#WrestleAcapulco

Pan-American Championships 2024 Entries

Thursday, January 25, 2024 - 03:00 By United World Wrestling Press

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ACAPULCO, Mexico (January 25) -- United World Wrestling has released the entry list for the Pan-American Championships which will be held in Acapulco, Mexico from February 21 to 24.

The tournament precedes the Pan-American Olympic Qualifiers which can have only those countries which participated in the Pam-American Championships.

Note: The entries are subject to change till three days before the official draw of the wrestling style.

Freestyle

57kg
Davi SILVA (BRA)
Garette SAUNDERS (CAN)
Oscar TIGREROS URBANO (COL)
Peter HAMMER CUDE (CRC)
Osmany DIVERSENT MARTINEZ (CUB)
Guesseppe REA VILLARROEL (ECU)
Jaime PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)
Jorge OLVERA RODRIGUEZ (MEX)
Enrique HERRERA (PER)
Jacob MORAN (PUR)
Spencer LEE (USA)
Pedro MEJIAS (VEN)

61kg 
Edwin TERAN MENDOZA (COL)
Edwin SEGURA GUERRA (GUA)
Juan LAVAT CORTEZ (MEX)
Jose BENITES VASQUEZ (PER)
Joseph SILVA (PUR)
Nicholas SURIANO (USA)

65kg
Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG)
Shannon HANNA (BAH)
Matheus DA LUZ BARRETO (BRA)
Jacob ALEXANDER TORRES (CAN)
Matias MUNOZ RAMIREZ (CHI)
Elkin ESPANA SANTA (COL)
Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (CUB)
Albaro RUDECINDO CAMACHO (DOM)
Joshua Alexander KRAMER (ECU)
Esteban David PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)
Jordan Alexander MITCHELL (JAM)
Hector GONZALEZ (MEX)
Sixto AUCCAPINA (PER)
Rafael GARCIA (PUR)
Nicholas LEE (USA)

70kg
Mauricio LOVERA (ARG)
Peiman BIABANI (CAN)
Yean SUAREZ RIVAS (COL)
Austin GOMEZ (MEX)
Victor SOTO RIVERA (PUR)
Alec PANTALEO (USA) 

74kg
Cesar BORDEAUX REGO ALVAN (BRA)
Adam THOMSON (CAN)
Hernan GUZMAN (COL)
Jeandry GARZON (CUB)
Julio RODRIGUEZ ROMERO (DOM)
Enrique PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)
Luis BARRIOS ROCHEZ (HON)
Diego SANDOVAL ZARCO (MEX)
Angel CORTES BONILLA (PAN)
Shane JONES (PUR)
Kyle DAKE (USA)
Anthony MONTERO CHIRINOS (VEN)

79kg 
Jasmit PHULKA (CAN)
Jose CANO LOPEZ (MEX)
Dylan PALACIO PINTADO (URU)
Alexander FACUNDO (USA)

86kg
Jorge LLANO (ARG)
Pedro GONCALVES DA SILVA (BRA)
Ahmed SHAMIYA (CAN)
Eduardo GAJARDO MENESES (CHI)
Carlos IZQUIERDO MENDEZ (COL)
Yurieski TORREBLANCA QUERALTA (CUB)
Kevin DE LEON TREVINO (MEX)
Pool AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER)
Jose SANCHEZ (PUR)
Chandler MARSTELLER (USA)
Pedro CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN)

92kg
Tejvir Singh BOAL (CAN)
Luis VILLAGOMEZ PAREDES (ECU)
Cesar UBICO ESTRADA (GUA)
Erwin VARGAS MARTINEZ (MEX)
Jose BETANCOURT KOCK (PUR)
Nathan JACKSON (USA)

97kg
Ricardo Adrian BAEZ (ARG)
Ailton BRITO ROCHA (BRA)
Riley OTTO (CAN)
Matias URIBE SEPULVEDA (CHI)
Maxwell LACEY GARITA (CRC)
Arturo SILOT TORRES (CUB)
Luis PEREZ SOSA (DOM)
Cristian SANCHEZ HERNANDEZ (MEX)
Marcos SANTOS BONNET (PUR)
Kyle SNYDER (USA)
Cristian SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN)

125kg
Catriel MURIEL (ARG)
Gabriel DE SOUSA SILVA (BRA)
Richard DESCHATELETS (CAN)
Jhoan OCORO PALOMINO (COL)
Maxwell LACEY GARITA (CRC)
Ibrain TORRES ESPINOSA (CUB)
Elison ADAMES GARCIA (DOM)
Gino AVILA DILBERT (HON)
Aaron JOHNSON (JAM)
Josue CAMPOS ARIZPE (MEX)
Jonovan SMITH (PUR)
Mason PARRIS (USA)
Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN)

Oscar PINO (CUB)Oscar PINO (CUB) will look to defend his Greco-Roman 130kg title. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Mario CHOC CHOC (GUA)
Marco GARCIA ALVAREZ (MEX)
Camden RUSSELL (USA)

60kg
Erivan CONSTANTINO ROCHA (BRA)
Keeyan TROTMAN (CAN)
Cristobal TORRES NUNEZ (CHI)
Dicther TORO CASTANEDA (COL)
Yerony LIRIA CARRERAS (DOM)
Jeremy PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU)
Angel SEGURA TELLEZ (MEX)
Randon MIRANDA (USA)
Raiber RODRIGUEZ OROZCO (VEN)

63kg
Carlos GONZALEZ VAHOS (COL)
Kevin DE ARMAS RODRIGUEZ (CUB)
Hector SANCHEZ ZAPATA (MEX)
Hayden TUMA (USA)

