#Fortaleza2018

Canada Boasts Three Champs, USA Wins Women's Freestyle Team Title at #Fortaleza2018

Sunday, August 19, 2018 - 02:25 By Taylor Miller

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FORTALEZA, Brazil – North America ran away with the top-three spots in the team race of the women’s freestyle tournament at the 2018 Junior Pan American Championships, with USA taking first, followed by Mexico and Canada.

The U.S. won two weight classes with 2017 Cadet Pan American champion Cameron GUERIN claiming the crown at 55 kg and Brianna CSONTOS dominating at 62 kg.

Csontos was named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler and was awarded the Golden Boot after recording three first-period falls and a decision.

In addition to two champs, USA had five silver medalists, helping the squad to 172 points and its second team title of the weekend.

Mexico picked up three champions, including Mariela ESCALANTE HERNANDEZ, who defeated Greidy ESTUPINAN PEREZ (COL) in the 50 kg finals, 5-3.

Also claiming gold for Mexico was Atzimba LANDAVERDE MORENO at 65 kg and Miriam OLVERA GONZALEZ at 76 kg.

Overall, Mexico score 152 points with three champions, one runner-up and three bronze medalists.

Three 2017 Junior Pan Am runners-up made it to the top of the podium on Saturday, all hailing from Canada. Gold medalist included Jayd DAVIS at 53 kg, Hannah TAYLOR at 57 kg and Dejah SLATER at 68 kg.

Two additional bronze-medal performances and a silver pushed Canada onto the podium with 135 points and the third-place team trophy, edging out Brazil’s 131 points.

The two other wrestlers securing Pan American titles on Saturday were Katherine RENTERIA CUERO (COL) at 59 kg and Thais DE LUCAS DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) at 72 kg.

The tournament continues Sunday with men’s freestyle action beginning at 9 a.m. ET live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Team results (top five)
1. USA – 172
2. Mexico – 152
3. Canada – 135
4. Brazil – 131
5. Colombia – 80

Final results

50 kg
GOLD - Mariela ESCALANTE HERNANDEZ (MEX)
SILVER - Greidy ESTUPINAN PEREZ (COL)
BRONZE - Evelyn MATOS SANTOS (BRA)
BRONZE - Adela MORALES VARGAS (ECU)

53 kg
GOLD - Jayd DAVIS (CAN)
SILVER - Vayle BAKER (USA)
BRONZE - Rita ROJAS CHAVEZ (MEX)

55 kg
GOLD - Cameron GUERIN (USA)
SILVER - Karla ACOSTA MARTINEZ (MEX)
BRONZE - Becky CORNEJO MUNOZ (ECU)

57 kg
GOLD - Hannah TAYLOR (CAN)
SILVER - Michaela BECK (USA)
BRONZE - Susana LOZANO VEYTIA (MEX)

59 kg
GOLD - Katherine RENTERIA CUERO (COL)
SILVER - Brenda REYNA (USA)
BRONZE - Sara BRINKAC (CAN)

62 kg
GOLD - Brianna CSONTOS (USA)
SILVER - Paula MONTOYA GARCIA (COL)
BRONZE - Xiao LIU (CAN)

65 kg
GOLD - Atzimba LANDAVERDE MORENO (MEX)
SILVER - Megan FENDELET (CAN)
BRONZE - Andrea GARCIA MUNOZ (COL)

68 kg
GOLD - Dejah SLATER (CAN)
SILVER - Kayla MARANO (USA)
BRONZE - Grabriela PEDRO DA ROCHA (BRA)

72 kg
GOLD - Thais DE LUCAS DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
SILVER - Andrea SENNETT (USA)
BRONZE - Adaljiza SANCHEZ IBARRA (MEX)

76 kg
GOLD - Miriam OLVERA GONZALEZ (MEX)
SILVER - Beatriz RODRIGUES DOS REIS (BRA)

 

2026 World Championships

Yazdani Interview: 'Changing Weight Classes Difficult, But Ready for 97kg Challenge'

Saturday, June 20, 2026 - 06:27 By

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- By Amirreza ALIASGARI

KEMRAN, Iran (July 19) -- Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) made his eighth World Championships for Iran on Friday after beating Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI), 4-2 and 5-3, in two straight matches at 97kg.

In 2015, Yazdani was at 70kg and won a silver medal at his debut World Championships. For a decade, he spent his wrestling career at 86kg, winning two Olympic silver medals, three world titles, two world silver and one bronze medal.

Now at 97kg after two shoulder surgeries, a 31-year-old Yazdani is adjusting to the new weight class. As he returns to the World Championships after three years, Yazdani will be chasing his eighth medal and fourth title.

After making the Iran team for the World Championships, to be held in Astana from October 24 to November 1, Yazdani spoke to United World Wrestling about the challenges of 97kg, returning to the World Championships and how his body is holding up.

Excerpts:

- How are you feeling physically after the two tough matches?

Yazdani: I’ve improved in some areas, especially when it comes to my breathing and conditioning. But we didn’t really have enough time to focus on strength training, so we worked on that a bit less than we wanted to. With the time that’s left until the World Championships, I’m going to do everything I can to get myself in the best shape possible and be even better prepared.

- How prepared were you for the wrestle-off against Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI)?

Yazdani: For these competitions, I’d say I was about 70 percent ready. It’s hard to be 100 precent prepared for a tournament like this, but by the time the World Championships come around, I’ll definitely be in better shape and more prepared.

- What are your thoughts on competing at 97kg, a weight class that may have four Olympic champions in Astana?

Yazdani: The 97kg weight class is new for me, and of course I have new opponents now. It’s quite different from 86kg. I hope I can put on a good performance in this weight class as well. There are a lot of great champions here, and I hope I get the chance to wrestle against them, challenge myself, and show my best wrestling at the World Championships.

- But will it be challenging for your to be at the top at this weight class?

Yazdani: I already knew how many top wrestlers compete in this weight class. Considering my physical condition, I decided last year to move up to 97kg. Since it’s also an Olympic weight class, I wanted to make the move early so I’d have enough time to fix any weaknesses and adapt before the Olympics. My goal is to be at my very best for both the Olympics and the World Championships, which are just as important.

I wanted to move up sooner so I could get comfortable in this weight class as quickly as possible. Once you get to around 30 years old, things naturally become a little more difficult, and changing weight classes isn’t as easy as it used to be. There are definitely challenges at 97kg, and I’ve thought about all of them. Hopefully, I’ll be able to put on my best performance and come away with a great result.