#WrestleGuatemala

#WrestleGuatemala Pan-Am C'ship Entries

By Eric Olanowski

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (May 16) --- The "Teodoro Palacios Flores" National Gymnasium will host over 180 athletes from 16 different nations for the Pan-American Championships (May 27-30).

*These entries were update on Thursday morning (05/20) and are subject to change.

Freestyle 
57kg
Bryan Lucas DE OLIVEIRA PEREIRA (BRA)
Diego Armando ZULUAGA CUEVAS (COL)
Alexander FERNANDEZ PENA (DOM)
Guesseppe Ricardo REA VILLARROEL (ECU) 
Edwin Alexi SEGURA GUERRA (GUA)
Samuel Edhinson ALVA PEDRAGAS (PER)
Roberto ALEJANDRO BLANCO (MEX)
Vitali ARUJAU (USA)

61kg
Juan Rubelin RAMIREZ BELTRE (DOM)
Victor Alfonso LOPEZ MIRANDA (ESA)
Esteban David PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)
Jose David BENITES VASQUEZ (PER)
Shelton Anthony MACK (USA)

65kg
Agustin Alejandro DESTRIBATS (ARG)
Marcos Wesley DE BRITO SIQUEIRA  (BRA)
Dillon Emmanuel WILLIAMS (CAN)
Jose Esteban GONZALEZ RAMIREZ  (COL)
Albaro RUDECINDO CAMACHO (DOM)
Mauricio Javier SANCHEZ SALTOS (ECU)
Juan Antonio RODRIGUEZ JOVEL  (ESA)
Esteban David PEREZ CASTELLANOS  (GUA)
David Renee PINILLA RODRIGUEZ  (PAN)
Sebastian C RIVERA (PUR)
Joseph Christopher MC KENNA (USA)

70kg
Joao Victor DOS SANTOS SILVA (BRA)
Vincent DE MARINIS (CAN)
Wber Euclides CUERO MUNOZ  (COL)
Eduardo Alexander AYALA PENA  (ESA)
Enrique Josue PEREZ CASTELLANOS  (GUA)
Francisco Ivan GONZALEZ TORRES  (MEX)
Sixto Miguel AUCCAPINA PEDRAGAS (PER)
Jonathan PARRILLA RAMOS (PUR)
Alec William PANTALEO (USA)

74kg
Renato Patricio DA SILVA (BRA)
Jasmit Singh PHULKA  (CAN)
Hossman Eduardo CARVAJAL ROJAS  (COL)
Malhcon Alizon PINEDA CUNIL (GUA)
Victor Eduardo HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX)
Antony Gaston IPARRAGUIRRE PEREYRA (PER)
Kyle Douglas DAKE (USA)


79kg
Jorge Ivan LLANO (ARG)
Samuel Jacob BARMISH (CAN)
Nestor Joaquin TAFUR BARRIOS  (COL)
David Elias CHOC HUOC  (GUA)
Javier SALAZAR BECERRA (MEX)
David Vincent MC FADDEN (USA)

86kg
Emanuel Alexis CHAMORRO   (ARG)
Thales REIS ALVES (BRA)
Clayton Steven PYE (CAN)
Juan Sebastian RIVERA GARCIA (COL)
Jorge Klever ANDY TIWI (ECU)
Juan Sebastian RIVERA GARCIA (COL)
Sergio Leonel MENDOZA LOPEZ  (GUA)
David Morris TAYLOR III (USA)

92kg
Jeremy Adam POIRIER (CAN)
Gino Tanislado AVILA DILBERT (HON)
Nathan Dyamin JACKSON (USA)

97kg
Ricardo Adrian BAEZ (ARG)
Marcos CARROZZINO  (BRA)
Richard Phillip Junior DESCHATELETS (CAN)
Kenett Andrey MARTINEZ VILORIA (COL)
Maxwell Lemar LACEY GARITA (CRC)
Luis Miguel PEREZ SOSA (DOM)
Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA)

125kg
Catriel Pehuen MURIEL (ARG)
Juan Felippe IZIDORO BITTENCOURT (BRA)
Aly Medhat Abde BARGHOUT (CAN)
Santiago RESTREPO HERNANDEZ  (COL)
Elison ADAMES GARCIA (DOM)
Christian Rafael CHAJON GARCIA  (GUA)
Eduardo Maximiliano GARCIA BETANZOS (MEX)
Gable Dan STEVESON (USA)



Colombia's Dicther Hans TORO CASTANEDA  (COL) will look to defend his Pan-American title from a year ago. He'll wrestle at 60kg. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

Greco-Roman
60kg
Marat GARIPOV (BRA)
Adam Takahashi MACFADYEN (CAN)
Dicther Hans TORO CASTANEDA  (COL)
Maikol JOSEFA (DOM)
Jeremy Renzo PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU)
Victor Alfonso LOPEZ MIRANDA  (ESA)
Joshua Xavier MEDINA (PUR)
Ildar HAFIZOV (USA)

63kg
Ivan Atila Jose REPETTO (ARG)
Andres Roberto MONTANO ARROYOECU
Juan Antonio RODRIGUEZ JOVEL  (ESA)
Emerson Isaias FELIPE ORDONEZ (GUA)
Joao Marco BENAVIDES ROCHABRUN (PER)
Randon Drew MIRANDA (USA)

67kg
Calebe CORREA FERREIRA (BRA)
Daniel Troy COLES  (CAN)
Victor Manuel MENA VERGEL (COL)
Enyer Manuel FELICIANO (DOM)
Jose Alejandro VARELA GARCIA (GUA)
Diego Alberto MARTINEZ DE LEIJA (MEX)
Nilton Gonzalo Marcos SOTO GARCIA (PER)
Xavier Tramain JOHNSON (USA)

72kg
Carlos Valerio FUENTES PERALTA (GUA)
Juan Roberto RUIZ LUGO (MEX)
Gerardo Francisco OLIVA MONTES (PER)
Jamel Rasheed JOHNSON (USA)

77kg
Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA)
Brandon CALLE PEREZ (COL)
Enrique Javier CUERO ORTIZ (ECU)
Reinier JIMENEZ TERRY (GUA)
Ryan CUBAS CASTILLO (PER)
Marciano George ALI  (PUR)
Jesse Alexander PORTER (USA)

82kg
David Elias CHOC HUOC (GUA)
Alexis Armando MARTINEZ SANCHEZ (MEX)
Alvis Albino ALMENDRA JIMENEZ (PAN)
Benjamin Errol PROVISOR (USA)

87kg
Ronisson BRANDAO SANTIAGO (BRA)
Jose Esteban MOSQUERA MURILLO (COL)
Ariel Andres ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ (HON)
Juan Ignacio PALMA FRANCIS (ECU)
Daniel VICENTE GOMEZ (MEX)
John Walter STEFANOWICZ JR (USA)

97kg
Igor Fernando ALVES DE QUEIROZ (BRA)
Santiago ECHEVERRI OSORIO (COL)
Rafael Daniel ESCAMILLA SANCHEZ (ESA)
Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON)
Ricardo Naviel MANCILLA GALINDO (MEX)
Braxton James AMOS (USA)
Gilberto Segundo AYALA RODRIGUEZ (VEN)

130kg
Catriel Pehuen MURIEL (ARG)
Isaque Victor MEDEIROS CONSERVA  (BRA)
Steven RIANO CATANO (COL)
Leo Dalis SANTANA HEREDIA (DOM)
Luis Alberto ROMAN BARRIOS (MEX)
Donald Robert LONGENDYKE (USA)

Linda MORAIS (CAN), a '19 world champion, is one of headlining women's wrestling entries. She'll compete at 59kg. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg
Patricia Alejandra BERMUDEZ (ARG)
Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA)
Madison Bianca PARKS (CAN)
Yusmy Juliet CHAPARRO URREGO (COL)
Jacqueline Del Rocio MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU)
Daniela Aidee HERNANDEZ CEPEDA  (MEX)
Thalia Jihann MALLQUI PECHE (PER)
Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA)

53kg
Sabrina GAMA TAPAJOS (BRA)
Jayd DAVIS  (CAN)
Yineth Catalina ROMERO GUATAQUIRA (COL)
Luisa Elizabeth VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU)
Laura Gabriela PEREDO TORRES (MEX)
Ronna Marie HEATON (USA)

55kg
Amanda LIMA LEAL (BRA)
Virginie KAZE GASCON (CAN)
Anny Guillermina RAMIREZ PEREZ (DOM)
Neidy Lizeth VASQUEZ GOMEZ (GUA)
Jacarra Gwenisha WINCHESTER (USA)

57kg
Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Alexandria Rebekkah TOWN  (CAN)
Leydi Lucia ALMEYDA FONCE (COL)
Carolina Maria OCHOA MELENDEZ (ESA)
Cameron Jaylynn GUERIN (USA)

59kg
Karoline SILVA DE SANTANA (BRA)
Linda MORAIS (CAN)
Maya Gabriella NELSON (USA)

62kg
Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Jessica Lise BROUILLETTE (CAN)
Jessica Vanessa TORRES RODRIGUEZ (COL)
Leonela Aleyda AYOVI PARRAGA (ECU)
Alejandra ROMERO BONILLA (MEX)
Kayla Colleen Kiyoko MIRACLE (USA)

65kg
Meiriele CHARAMBA SANTOS HORA  (BRA)
Amanda SAVARD (CAN)
Silvia Esperanza HERNANDEZ GONZALES (GUA)
Ashley Chantelle ZARATE CAMPBELL (PAN)
Diana Luisa Victoria CRUZ ARROYO (PER)
Mallory Maxine VELTE (USA)

68kg
Luz Clara VAZQUEZ (ARG)
Grabriela PEDRO DA ROCHA (BRA)
Alexia Rose SHERLAND (CAN)
Nicoll Dayanna PARRADO  OSORIO (COL)
Yessica Coraima OVIEDO PEREZ (DOM)
Tamyra Mariama STOCK MENSAH (USA)

72kg
Brenda AGUIAR DOS SANTOS (BRA)
Yanet Ursula SOVERO NINO (PER)
Alexandria Junis GLAUDE (USA)

76kg
Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA)
Luisa Fernanda MOSQUERA PARRA (COL)
Josselyn Tatiana PORTILLO MEJIA (ESA)
Adeline Maria GRAY (USA)

#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!"