Development

Saudi Wrestling Federation growing wrestling through education

By United World Wrestling Press

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (12 October) – The Saudi Wrestling Federation has been organizing coaching and referee courses to grow and develop wrestling within their country over the past few years. Their hard work led to their first-ever silver medal at the U20 Asian Championships. Manthr Jndu achieved this at 63kg in Greco-Roman.

In late April, they organized two more courses (Level 1 Coaching Course and Introduction to Refereeing Course) for new coaches and referees. The Saudi Wrestling Federation held these courses in partnership with United World Wrestling.  

Mr. Hassan MADANY (EGY) and Mr. Juan Luis MAREN (CUB) conducted the Level 1 Coaching Course, and Mr. Sherif HALAWA (EGY) and Mr. Mohsen YAMANI (KSA—Chief of Saudi Referees) led the Introduction to Refereeing course. The courses were held from 28 April to 2 May and included 91 participants (22 women) from 8 nationalities, including participants from EGY, MAR, SYR, SUD, NGR, JOR, KGZ, and KSA residing in Saudi Arabia.

The coaching course had 71 participants, including 17 women coaches. The Level 1 Course is the Introduction to Coaching and Safety. During the course, the participants participated in theoretical and practical sessions. Some of the topics covered were discovery games, introducing a new technique, coaching skills, giving feedback, risk management, age, and developmental stage characteristics.  The coaches actively practiced and developed their skills during the course through practical evaluations. Overall, the coaches gained important knowledge and skills to help them improve in their role as coaches.  

The Introduction to Refereeing Course had 20 participants, including 5 women referees. The participants learned the foundations of what it takes to be a great referee.  The areas covered during the course included the safety of the athletes, evaluation of holds, referee mechanics, positioning, and controlling the bout.  The participants were active during the course and could practice their skills through practical evaluations. 

During the courses, there were sessions involving both referees and coaches, led by Mr. Halawa. This allowed both groups to work together and better learn wrestling rules.

#WrestleRio

U17 Pan-American Championships 2025 Entries

By United World Wrestling Press

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (June 16) -- The U17 Pan-American Championships will kick off in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from June 19 to 21.

The tournament will begin with Greco-Roman on June 19, Women's Wrestling on June 20 and Freestyle on June 21. For full schedule, click here

Note: The entries are subject to change. For final entries and draws, refer to UWW Arena.

Freestyle

45kg
Willian RIBEIRO (BRA)
Jack AUCOIN (CAN)
Duglas URRUTIA (GUA)
Israel AMARO (MEX)
Francesko CANAYO (PER)
Thales SILVA (USA)

48kg
Enrique PARRA (CAN)
Jose QUINTERO (MEX)
Carlos BELMO (PAN)
Andre HUARCAYA (PER)
Fabian SANCHEZ (PUR)
Ariah MILLS (USA)
Anderson FRANCO (VEN)

51kg
Mykael CAETANO (BRA)
Jonrex CASA (CAN)
David MORALES (COL)
Luis AGUSTIN (GUA)
Jorge RIOS (MEX)
Kadir QUINONES (PAN)
Fabrizio MOCARRO (PER)
Cruz LITTLE (PUR)
Carter SHIN (USA)
Luigeth ANTUNEZ (VEN)

55kg
Bernardo MIRANDA (BRA)
Aaharen PIRANAVAN (CAN)
Jovanni TOVAR (COL)
Angel VALDEZ (GUA)
Edgar BOCANEGRA (MEX)
Ian ARROCHA (PAN)
Nathaniel LYTTLE (PUR)
Thomas WURSTER (USA)
Gabriel LICON (VEN)

60kg
Santiago CHRISJOHN (ARG)
Fabian LIMA (BRA)
Nathan NASH (CAN)
Emanuel LAZCANO (CHI)
Adrian CANALES (ESA)
Jose JEREZ (GUA)
Johan CRUZ (MEX)
Juan CRISTALDO (PER)
Frederick BACHMANN (PUR)
Nicholas SORROW (USA)
Haniel RODRIGUEZ (VEN)

