wrestleOaxtepec

Competition Wraps Up at Cadet and Junior Pan American Championships in Mexico

By Taylor Miller

Photo of Arturo SILOT TORRES (CUB). Photo by Sachiko Hotaka. 

OAXTEPEC, Mexico – The last 12 weight classes were contested today as the Cadet and Junior Pan American Championships concluded on Sunday in Oaxtepec, Mexico.

In the Junior freestyle division, USA won five of the six titles with gold medals from Edward SCOTT (USA) at 70 kg, Jacob LOGAN (USA) at 79 kg, Darrien ROBERTS (USA) at 86 kg, Tyler HANNAH (USA) at 92 kg and Joshua HEINDELSMEN (USA) at 125 kg.

Winning the other title in Junior freestyle was Arturo SILOT TORRES (CUB), who defeated Santos CANTU (USA) in the finals with a 10-0 technical superiority.

The USA won the Junior men’s freestyle title with 230 points, followed by Mexico with 129 points and Canada with 123 points.

In Cadet Greco-Roman, the USA swept the gold medals, winning the final six titles of the tournament on Sunday. Winning titles were Brock BOBZIEN (USA) at 60 kg, Pierson MANVILLE (USA) at 65 kg, Thor MICHAELSON (USA) at 71 kg, Ryder ROGOTZKE (USA) at 80 kg, Peter CASALE (USA) at 92 kg and James MULLEN (USA) at 110 kg.

Their performance resulted in a Cadet Greco team title for USA with 250 points. Coming in second was Mexico with 152 points and Brazil rounded out the top-three with 87 points.

Photo of Darrien ROBERTS (USA). Photo by Osvaldo Aguilar. 

En español
OAXTEPEC, Mexico - Las últimas 12 categorías de peso se disputaron hoy en el último día de los Campeonatos Panamericanos Cadetes y Juveniles en Oaxtepec, México.

En la división de estilo libre juvenil, USA ganó cinco de los seis títulos con medallas de oro de Edward SCOTT (USA) en 70 kg, Jacob LOGAN (USA) en 79 kg, Darrien ROBERTS (USA) en 86 kg, Tyler HANNAH (USA) en 92 kg y Joshua HEINDELSMEN (USA) en 125 kg.

El otro campeón en estilo libre juvenil fue Arturo SILOT TORRES (CUB), que venció en la final al Santos CANTU (USA) con una superioridad técnica de 10-0.

USA aseguró el título del equipo con 230 puntos. México ganó plata con 129 puntos y Canadá ganó bronce con 123 puntos.

En grecorromano cadete, USA ganó todas las medallas de oro, asegurando los seis títulos finales el domingo. Ganando oro fueron Brock BOBZIEN (USA) en 60 kg, Pierson MANVILLE (USA) en 65 kg, Thor MICHAELSON (USA) en 71 kg, Ryder ROGOTZKE (USA) en 80 kg, Peter CASALE (USA) en 92 kg and James MULLEN (USA) en 110 kg.

USA ganó el título del equipo con 250 puntos. México fue segundo con 152 puntos y Brasil termino en tercer lugar con 87 puntos.

JUNIOR MEN’S FREESTYLE RESULTS
70 kg
GOLD - Edward SCOTT (USA)
SILVER - Lautaro SEGHESSO (ARG)
BRONZE - Amaan GULACHA (CAN)

79 kg
GOLD - Jacob LOGAN (USA)
SILVER - Carson LEE (CAN)
BRONZE - Kevin DE LEON TREVINO (MEX)

86 kg
GOLD - Darrien ROBERTS (USA)
SILVER - Liosbel HERNANDEZ BUSTAMANTE (CUB)
BRONZE - Juan ITURRIZA RUIZ (MEX)
BRONZE - Lucas IMBERNON DA SILVA (BRA)

92 kg
GOLD - Tyler HANNAH (USA)
SILVER - Karanpreet GILL (CAN)
BRONZE - Adrian ZAPATA JACOBO (MEX)

