#WrestleOttawa

Pan-American Championship Entries

Monday, March 2, 2020 - 11:42 By Eric Olanowski

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OTTAWA, Canada (March 2) --- The Pan-American Championships kick off March 6-9 in Ottawa, Canada, and will feature 192 athletes from 19 different nations wrestling -- including 16 returning gold medalists (listed in bold). 

Olympic champion Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) leads a list of eight returning Greco-Roman champions into Ottawa.

America’s pair of reigning world champions Tamyra MENSAH (USA) and Adeline GRAY (USA) are two of the five 2019 gold medalists that highlight the women’s wrestling part of the competition.

In freestyle, Anthony James ASHNAULT (USA), Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) and Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA) return to the Pan-American championships looking to retain the titles they claimed a year ago.

Freestyle
57kg
Bryan Lucas DE OLIVEIRA PEREIRA (BRA)
Ligrit SADIKU (CAN)
Oscar Eduardo TIGREROS URBANO (COL)
Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB)
Juan Rubelin RAMIREZ BELTRE (DOM)
Edwin Alexi SEGURA GUERRA (GUA)
Jesus Alejandro GARFIAS INFANTE (MEX)
Darian Toi CRUZ (USA)
Pedro Jesus MEJIAS RODRIGUEZ (VEN)

61kg
Scott Anthony Josef SCHILLER (CAN)
Tyler Lee GRAFF (USA)

65kg
Agustin Alejandro DESTRIBATS (ARG)
David Washington DOS SANTOS MOREIRA (BRA)
Vincent DE MARINIS (CAN)
Wber Euclides CUERO MUNOZ (COL)
Alejandro Enrique VALDES TOBIER (CUB)
Albaro RUDESINDO CAMACHO (DOM)
Mauricio Javier SANCHEZ SALTOS (ECU)
Sixto Miguel AUCCAPINA PEDRAGAS (PER)
Jose Javier RODRIGUEZ COLON (PUR)
John Michael DIAKOMIHALIS (USA)
Wilfredo Aogusto RODRIGUEZ BOCANEY (VEN)

Anthony James ASHNAULT (USA) is one of three returning freestyle Pan-American champions. (Photo: Lu Cruz)

70kg
Ranico  Ikkesh HOWARD (BAR)
Hugo Leonardo DE LIMA VIANA DE SOUZA (BRA)
Cruiz Saint Luc MANNING (CAN)
Brandon Disair DIAZ RAMIREZ (MEX)
Anthony James ASHNAULT (USA)

74kg
Jorge Ivan LLANO (ARG)
Jasmit Singh PHULKA (CAN)
Leon Juan Carlos PERALTA LANAS (CHI)
Nestor Joaquin TAFUR BARRIOS (COL)
Jeandry GARZON CABALLERO (CUB)
Julio Rafael RODRIGUEZ ROMERO (DOM)
Enrique Josue PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)
Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR)
Jordan Ernest BURROUGHS (USA)
Anthony Jose MONTERO CHIRINOS (VEN)

79kg
Guseyn RUSLANZADA (CAN)
Victor Eduardo HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX)
Jesus Augusto LANDA CESPEDES (PER)
Jason Michael NOLF (USA)

86kg
Ricardo Adrian BAEZ (ARG)
Reuben Leroy WILTSHIRE (BAR)
Clayton Steven PYE (CAN)
Carlos Arturo IZQUIERDO MENDEZ (COL)
Yurieski TORREBLANCA QUERALTA (CUB)
Gino Tanislado AVILA DILBERT (HON)
Angus Patrick ARTHUR (JAM)
Noel Alfonso TORRES CHACON (MEX)
Pool Edinson AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER)
Ethan Adrian RAMOS (PUR)
Alexander David DIERINGER (USA)
James Patrick DOWNEY III (USA)
Pedro Francisco CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN)

92kg
Maxwell Lemar LACEY GARITA (CRC)

Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA) is on a quest to win his fourth Pan-American title. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

97kg
Nishan Preet Singh RANDHAWA (CAN)
Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB)
Luis Miguel PEREZ SOSA (DOM)
Esdras Carlos LOPEZ PEREZ (MEX)
Evan Amadour RAMOS (PUR)
Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA)
Jose Daniel DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN)

125kg
Amarveer DHESI (CAN)
Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB)
Brandon Eloin ANGUIANO FLORES (MEX)
Charles Zachary MERRILL (PUR)
Anthony Robert NELSON (USA)
Luis Felipe VIVENES URBANEJA (VEN)

 

Reigning world champion Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) headlines the Greco-Roman entries that features eight returning champions. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

Greco-Roman
55kg
Sargis KHACHATRYAN (BRA)
Kieran Imran AKHTAR (CAN)
Max Emiliano NOWRY (USA)

60kg
Marat GARIPOV (BRA)
Adam Takahashi MACFADYEN (CAN)
Dicther Hans TORO CASTANEDA (COL)
Luis Alberto ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB)
Jancel Miguel PIMENTEL GONZALEZ (DOM)
Emerson Isaias FELIPE ORDONEZ (GUA)
Miguel Angel UGALDE AGUILAR (MEX)
Joshua Xavier MEDINA (PUR)
Leslie Michael FUENFFINGER (USA)
Gustavo Jesus RODRIGUEZ MARTINEZ (VEN)

