#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

Hedayati Beats World Champ Mirzazadeh to Claim Iran's World Team Spot

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 - 10:33 By Vinay Siwach

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KERMAN, Iran (June 16) -- World champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) decided to skip the second bout of the best-of-three series against Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI), ending his hopes of defending his world title this year.

Hedayati, who has been knocking on the door of Iran's world team for more than two years, defeated Mirzazadeh, 5-1, in the opening selection bout at 130kg to secure a spot on Iran's Greco-Roman team for the 2026 World Championships, to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1.

Mirzazadeh still had a chance to claim the spot if he won the remaining two bouts, but he chose not to continue in the series, effectively conceding the berth to Hedayati.

Hedayati scored on a passivity point, two pushouts and a two-point go-behind. Mirzazadeh's only point came from passivity as he failed to score from par terre.

"I respect Mirzazadeh a lot as he is a world champion," Hedayati told UWW. "But we worked a lot for one year to beat him."

In the selection bout last year, Hedayati hoped to hang on for a 1-1 criteria victory but Mirzazadeh scored a par terre turn to win 3-1. Hedayati switched his strategy this year and did not wait for the par terre position. He even asked for a standing restart when Mirzazadeh was called passive.

"Last year, I waited for the second period to win 1-1, but now I started to push right off the whistle," he said. "My plan was to push him out because I can do it. When I got passivity advantage, I asked for a start in standing."

Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI)Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) defeated Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI), 5-1.

The 22-year-old Hedayati, who hails from Amol, the same town as 125kg freestyle world champion Amirhossein ZARE (IRI), will be making his senior World Championships debut in Astana as part of a strong Iran team that features three champions among seven returning medalists.

Zare was present in Kerman to support and coach Hedayati, who calls the Freestyle wrestler 'a brother'.

"I train with Zare because of our weight classes and he came here for my match," he said. "Outside of the mat, we run together, go for hiking, cross country and share a lot of time together to discuss wrestling. We always talk about winning the gold medal together, especially at the Olympics."

The Olympics are still two years away, but Zare and Hedayati can both win gold at the World Championships in Astana.

Hedayati, despite his debut, will enter as the favorite at 130kg. He has already won golds at the U20 and U23 World Championships, the Asian Championships and Ranking Series. He has registered wins over all major 130kg wrestlers including Riza KAYAALP (TUR), Oscar PINO (CUB), Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR), among others.

His only international loss came in 2022 in the U20 World Championships final, 6-4, against Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) that he has since avenged.

"I am training with Ghasem REZAEI (2012 London Olympic champion at 96kg) to improve my par terre offense so I can be a complete wrestler. My defense in par terre is good," he said.

In other weight classes, Iran will be bringing seven medalists including three champions. Olympic champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) will be at 67kg and Hadi SARAVI (IRI) at 97kg. Both are defending world champions along with Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) who will be at 82kg.

The returning silver medalists are Payam AHMADI (IRI) at 55kg and Alireza MOHMADI (IRI) at 87kg, while Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) at 63kg and Danial SOHRABI (IRI) at 72kg are returning bronze medalists.

Former U20 world champion Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI), who finished 17th last year, will look to win a medal for his team along with Ali OSKOU (IRI) at 77kg who will be making his World Championships debut.

Iran's Freestyle team for the 2026 World Championships will be selected on Friday, June 19 with Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) and Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI), both at 97kg. 

Iran's Greco-Roman Team for 2026 World Championships

55kg: Payam AHMADI (IRI)
60kg: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI)
63kg: Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI)
67kg: Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI)
72kg: Danial SOHRABI (IRI)
77kg: Ali OSKOU (IRI)
82kg: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI)
87kg: Alireza MOHMADI (IRI)
97kg: Hadi SARAVI (IRI)
130kg: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI)