (PAN)
Carlos ESPINOZA CASTRO (PER)
Payton JACOBSON (USA)
Luis AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN)

97kg
Ricardo GOMEZ (ARG)
Igor ALVES DE QUEIROZ (BRA)
Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB)
Kevin MEJIA (HON)
Dorian TREJO OLGUIN (MEX)
Gabriel LEE SKINNER (PAN)
Michial FOY (USA)
Luillys PEREZ MORA (VEN)

130kg
Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA)
Diego ALMENDRAS RODRIGUEZ (CHI)
Oscar PINO (CUB)
Leonidas MANZABA QUINONEZ (ECU)
Gino AVILA DILBERT (HON)
Juan HERRERA (MEX)
Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA)
Moises PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN)

Lucia YEPEZ (ECU)Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) will compete for the first time since winning the silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Kamila BARBOSA (BRA)
Madison PARKS (CAN)
Yusneylis GUZMAN LOPEZ (CUB)
Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU)
Linda CASTANEDA GAONA (MEX)
Yorlenis MORAN SANCHEZ (PAN)
Antuaneth CASUSOL CASAS (PER)
Audrey JIMENEZ (USA)
Nohalis LOYO JIMENEZ (VEN)

53kg
Adrianny CASTILLO (ARG)
Sabrina GAMA TAPAJOS (BRA)
Serena DI BENEDETTO (CAN)
Yaynelis SANZ VERDECIA (CUB)
Lucia YEPEZ (ECU)
Josefina RAMIREZ DUARTE (MEX)
Yusneiry AGRAZAL (PAN)
Nathaly HERRERA HUACRE (PER)
Jaslynn GALLEGOS (USA)
Mariana ROJAS (VEN)

55kg
Geisa RAPHAEL VELOSO (BRA)
Karla GODINEZ (CAN)
Andrea AVELINO BARRIENTOS (MEX)
Louisa SCHWAB (USA)

57kg
Camila AMARILLA (ARG)
Ana PEREIRA FRANCA (BRA)
Mia FRIESEN (CAN)
Yaynelis SANZ VERDECIA (CUB)
Luisa VALVERDE (ECU)
Bertha ROJAS (MEX)
Martha OLIVARES BENDEZU (PER)
Amanda MARTINEZ (USA)
Mayra PARRA ALVAREZ (VEN)

59kg
Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN)
Karla RAMOS (MEX)
Abigail NETTE (USA)

62kg
Juliana NEPER (BRA)
Ana GODINEZ (CAN)
Leonela GRUEZO ORTIZ (ECU)
Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX)
Savannah COSME (USA)
Astrid MONTERO (VEN)

65kg
Leticia GAION (BRA)
Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN)
Elide CASTANON BUENDIA (MEX)
Macey KILTY (USA)

68kg
Grabriela PEDRO (BRA)
Vanessa KEEFE (CAN)
Virginia JIMENEZ (CHI)
Debanhi TAPIA GARCIA (MEX)
Kennedy BLADES (USA)
Nathaly GRIMAN HERRERA (VEN)

72kg
Nyla BURGESS (CAN)
Michelle OLEA RUIZ (MEX)
Tiffani BAUBLITZ (USA)

76kg
Linda MACHUCA (ARG)
Thamires MARTINS MACHADO (BRA)
Vianne ROULEAU (CAN)
Milaimy MARIN POTRILLE (CUB)
Genesis REASCO (ECU)
Edna JIMENEZ (MEX)
Kylie WELKER (USA)
Neirili BANGUERO MARTINEZ (VEN)

Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG)Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) is one of the favorites to win gold at 65kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / William Bain)

Freestyle

57kg
Davi SILVA GIOVANNETTI (BRA)
Christopher MERLO (CAN)
Esteban MORALES MAYANCHA (ECU)
Edwin SEGURA GUERRA (GUA)
Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX)
Eduardo PALAS SEQUEIROS (PER)
Lucas RODRIGUEZ (PUR)
Liam CORNIN (USA)
Pedro MEJIAS RODRIGUEZ (VEN)

61kg
Garette SAUNDERS (CAN)
Peter HAMMER (CRC)
Joshua KRAMER (ECU)
Esteban PEREZ (GUA)
Enrique OLVERA (MEX)
Andres ANDRADE (PAN)
Diego VILLALBA (PAR)
Joseph SILVA (PUR)
Jaxen FORREST (USA)

65kg
Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG)
Matheus DA LUZ (BRA)
Peiman BIABANI (CAN)
Matias MUNOZ (CHI)
Jonnathan PEREZ (GUA)
Jordan MITCHELL (JAM)
Diego PERAZA AGUILAR (MEX)
Joseph MCKENNA (USA)
Wilfredo RODRIGUEZ (VEN)

70kg
Edvanilson CONCEICAO (BRA)
Jacob ALEXANDER TORRES (CAN)
Jorge GATICA (CHI)
Enrique PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)
Donavan SOLORZANO (HON)
Marquis LARMOND (JAM)
Austin GOMEZ (MEX)
Royglen TEMPLE BATISTA (PAN)
Sixto AUCCAPINA PEDRAGAS (PER)
Francisco GUZMAN VELAZQUEZ (PUR)
Ian PARKER (USA)

