#development

UWW sends experts to Hungary to run a high-performance coaching course

By United World Wrestling Press

BUDAPEST, Hungary (November 10) – The Hungarian Wrestling Federation organized the first-ever high-performance regional coaching course.  In all, 32 coaches who participated in the course from seven different countries. The course was conducted on 2-5 November with the support of the Olympic Solidarity, United World Wrestling, the Hungarian National Olympic Committee and the Hungarian Wrestling Federation. The course was held at the KIMBA Wrestling Academy which is a premiere training facility in Budapest where they recently organized an international Greco-Roman training camp with over 100 participants. “HWF was pleased to host the first-ever high-performance coach course in Budapest in our new Kozma István Wrestling Academy. Our federation is always open to new initiatives which helps us improve our skills and improve on the wrestling mat. We are thankful for UWW to allow us to hold this advanced course for our coaches and referees,” said Peter Bacsa (HUN) – UWW Bureau Member and Vice President of the Hungarian Wrestling Federation.

HUN1Attendees of the high-performance regional coaching course come together at the KIMBA Wrestling Academyduring an off-the-mat session. (Photo: Gabor Martin/ United World Wrestling)

This course was conducted by several wrestling experts from around the world. 

The experts included Dr. Bahman Mirzaei (IRI) and Dr. Mario Baic (CRO) who are both members of the UWW Scientific Commission along with data expert Dr. Milorad Dokmanac. The technical experts were Arsen Julfalakyan (ARM) and Zac Dominguez (USA). Leading the course programme were Vincent Aka (CIV) and Zach Errett (USA) from the UWW Development Department.  These experts led many sessions throughout the week.

The session topics included performance data analysis from the past world championships and Olympic Games, preparation and periodization of elite wrestlers, physical fitness preparation of top wrestlers, creating a system for measuring the physical preparedness of their athletes, how to transition from a successful wrestler to a successful coach, stages of complex technical/tactical development, competition manipulation and athlete safeguarding. In addition to these sessions, the coaches had practical sessions where they worked with the experts on technical skills for each style.  They also had to lead training sessions that focused on the energy and attitude of the trainer.  The course finished with collaboration among the referees.  Both groups worked side-by-side to better understand the rules and their roles. This session was led by Prof. Dr. H.Ibrahim Cicioglu (TUR). “The high-performance coaching course in Hungary was unique because it was the first time ever that coaches, referees, and recently retired athletes came together for a four-day seminar.  This course was full of specific scientific information theoretical, and practical sessions designed specifically for high-level coaches.  What was also very important during the whole process was that you could feel the interaction as most of the participants were very excited and had fun during the course,” said Arsen Julfalakyan (ARM) – Olympic silver medalist.

HUN3Participants of the course break down film together. (Photo: Gabor Martin/ United World Wrestling)

“The coaches that participated in the course were some of the best wrestlers in the world and recently began their coaching careers.  It was great to see them embrace the course and want to continue to improve.  By the end of the course, the coaches were working together and sharing ideas.  It was very clear to see why the Hungarian Wrestling Federation is one of the leaders in wrestling,” said Mr. Zach Errett (UWW Education Manager). “We had a very strong four-day course with excellent lecturers from their own fields such as science, education, and refereeing. Our coaches learned a lot during these days, and I hope it has opened new areas for them in their field to grow up top wrestlers for our country. Even though our wrestling culture and education are high in Hungary we learned many new things to be more professional and focused,” said Peter Bacsa. “We would like to thank all the organizers of the UWW for the opportunity to organize the UWW Level 4 coaching training in Hungary. It was educational for everyone. We will try to pass on the knowledge acquired here to as many coaches as possible. Special thanks for answering all our questions outside of the lectures. It was a great honor to spend the week with qualified professionals, Olympic and world champions,” said Bábszky Gergely (HUN) - Director of the College of the Hungarian University of Physical Education.

