#NFRoundup

NF Roundup Blog, Feb. 8 - Feb. 12

By United World Wrestling Press

Saudi Wrestling Federation Hosts Introduction to Refereeing Course for New Female Referees 
Following the vision of the Saudi Wrestling Federation, headed by Mr. Mashaal Aljomaih, a five-day introduction to refereeing course for females was conducted January 31- February 04, at the Green Halls in Riyadh under the auspice of the General Manager of the Leadership Development Institute Abdullah Bin Faisal Hammad.

The introduction to refereeing course was the first course ever for new female referees in KSA. Sixteen female participants from all over the kingdom attended the five-day course in Riyadh. And it was a great opportunity to introduce them to refereeing wrestling and its basic rules.

The course was financially covered by the Saudi Wrestling Federation and the Leadership Development Institute. Saudi Federation covered the domestic flight tickets and the full accommodation for all the female participants, while the Leadership Development Institute covered all the other expenses.

The UWW Educator Sherif HALAWA from Egypt assisted by the Cat I International Referee Mohsen Yamani, Chief of Saudi referees conducted the course. The Course was also an opportunity to teach the female participants how to use the electronic Arena system during the wrestling competitions. The Cat III international referee Saud Alsuhaibi assisted Mr. HALAWA in teaching the female participants how to use the Arena system.

Ref
The Saudi Wrestling Federation hosted an introduction to refereeing course for female referees. The course lasted five days and was held in Riyadh. 

During the course, three specialized lecturers from Kind Saud University did also some sessions in 3 different topics (Sports Psychology, Sports injuries, and Sports management). The Leadership Development Institute covers all the lecturers’ expenses.

All the female participants did not practice wrestling before. Therefore, during the course there was some theoretical sessions about the wrestling rules basis, some practical sessions on the mat (however they did not have the referees’ uniform), and some practical sessions on Arena system to manage a competition. For 5 days, the female participants watched many videos about wrestling rules and some matches to let them feel the sport of wrestling.

The Saudi Wrestling Federation made a decision to assign the new female referees to the coming national competitions to work as referees, especially to manage the Arena system and to work as judge. They must gain the experience through continuous participation at competitions, and step-by-step, they'll take the whistle and work as referees on the mat soon.


Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), a four-time world champion, will look to earn a berth to a third straight Olympic Games. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS – WRESTLING WILL MOVE FROM UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. TO LOCATION TO BE DETERMINED SOON

USA Wrestling, Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee have collectively decided that the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling, originally scheduled for April 4-5, 2020, will not be held at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pennsylvania. 

USA Wrestling and Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics worked to reschedule the event in 2021. However, a decision to relocate the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling was made due to a variety of factors, including current COVID-19 health and safety guidelines and the desire to provide the ability to accommodate all of the participants, staff and fans.

In addition to the announcement of the relocation of this year’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling, USA Wrestling, Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced Penn State and the Bryce Jordan Center will host the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling.

USA Wrestling is currently in negotiations to secure a new location for the competition, targeting the early April 2021 time frame. USA Wrestling expects that it will be able to finalize this arrangement in the near future.

The decision to relocate the event will not impact the competitions which serve as qualifiers for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling, as set in the approved USA Wrestling Athlete Selection Procedures for the 2020 Olympic Games in men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman. 

Updated event information will be shared by USA Wrestling as soon as possible.

Click here for USA Wrestling's full release.

Ivory
Wrestlers at the UWW Africa Training Center in Abidjan, Ivory Coast sport their #WeWillWrestleAgain shirts.


Risako KAWAI (JPN) celebrates winning her Olympic gold medal at the '16 Rio Games. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

FIRST OF COVID-19 PLAYBOOKS PUBLISHED FOR TOKYO OLYMPICS & PARALYMPICS
Despite reports, rumors and speculation to the contrary, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga reiterated once again last week that his nation’s intention is to indeed move forward with hosting the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Speaking to the World Economic Forum via teleconference last Friday, Suga stated, “We are holding the Olympics and Paralympics this summer. I am determined to achieve the games as a proof of human victory against the pandemic, a symbol of global solidarity and to give hope and courage around the world.”

Backing up this statement is the fact that the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee (Tokyo 2020) today published the first Playbook for member federations.

Click HERE to read the full Olympic Playpook breakdwon by swimswam.com.

#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)