65kg
Thiago AMARILLA (ARG)
Pedro ARAPIRACA (BRA)
Liam GORTON (CAN)
Valentino GODOY (CHI)
Dylan FERNANDEZ (ESA)
Austreberto CORDOVA (MEX)
Cameron HAINES (PAN)
Joao MONTESINOS (PER)
Yandro SOTO (PUR)
Arseni KIKINIOU (USA)
Emiliano AGUILAR (VEN)

71kg
Benjamin CASAS (ARG)
Antonio ARGUELLO (ESA)
Brandon HERNANDEZ (GUA)
Daniel TEJEDA (HON)
Gabriel VARGAS (PAN)
Anthony MOLINA (PER)
Joab CARRILLO (PUR)
Jayden JAMES (USA)
Axiel MONTERO (VEN)

80kg
Eduardo NUNES (BRA)
Beau CHARTRAND (CAN)
Gabriel RIVERA (ESA)
Arat GONZALEZ (MEX)
Maycki FLORES (PER)
Alan GARCIA (PUR)
Isai FERNANDEZ (USA)
Joaquin BARRANCOS (VEN)

92kg
Allan DE SOUSA (BRA)
Harjot SHERGILL (CAN)
Jose PEREZ (COL)
Alvaro VILLA (PER)
Franco LATORRE (PUR)
James SMITH (USA)

110kg
Wandson RODRIGUES (BRA)
Udaypartap BILLEN (CAN)
Santiago PALOMINO (COL)
Carlos CABRALES (MEX)
Elias BETANCOURT (PUR)
Alexander TAYLOR (USA)

Greco-Roman

45kg
Willian RIBEIRO (BRA)
Duglas URRUTIA (GUA)
Dannys GONZALES (HON)
Cristofer QUINTERO (MEX)
Francesko CANAYO (PER)
Thales SILVA (USA)

48kg
Pedro SANTOS (BRA)
Jeremy LOPEZ (HON)
Christopher RAMIREZ (MEX)
Carlos BELMO (PAN)
Andre HUARCAYA (PER)
Fabian SANCHEZ (PUR)
Ariah MILLS (USA)
Anderson FRANCO (VEN)

51kg
Maycon DE CASTRO (BRA)
David MORALES (COL)
Jiug ALVAREZ (MEX)
Kadir QUINONES (PAN)
Jules CASALINO (PER)
Carter SHIN (USA)
Luigeth ANTUNEZ (VEN)

55kg
Lavozier WADIK (BRA)
Dante BARRA (CHI)
Erick CHOC (GUA)
Mateo PEREZ (MEX)
Ian ARROCHA (PAN)
Giancarlos YOVERA (PER)
Thomas WURSTER (USA)
Haniel RODRIGUEZ (VEN)

60kg
Luiz DOS SANTOS (BRA)
Adrian CANALES (ESA)
Zeus GONZALEZ (MEX)
Juan CRISTALDO (PER)
Edwin MORALES (PUR)
Nicholas SORROW (USA)
Gabriel LICON (VEN)

65kg
Victor NASCIMENTO (BRA)
Raul CASTILLO (MEX)
Joao MONTESINOS (PER)
Arseni KIKINIOU (USA)
Emiliano AGUILAR (VEN)

71kg
Fernando BENCKE (BRA)
Cristobal ALIAGA (CHI)
Antonio ARGUELLO (ESA)
Daniel TEJEDA (HON)
Heder SALDANA (MEX)
Gabriel VARGAS (PAN)
Anthony MOLINA (PER)
Alexander BARROS (PUR)
Jayden JAMES (USA)
Axiel MONTERO (VEN)