HUNParticipants from the Introduction to Refereeing Course pose together for a photo. (Photo: Gabor Martin/ United World Wrestling)

Also, during the week, the Hungarian Wrestling Federation organized an Introduction to Refereeing Course. This was conducted by Prof. Dr. H.Ibrahim Cicioglu, a member of the UWW Referee Commission and a referee educator.  The course was conducted over three days.  During that time, the participants learned the foundations of being a great referee.  Their topics included referee team duties, evaluation of holds, referee mechanics, proper positioning and movement, and controlling the bout.  The participants also had the opportunity to referee simulated matches during their sessions to apply what they learned practically. "It was a very productive event for the high-performance coaches and referees.  Our primary goal in this course was to enable the coaches to look at the evaluation of actions and holds with the eyes of the referee and to have them have a different vision on this issue.  During the course, we received much positive feedback from the coaches that will contribute to the development of our referees," said Ibrahim Cicioglu (UWW Referee Commission).

HUN2Olympic silver medalist Arsen Julfalakyan (ARM) shows a move during his time in Hungary. (Photo: Gabor Martin/ United World Wrestling)

“This course was very intense, and the commitment of all the coaches and referees lives up the world rank of Hungary. Also, this course was a good opportunity for Hungary coaches and referees to work together to strengthen the Hungary Wrestling Federation,” Said Vincent Aka (UWW Development Officer and Trainer).

#WrestleCoralville

Pan-American Championships 2026 Entries

By United World Wrestling Press

CORALVILLE, IOWA, United States (April 29) -- The 2026 Pan-American Championships will held from May 7 to 10 at the Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, United States.

The competition will kick off with Greco-Roman before moving to Women's Wrestling and finishing with Freestyle.

Eight weight classes of Greco-Roman will go in action on Thursday and the remaining two Greco and six Women's Wrestling weight classes will be in action on Friday. On Saturday, four Women's Wrestling and three Freestyle weight categories will be held. The remaining seven Freestyle weight categories will wrestle on Sunday.

Click here for full schedule of 2026 Pan-American Wrestling Championships.

All the action from Pan-Am Championships will be live on UWW+ and FloWrestling.

Note: The entries are subject to change 72 hours before the draws of each style. For latest entries, refer to UWW Pan-Am Wrestlers

UWW Plus

Freestyle

57kg
Daniel DOS SANTOS (BRA)
Christopher MERLO (CAN)
Juan RAMIREZ BELTRE (DOM)
Guesseppe REA VILLARROEL (ECU)
Edwin SEGURA GUERRA (GUA)
Omar VALENZUELA MEDINA (MEX)
Justin ROSALES LACAYO (NCA)
Andre HUARCAYA LOPEZ (PER)
Darian CRUZ (PUR)
Liam CRONIN (USA)
Pedro MEJIAS RODRIGUEZ (VEN)

61kg
Garette SAUNDERS (CAN)
Peter HAMMER CUDE (CRC)
Alex VEGA TUN (GUA)
Irie JACKSON (JAM)
Caleb SMITH (PUR)
Austin DESANTO (USA)

65kg
Shannon HANNA (BAH)
Matheus DA LUZ BARRETO (BRA)
Peiman BIABANI (CAN)
Matias MUNOZ RAMIREZ (CHI)
Tommy GARCIA SANCHEZ (DOM)
Joshua KRAMER (ECU)
Jordan MITCHELL (JAM)
Zachary ESPALIN AGUIRRE (MEX)
Jose BENITES VASQUEZ (PER)
Joseph SILVA (PUR)
Daniel OLIVERA SOLORZANO (URU)
Real WOODS (USA)
Wilfredo RODRIGUEZ BOCANEY (VEN)

70kg
Mauricio LOVERA (ARG)
Michael ZALE (CAN)
Francisco GONZALEZ TORRES (MEX)
Victor SOTO RIVERA (PUR)
Ridge LOVETT (USA)

74kg
Renato DA SILVA (BRA)
Adam THOMSON (CAN)
Jorge GATICA HINRICKSEN (CHI)
Arbey ALARCON TOVAR (COL)
Geannis GARZON TAMAYO (CUB)
Julio RODRIGUEZ ROMERO (DOM)
Brandon HERNANDEZ CARDONA (GUA)
Luis BARRIOS ROCHEZ (HON)
Raul PALACIOS DOMINGUEZ (MEX)
Sixto AUCCAPINA PEDRAGAS (PER
Jonathan PARRILLA RAMOS (PUR)
Phillip WEBSTER (USA)
Ibsen AGUILAR CANIZALEZ (VEN)