63kg
Andres Roberto MONTANO ARROYO ( ECU)
Xavier Tramain JOHNSON (USA)

67kg
Joseph DASHOU (CAN)
Cristobal Alonso TORRES NUNEZ (CHI)
Julian Stiven HORTA ACEVEDO (COL)
Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB)
Enyer Manuel FELICIANO (DOM)
Cristhian Alberto RIVAS CASTRO (ECU)
Diego Alberto MARTINEZ DE LEIJA (MEX)
Nilton Gonzalo Marcos SOTO GARCIA (PER)
German Manuel DIAZ MALDONADO (PUR)
Alejandro SANCHO (USA)
Anthony Javier PALENCIA PUENTES (VEN)

72kg
Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA)
Raymond Anthony BUNKER III (USA)

77kg
Angelo Rafael MARQUES MOREIRA (BRA)
Brayden William AMBO (CAN)
Jair Alexis CUERO MUNOZ (COL)
Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB)
Patrick Harrison SMITH (USA)
Wuileixis de Jesus RIVAS ESPINOZA (VEN)

82kg
Jose Andres VARGAS RUEDA (MEX)
Marciano George ALI (PUR)
John Walter STEFANOWICZ JR (USA)

Two-time defending Pan-Ame champion Luis Eduardo AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN) is entered at 87kg. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

87kg
Ronisson BRANDAO SANTIAGO (BRA)
Ioannis NARLIDIS (CAN)
Carlos Andres MUNOZ JARAMILLO (COL)
Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB)
Carlos Alberto ADAMES PALMER (DOM)
Ariel Andres ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ (HON)
Lesyan Osvaldo COUSIN OTOMURO (JAM)
Alfonso Antonio LEYVA YEPEZ (MEX)
Josef Patrick RAU (USA)
Luis Eduardo AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN)

97kg
Guilherme EVANGELISTA DIAS (BRA)
Thomas Rahontsiiosta BARREIRO (CAN)
Gabriel Alejandro ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB)
Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON)
Edson Everardo ACUNA SALAZAR (MEX)
Tracy Gangelo HANCOCK (USA)
Luillys Jose PEREZ MORA (VEN)

130kg
Luciano DEL RIO (ARG)
Charles Frederick THOMS (CAN)
Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI)
Angel Ernesto PACHECO ROMERO (CUB)
Leo Dalis SANTANA HEREDIA (DOM)
Luis Alberto ROMAN BARRIOS (MEX)
Adam Jacob COON (USA)
Moises Salvador PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN)

Five-time world champion Adeline Maria GRAY (USA) is looking to win her third Pan-American gold medal. (Photo: Tony Rotundo) 

Women's Wreslting
50kg
Patricia Alejandra BERMUDEZ (ARG)
Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA)
Madison Bianca PARKS (CAN)
Carolina CASTILLO HIDALGO (COL)
Yusneylis GUZMAN LOPEZ (CUB)
Jacqueline Del Rocio MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU)
Mariana DIAZ MUNOZ (MEX)
Thalia Jihann MALLQUI PECHE (PER)
Victoria Lacey ANTHONY (USA)
Genesis Rosmary MILANO OLIVIO (VEN)

53kg
Jade Mariah PARSONS (CAN)
Luisa Elizabeth VALVERDE MELENDRES( ECU)
Zeltzin HERNANDEZ GUERRA (MEX)
Gabriela Nicole RAMOS DIAZ (PUR)
Haley Ruth AUGELLO (USA)

Lissette Alexandra ANTES CASTILLO (ECU) will look to defend her 2019 Pan-Am crown. She'll wrestle at 57kg. (Photo: Tony Rotundo) 

57kg
Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Hannah Fay TAYLOR (CAN)
Lianna de la Caridad MONTERO HERRERA (CUB)
Lissette Alexandra ANTES CASTILLO (ECU)
Brenda Esmeralda Isay FERNANDEZ SALAZAR (MEX)
Nes Marie RODRIGUEZ TIRADO (PUR)
Kelsey Rene CAMPBELL (USA)
Betzabeth Rebeca SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN)

59kg
Karoline SILVA DE SANTANA (BRA)
Alexandria Rebekkah TOWN (CAN)
Lauren Nora LOUIVE (USA)

Defending champion Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) is looking to add a third Pan-American gold medal to her resume. (Photo: Lu Cruz)

62kg
Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Jessica Lise BROUILLETTE (CAN)
Jackeline RENTERIA CASTILLO (COL)
Yessica Coraima OVIEDO PEREZ (DOM)
Alejandra ROMERO BONILLA (MEX)
Mallory Maxine VELTE (USA)
Nathaly Josefina GRIMAN HERRERA (VEN)

Reigning world champion Tamyra MENSAH (USA) is one of the five returning women's wrestling Pan-American champions. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