97 kg
GOLD - Arturo SILOT TORRES (CUB)
SILVER - Santos CANTU (USA)
BRONZE - Josue CAMPOS ARIZPE (MEX)

125 kg
GOLD - Joshua HEINDELSMAN (USA)
SILVER - Gabriel de SOUSA SILVA (BRA)
BRONZE - Luis OROZCO CORTEZ (MEX)
BRONZE - Yoan ROBERT RAMIREZ (CUB)

CADET GRECO-ROMAN RESULTS
60 kg
GOLD - Brock BOBZIEN (USA)
SILVER - Edwin ALLAIN MIRANDA (PER)
BRONZE - Joao DA SILVA NETO (BRA)

65 kg
GOLD - Pierson MANVILLE (USA)
SILVER - Marco FERNANDEZ CUBAS (PER)
BRONZE - Oliver PLASCENCIA ESTRADA (MEX)

71 kg
GOLD - Thor MICHAELSON (USA)
SILVER - Isaac TENORIO MOSQUERA (ECU)
BRONZE - Hector LOERA ROJAS (MEX)

80 kg
GOLD - Ryder ROGOTZKE (USA)
SILVER - Enrique OLVERA RODRIGUEZ (MEX)

92 kg
GOLD - Peter CASALE (USA)
SILVER - Mateus FREIRE SANTOS (BRA)
BRONZE - Ivan CORONADO GARCIA (MEX)

110 kg
GOLD - James MULLEN (USA)
SILVER - Alan PEREZ URIBE (MEX)

#WrestleIstanbul

Spencer Lee one step closer to Olympic dream

By Vinay Siwach

ISTANBUL, Turkiye (May 3) -- The world will finally see the return of Spencer LEE (USA) on a big stage. The one-time phenom is coming to Istanbul in a bid to qualify the United States for the Paris Olympics at 57kg.

Lee is a former U17 and U20 world champion and was primed to be the next superstar from the U.S. However, he could never get going at the international stage and only participated in an international tournament in 2024, eight years after his U20 world title. At the Pan-Am Championships this year, Lee won the gold medal at 57kg.

Despite his three NCAA titles and a college record a few can dream of, Lee hasn't returned to the international scene partly due to injuries and partly due to his college commitments. After two surgeries, battles with health, a heartbreaking loss in NCAAs, a long return and wins over former Iowa teammate Thomas GILMAN (USA) at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Lee is finally here.

"I’ve had such a tough time trying to stay healthy and trying to compete to the best of my ability,” Lee said after winning the trials. "I’m still not healthy but I’m healthy enough to wrestle hard against really, really good opponent.”

That's what he will have to do in Istanbul. In the 57kg bracket, Lee will be unseeded and can be drawn against any of the big names in the first round. Tokyo Olympian Georgi VANGELOV (BUL), former U23 world champion AMAN (IND), world silver medalist Alireza SARLAK (IRI) and local star Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR) are a few names he will have to keep an eye on.

The field also includes world bronze medalists Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) and Horst LEHR (GER) along with former European champion Vladimir EGOROV (MGL), Asian Games silver medalist Chong Song HAN (PRK) and Andrii YATSENKO (UKR).

If his opponents need a form check, Lee won four bouts at the trials, outscoring his opponents 35-11 with wins over Tokyo bronze medalist Gilman and Zane RICHARDS (USA). And his attacks are solid as ever as Gilman found out in the best-of-three series.

Three wrestlers in each Olympic weight class will receive Paris 2024 quotas in Istanbul, two being the winners of the semifinals and the third will be decided with a playoff between the two bronze medal winners. Lee would hope to secure it as the winner of the semifinal and avoid going, if fortunate, through repechage.

Apart from qualifying the U.S. in Istanbul, there is extra motivation for Lee to win in Istanbul. Lee's mother, Carry, is from France where she met Lee's father, Larry, both judokas. And, he can become the first Olympic champion for the U.S. in the lowest weight class since 2008.

Lee is aware that the road to Paris is still 'long and hard'. But the 25-year-old is ready.

"I have work to do."