79kg
Patrik LEDER (CAN)
Jhoan SERNA RODRIGUEZ (COL)
Sergio ESPINOZA MUNIZ (MEX)
Michael LABRIOLA (PUR)
Levi HAINES (USA)

86kg
Jorge LLANO (ARG)
Pedro GONCALVES DA SILVA (BRA)
Taran GORING (CAN)
Christopher FOCA MEJIA (DOM)
Kevin DE LEON TREVINO (MEX)
Angel CORTES BONILLA (PAN)
Jesus LANDA CESPEDES (PER)
Ethan RAMOS (PUR)
Zahid VALENCIA (USA)
Jose PINERO SEGUERI (VEN)
Lucas BORDEAUX REGO ALVAN (BRA)

92kg
Andrew JOHNSON (CAN)
Shane JONES (PUR)
Trent HIDLAY (USA)

97kg
Ailton BRITO ROCHA (BRA)
Nishan Preet RANDHAWA (CAN)
Arturo SILOT TORRES (CUB)
Luis PEREZ SOSA (DOM)
Steven BURRELL (JAM)
Humberto VALVERDE UZNER (MEX)
Pool AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER)
Edwin MORALES (PUR)
Stephen BUCHANAN (USA)
Cristian SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN)

125kg
Gabriel DE SOUSA SILVA (BRA)
Jorawar DHINSA (CAN)
Maxwell LACEY GARITA (CRC)
Elison ADAMES GARCIA (DOM)
Aaron JOHNSON (JAM)
Brandon ANGUIANO FLORES (MEX)
Jonovan SMITH (PUR)
Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA)
Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN)

Luis ORTA (CUB)Luis ORTA (CUB) will be wrestling at 67kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Yan LANDIM RIBEIRO (BRA)
Moises PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU)
Isaac MARIN MATA (MEX)
Max NOWRY (USA)

60kg
Pedro DE SOUZA RODRIGUES (BRA)
Augusto VARGAS VALLE (CHI)
Kevin DE ARMAS RODRIGUEZ (CUB)
Yerony LIRIA CARRERAS (DOM)
Clisman Adrian CARRACEDO VELIZ (ECU)
Alexis RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ (MEX)
Abel SANCHEZ JUAREZ (PER)
Edrick MARTINEZ MATEO (PUR)
Dalton ROBERTS (USA)
Carlos HERRERA BARRIOS (VEN)

63kg
Marat GARIPOV (BRA)
Jeremy PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU)
Angel SEGURA TELLEZ (MEX)
Derick MARTINEZ MATEO (PUR)
Landon DRURY (USA)

67kg
Mauricio LOVERA (ARG)
Angelo CAFE DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Nestor ALMANZA TRUYOL (CHI)
Julian HORTA ACEVEDO (COL)
Luis ORTA (CUB)
Andres MONTANO ARROYO (ECU)
Jose VARELA GARCIA (GUA)
Irving SALAZAR CABRERA (MEX)
Nilton SOTO GARCIA (PER)
Otto BLACK (USA)
Jonaiker MARTINEZ CRAVO (VEN)

72kg
Mauri VICENTE SILVERIO JUNIOR (BRA)
Emerson FELIPE ORDONEZ (GUA)
Benjamin PEAK (USA)

77kg
Justin BOYCE (BAR)
Joilson DE BRITO (BRA)
Eduardo BERNAL MOLINA (CHI)
David CHOC HUOC (GUA)
Oscar BARRIOS ROCHEZ (HON)
Diego MARTINEZ (MEX)
Dario CUBAS CASTILLO (PER)
Joel ADAMS (USA)
Darfel PARADA CAMACARO (VEN)

82kg
Diego MACIAS TORRES (MEX)
Kamal BEY (USA)