74kg
Paulo GONCALVES DA SILVA (BRA)
Adam THOMSON (CAN)
Geannis GARZON (CUB)
Mauricio SANCHEZ SALTOS (ECU)
Luis BARRIOS ROCHEZ (HON)
Alonzo SMILEY GARCIA (MEX)
Wilfrido SAMANIEGO QUIJADA (PAN)
Jhon CHUNGA CARRENO (PER)
Ladarion LOCKETT (USA)
Anthony MONTERO CHIRINOS (VEN)

79kg
Jasmit PHULKA (CAN)
Victor HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX)
Jose AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER)
Shane JONES (PUR)
Evan WICK (USA)

86kg
Jorge LLANO (ARG)
Giovanni GAION (BRA)
Taran GORING (CAN)
Jorge ANDY TIWI (ECU)
Cesar UBICO ESTRADA (GUA)
Kevin DE LEON TREVINO (MEX)
Jesus LANDA CESPEDES (PER)
Ethan RAMOS (PUR)
Zahid VALENCIA (USA)
Steven RODRIGUEZ TORREYES (VEN)

92kg
Andrew JOHNSON (CAN)
Miguel LAVIELLE RAMIREZ (MEX)
Eduardo VEGA GARCIA (PAN)
Edwin MORALES (PUR)
Trent HIDLAY (USA)

97kg
Ricardo BAEZ (ARG)
Ailton BRITO ROCHA (BRA)
Nishan RANDHAWA (CAN)
Arturo SILOT TORRES (CUB)
Juan ITURRIZA RUIZ (MEX)
Justin RADEMACHER (USA)
Cristian SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN)

125kg
Gabriel DE SOUSA SILVA (BRA)
Richard DESCHATELETS (CAN)
Maxwell LACEY GARITA (CRC)
Gino AVILA DILBERT (HON)
Nicolas SANTACRUZ RABAGO (MEX)
Jonovan SMITH (PUR)
Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA)
Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN)

#JapanWrestling

Paris Olympic Champ Sakurai Retires at Age 24

By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (April 4) -- Having never really regained the motivation that led her to achieve her ultimate goal of an Olympic gold, Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) has decided to retire at the tender age of 24.

Sakurai, the women’s 57kg champion at the Paris Olympics, has announced that she will hang up her singlet and begin a second career nurturing a new generation of wrestlers and serving as a goodwill ambassador of sports for her native Kochi Prefecture in western Japan.

“After 21 continuous years, I feel I have reached the cutoff point of my wrestling career, so I have decided to retire,” Sakurai said at a press conference Friday at the Kochi Prefecture government office.

“I gave everything I had for the Olympics, and I was able to experience the feeling of achievement and the ultimate joy. It's difficult to win the Olympics without determination. I couldn't get back to the mindset I had before Paris. That is the biggest reason [for retiring].”

Known for her steely aggressiveness belying a quiet demeanor, and a wicked use of a 2-on-1 arm bar, Sakurai prefaced her triumph in Paris by winning three consecutive world titles, at 55kg in 2021 and back-to-back golds at 57kg in 2022 and 2023.

A U17 world champion in 2016, she won golds at the Asian Championships and Asian Games in 2022 and 2023, respectively, but suffered the second of just two career international losses at the 2024 Asian Championships, where she fell to Yongxian FENG (CHN) in the final.

She bounced back five months later for her crowning achievement in Paris, where she defeated 2016 Rio Olympic champion Helen MAROULIS (USA) 10-4 in the semifinals, then took the gold with a 6-0 victory over Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) in a rematch of the 2023 world final.

Making the win in Paris even more special was the fact that not only did Sakurai strike gold, but so did another Japanese wrestler who started the sport together with her at the kids wrestling club in Kochi run by her father.

Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN), the freestyle 65kg champion in his Olympic debut, and Sakurai became the toast of Kochi, a rural prefecture fronting the Pacific on the island of Shikoku. They were paraded through the streets of the prefectural capital of Kochi City and hailed as heroes.

Like almost all of Japan’s medalists in Paris, the two took time off from the sport to run the gauntlet of TV interviews and variety shows, and just chill out in general. Sakurai, who returned to Kochi and started graduate studies in sport sciences at Kochi University, was particularly slow in returning to the mat.

In what would prove to be her first – and last – competition after Paris, she won the 57kg title at the second-tier Japan Women’s Open in October 2025, ostensibly to qualify for the Emperor’s Cup All-Japan Championships the following December. That would be the starting point for domestic qualifying for major global tournaments.

But Sakurai never made it to the Emperor’s Cup, and has now fully turned the corner on a new career.

“Over the past year, this decision was made after talking to many people, fretting about it, and thinking things through,” she said.

Sakurai said that as an extension of her father’s Kochi Wrestling Club, she wants to run a series of clinics outside of the city, mainly in her hometown of Konan just to the east of Kochi, to expose more children to wrestling and help it grow.

“Aside from wrestling, I'm learning so many things in graduate school right now, so I want to acquire a wide range of knowledge so that I can give back to Kochi Prefecture properly,” Sakurai said. “I think there will be various problems when I put things into practice, so I want to acquire solid knowledge so that I can solve those problems.”

Fans at this week’s Asian Championships in Bishkek will see another product of the Kochi Wrestling Club in action in Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), Kotaro’s younger sister and a former world champion who will be looking to add the 53kg gold to the one she won at 55kg in 2024. She and Sakurai were also teammates at Ikuei University.

And the name Sakurai might soon be appearing on the world stage again. Her younger sister, Tsukino SAKURAI (JPN), won the Asian U15 title last year.