80kg
Miguel XAVIER (BRA)
Angel LAGOS (CHI)
John SAENZ (GUA)
Diego CAMPOS (MEX)
Maycki FLORES (PER)
Isai FERNANDEZ (USA)
Reynniel YEPEZ (VEN)

92kg
Joao AMORIM (BRA)
Tomas ESPINOZA (CHI)
Jose PEREZ (COL)
Cristhoper PEREZ (GUA)
Jose ESPARZA (MEX)
Alvaro VILLA (PER)
Franco LATORRE (PUR)
James SMITH (USA)

110kg
Raphael RODRIGUES (BRA)
Santiago PALOMINO (COL)
Angel GARCIA (MEX)
Elias BETANCOURT (PUR)
Alexander TAYLOR (USA)

Morgan TURNER (USA)Former world U17 champion Morgan TURNER (USA) will compete at 49kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Women's Wrestling

40kg
Heloisa FERNANDES (BRA)
Andrea FLORES (HON)
Zoe VASQUEZ (MEX)
Corangelys TORRES (PUR)
Maisie ELLIOTT (USA)
Merlis LINARES (VEN)

43kg
Mariza NASU (CAN)
Isabela GARNICA (COL)
Kristel GODINEZ (GUA)
Karen RIOS (MEX)
Margarita QUITO (PER)
Natalie RADECKI (USA)
Elianny CLEVIERT (VEN)

46kg
Maria TESSARO (BRA)
Iraabir SOOCH (CAN)
Alejandra SALINAS (CHI)
Mayllin ESCOBAR (GUA)
Aleyvi CELIS (MEX)
Sheyla RODRIGUEZ (PER)
Heklanys RIVERA (PUR)
Jaclyn BOUZAKIS (USA)
Valeria NARVAEZ (VEN)

49kg
Kamryn MASON (CAN)
Ivon OVALLE (COL)
Siria GAMBOA (GUA)
Ana MORA (MEX)
Akemy GOMEZ (PER)
Miayalee ORTIZ (PUR)
Morgan TURNER (USA)
Asia SANCHEZ (VEN)

53kg
Yasmin VENANCIO (BRA)
Clara PERRY (CAN)
Alejandra SERRANO (COL)
Sharon MACKEPEACE (GUA)
Camila PEREZ (MEX)
Yumaira RUSSELL (PAN)
Clara RAMIREZ (PER)
Emma PEAKE (PUR)
Stevie MARTIN (USA)
Javianny GIMENEZ (VEN)

57kg
Natalia PROBOSTE (ARG)
Yasmim NEPER (BRA)
Kai Nessa PARE (CAN)
Fernanda RIFFO (CHI)
Sofia LUNA (MEX)
Milagros SALGADO (PAN)
Stacy RODRIGUEZ (PER)
Paola RAMIREZ (PUR)
Emma BACON (USA)
Nairam JAIME (VEN)

61kg
Danna COSTA (ARG)
Kauany SOARES (BRA)
Natalie WOJCIECHOWSKI (CAN)
Susana SANCHEZ (COL)
Yolayni ROSADO (DOM)
Sara ROBLES (MEX)
Michely GUTIERREZ (PER)
Marisa ITURRINO (PUR)
Taina FERNANDEZ (USA)

65kg
Anabella VALLE (ARG)
Beatriz CALASANS (BRA)
Cassidy PACE (CAN)
Shantallee BARRIOS (COL)
Sylvia ESPINOSA (MEX)
Violette LASURE (USA)
Luz CUAURO (VEN)

69kg
Sofia BAZAN (ARG)
Mayara NEPER (BRA)
Khushleen JHALLI (CAN)
Linda MARTINEZ (MEX)
Cassandra GONZALES (USA)

73kg
Ana VICENTE (BRA)
Jolina HEALEY (CAN)
Deborah GARCIA (MEX)
Chelse CARHUALLANQUI (PER)
Ella POALILLO (USA)
Perla PENA (VEN)