87kg
Andre RAMOS PINTO (BRA)
Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB)
Johan BATISTA (DOM)
Jose VARGAS RUEDA (MEX)
Carlos ESPINOZA CASTRO (PER)
Beka MELELASHVILI (USA)
Luis AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN)

97kg
Ricardo GOMEZ (ARG)
Ronisson BRANDAO SANTIAGO (BRA)
Jhonny ARIAS BERDUGO (COL)
Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB)
Carlos ADAMES PALMER (DOM)
Kevin MEJIA (HON)
Dorian TREJO OLGUIN (MEX)
Pool AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER)
Timothy YOUNG (USA)
Juan DIAZ BLANCO (VEN)

130kg
Guilherme EVANGELISTA DIAS (BRA)
Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI)
Oscar PINO (CUB)
Jose NUNEZ ENCARNACION (DOM)
Gino AVILA DILBERT (HON)
Tyrece THOMPSON (JAM)
Luis LOPEZ VAZQUEZ (MEX)
James FORD (PUR)
Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA)

Genesis REASCO (ECU)World champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) will be at 76kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Thalia OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Madison PARKS (CAN)
Dannia FIGUEROA DUQUE (COL)
Greili BENCOSME CARVAJAL (CUB)
Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU)
Mercedes CASTILLO BERNAL (MEX)
Nathaly HERRERA HUACRE (PER)
Katie GOMEZ (USA)
Nohalis LOYO JIMENEZ (VEN)

53kg
Sabrina GAMA TAPAJOS (BRA)
Serena DI BENEDETTO (CAN)
Antonia VALDES ARRIAGADA (CHI)
Maria GONZALEZ (DOM)
Lucia YEPEZ (ECU)
Sofia OCEGUEDA GONZALEZ (MEX)
Yusneiry AGRAZAL WEST (PAN)
Ana ALVAREZ FERNANDEZ (PER)
Aneishka SANTOS BAEZ (PUR)
Cristelle RODRIGUEZ DOBLER (USA)
Alexa ALVAREZ  VALENZUELA (VEN)

55kg
Amber WIEBE (CAN)
Josefina RAMIREZ DUARTE (MEX)
Everest LEYDECKER (USA)

57kg
Camila AMARILLA (ARG)
Giullia PENALBER (BRA)
Karla GODINEZ (CAN)
Tatiana HURTADO LERMA (COL)
Yaynelis SANZ VERDECIA (CUB)
Yocleidy RAMIREZ SANTANA (DOM)
Luisa VALVERDE (ECU)
Bertha ROJAS CHAVEZ (MEX)
Nadia TRUJILLANO (PER)
Amanda MARTINEZ (USA)
Maria FUENTES SALINAS (VEN)

59kg
Mayara RAMOS PEREIRA (BRA)
Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN)
Daniela MARTINEZ VARGAS (MEX)
Abigail NETTE (USA)

62kg
Rebecca WILLIAMS (BAR)
Lais NUNES (BRA)
Annika FINES (CAN)
Paula MONTOYA GARCIA (COL)
Melanie JIMENEZ VILLALBA (MEX)
Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA)
Astrid MONTERO CHIRINOS (VEN)

65kg
Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN)
Alexis GOMEZ (MEX)
Kayla MIRACLE (USA)

68kg
Eduarda RODRIGUES BATISTA (BRA)
Aleah NICKEL (CAN)
Virginia JIMENEZ FERNANDEZ (CHI)
Maria CEBALLOS CUENU (COL)
Ambar GARNICA FLORES (MEX)
Jasmine ROBINSON (USA)
Nathaly GRIMAN HERRERA (VEN)

72kg
Ellise DAYNES (CAN)
Michelle OLEA RUIZ (MEX)
Precious BELL (USA)

76kg
Meiriele CHARAMBA (BRA)
Vianne ROULEAU (CAN)
Tatiana RENTERIA (COL)
Milaimy MARIN POTRILLE (CUB)
Emelyn BAUTISTA (DOM)
Genesis REASCO (ECU)
Edna JIMENEZ VILLALBA (MEX)
Aomi RIQUES MORALES (PER)
Kylie WELKER (USA)
Neirili BANGUERO MARTINEZ (VEN)