68kg
Luz Clara VAZQUEZ (ARG)
Dailane GOMES DOS REIS (BRA)
Olivia Grace DI BACCO (CAN)
Tatiana RENTERIA RENTERIA (COL)
Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB)
Leonela Aleyda AYOVI PARRAGA (ECU)
Ambar Michell GARNICA FLORES (MEX)
Yanet Ursula SOVERO NINO (PER)
Tamyra Mariama MENSAH (USA)
Maria Jose ACOSTA ACOSTA (VEN)

72kg
Brenda AGUIAR DOS SANTOS (BRA)
Shauna Ailein KUEBECK (CAN)
Victoria Christine FRANCIS (USA)

76kg
Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA)
Justina Renay DI STASIO (CAN)
Andrea Carolina OLAYA GUTIERREZ (COL)
Milaimys de la Caridad MARIN POTRILLE (CUB)
Genesis Rosangela REASCO VALDEZ (ECU)
Gabriela Renata CANALES HERRERA (MEX)
Adeline GRAY (USA)
Andrimar Daniela LAZARO DIAZ (VEN)

#WrestleAmman

Coles, Canada's first U17 world champ, wants to be an inspiration

Tuesday, December 17, 2024 - 15:38 By Vinay Siwach

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CANADA (December 16) -- "I am not a natural athlete." That's how Kaura COLES (CAN) describes herself. 

The 17-year-old seems to have as much clarity describing herself as she does wrestling on the mat.

She may not be the be a "natural", but she is the best in the world. At the U17 World Championships in Amman, Jordan, Coles became the first Canadian wrestler to win a gold medal. She won gold in the 53kg women's wrestling weight class.

But the odds did not favor Coles. No Canadian wrestler had reached the final at the U17 Worlds, forget winning gold. The last time Canada had a U20 or U17 world champ was in 2013. Coming into the tournament, Coles had a silver medal from the 2022 U17 Pan-Am Championships and a fifth-place finish at the Spain Grand Prix. 

So Coles wasn't favored to win a medal. Nor were the other seven Canadians entered. However, Coles did it. She was so precise in her wrestling, that her opponents were shocked to see her counter from negative positions.

Coles' win was one of the highlights of international wrestling in 2024 and a big boost for Canada and its wrestling after its medalless Olympics in Paris.

"I did not expect to do as well as I did,” she said later. “I can't predict the outcome of the match. The only thing I know for sure is that I'm going to work as hard as I possibly can every match."

In Amman, Coles began with two pins over Madkhiya USMANOV (KAZ) and Chloe BREWIS (RSA). She then went on to upset MUSKAN (IND) 12-3 in the quarterfinals, Isabelle GONZALES (USA) 8-3 in the semifinals and securing a fall in the finals against Nana KOZUKA (JPN), undeterred by names or a Japanese opponent.

Coles began wrestling when she was 11 years old when her father, Cory, took her to the gym because he did not want her to just sit around all day. Kaura is one of the 11 Coles siblings from Winnipeg. She is number six with five younger siblings and she coaches them as well.

"If you had watched me wrestling four years ago, you would have never thought I could have achieved anything. Worst wrestler by far," Coles told FloWrestling. "But I knew how to do a 2-on-1. So every match, every practice, I would be grabbing a 2-on-1. For six years I have been doing that and just developed and became very good from that position. [I do well] Tying up with people. I don't do well from space since I am a slow wrestler. I want to get an underhook or a 2-on-1."

She worked hard. Having wrestler siblings around her improved her as she had to keep up with the sibling rivalries growing in the house.

"I have to be a tough wrestler just to survive every day [with my brother]," she said. "But they all wrestled, my sisters wrestle too. Everyone works hard and it makes it a lot easier"

But in the beginning, Coles did not like the sport or working hard to be better at it.

“I did not like it at first because it’s a very hard sport," Coles told The Free Press. "Back then, I didn’t really like hard work because it’s hard to like that. But over time, I saw the benefits of putting in the hard work and seeing where it can get you."

Kaura COLES (CAN)Kaura COLES (CAN) defeated Nana KOZUKA (JPN) in the final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

So far, wrestling has made Coles a three-time national wrestling champion, U17 Pan-American silver medalist, North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) champion and of course, world champion.

But Coles wants to do more. As a Métis herself, she wants to inspire, coach, and promote Indigenous groups.

"I want to be an inspiration for the other Indigenous and Métis warriors in Canada," Coles said after winning the gold. "I don't wrestle for myself."

Coles' mother Michelle is a Métis, an Indigenous group in Canada, and has kept their culture in the house including learning French. Coles wore her Métis sash after the medal ceremony at the U17 Worlds.

"I wear my Métis sash whenever I can," she said. "I have other Indigenous people come up to me and tell me how I have inspired them. I'm so glad that I was able to represent."

Another one of Coles' is to be at the Olympics. Canada has won six medals at the Olympics in Women's Wrestling. But the last came in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

"My goal is to go to the next Olympics when I'm 21 years old and then I want to go to the Olympics after that," she said. "Then I will retire."