67kg
Mauricio LOVERA (ARG)
Gavin ELDRIDGE (CAN)
Nestor ALMANZA TRUYOL (CHI)
Julian HORTA ACEVEDO (COL)
Luis ORTA (CUB)
Starlin LAGUERRE LAUREUS (DOM)
Andres MONTANO ARROYO (ECU)
Cristian MEJIA TEPEN (GUA)
Edsson OLMOS GUTIERREZ (MEX)
Nilton SOTO GARCIA (PER)
Lee A MAURAS (PUR)
Alejandro SANCHO (USA)

72kg
Calebe CORREA FERREIRA (BRA)
Jose VARELA GARCIA (GUA)
Alexis VARGAS RAMIREZ (MEX)
Noah WACHSMUTH (USA) 

77kg
Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARG)
Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA)
John YEATS (CAN)
Eduardo BERNAL MOLINA (CHI)
Jair CUERO MUNOZ (COL)
Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB)
David CHOC HUOC (GUA)
Raul UNZUETA TORRES (MEX)
Alvis ALMENDRA JIMENEZ (PAN)
Jonathan VIRUET (PUR)
Kamal BEY (USA)
Wuileixis RIVAS ESPINOZA (VEN)

82kg
Sosruko KODZOKOV (BRA)
Diego MACIAS TORRES (MEX)
Mahmoud SEBIE (USA)

87kg
Jorge LLANO (ARG)
Ronisson BRANDAO SANTIAGO (BRA)
Ioannis NARLIDIS (CAN)
Jose MORENO BUSTOS (CHI)
Carlos MUNOZ JARAMILLO (COL)
Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB)
Ariel ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ (HON)
Daniel VICENTE GOMEZ (MEX)
Spencer WOODS (USA)
Luis AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN)

97kg
Ricardo GOMEZ (ARG)
Kauan FERREIRA GOMES (BRA)
Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB)
Carlos ADAMES PALMER (DOM)
Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON)
Pedro BELLO SOTO (MEX)
Max MADRID DE LEON (PAN)
Alan VERA GARCIA (USA)
Luillys PEREZ MORA (VEN)

130kg
Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA)
Jorawar Singh DHINSA (CAN)
Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI)
Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB)
Beder CANTU MARTINEZ (MEX)
Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA)
Moises PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN)

Adeline GRAY (USA)Adeline GRAY (USA) will return to the Pan-Am Championships after two years. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Women’s Wrestling 

50kg
Maia CABRERA (ARG)
Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA)
Katie DUTCHAK (CAN)
Javiera ORTEGA FERNANDEZ (CHI)
Dannia FIGUEROA DUQUE (COL)
Alisson CARDOZO REY (COL)
Yusneylis GUZMAN LOPEZ (CUB)
Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU)
Karla HERNANDEZ GONZALEZ (ESA)
Linda CASTANEDA GAONA (MEX)
Yorlenis MORAN SANCHEZ (PAN)
Antuaneth CASUSOL CASAS (PER)
Audrey JIMENEZ (USA)
Mariana ROJAS DIAZ (VEN)

53kg
Sabrina GAMA TAPAJOS (BRA)
Samantha STEWART (CAN)
Antonia VALDES ARRIAGADA (CHI)
Eva GONZALEZ LANDAZURY (COL)
Laura HERIN AVILA (CUB)
Maria GONZALEZ DE LA ROSA (DOM)
Lucia YEPEZ (ECU)
Karla ACOSTA MARTINEZ (MEX)
Yusneiry AGRAZAL WEST (PAN)
Nathaly HERRERA HUACRE (PER)
Katie GOMEZ (USA)
Betzabeth ARGUELLO (VEN)

55kg
Diana WEICKER (CAN)
Zeltzin HERNANDEZ (MEX)
Alisha HOWK (USA)

57kg
Camila AMARILLA (ARG)
Giullia PENALBER (BRA)
Hannah TAYLOR (CAN)
Andrea GONZALEZ (COL)
Angela ALVAREZ (CUB)
Yocleidy RAMIREZ (DOM)
Luisa VALVERDE (ECU)
Jacqueline HERNANDEZ (ESA)
Bertha ROJAS CHAVEZ (MEX)
Karoline ORTIZ ROSADO (PUR)
Helen MAROULIS (USA)
Betzabeth SARCO (VEN)

59kg
Jessica DERRELL (BAR)
Ana PEREIRA (BRA)
Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN)
Susana LOZANO VEYTIA (MEX)
Michaela BECK (USA)

62kg
Lais NUNES (BRA)
Ana GODINEZ (CAN)
Virginia JIMENEZ (CHI)
Katherine RENTERIA (COL)
Maria SANTANA (CUB)
Eldarah BROWN (JAM)
Arely NOVELO GOMEZ (MEX)
Carina GIANGERUSO (PUR)
Kayla MIRACLE (USA)
Astrid MONTERO (VEN)

65kg
Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN)
Andrea LOPEZ MARTINEZ (MEX)
Macey KILTY (USA)

68kg
Thamires MARTINS (BRA)
Olivia DI BACCO (CAN)
Nicoll PARRADO (COL)
Brenda STERLING MARTINEZ (CUB)
Leonela AYOVI PARRAGA (ECU)
Alejandra RIVERA ARRIAGA (MEX)
Alexandria GLAUDE (USA)
Soleymi CARABALLO (VEN)

72kg
Katie MULKAY (CAN)
Edna JIMENEZ VILLALBA (MEX)
Brooklyn HAYS (USA)

76kg
Linda MACHUCA (ARG)
Meiriele CHARAMBA (BRA)
Shauna KUEBECK (CAN)
Tatiana RENTERIA (COL)
Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB)
Emelyn BAUTISTA CORCINO (DOM)
Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU)
Saidy CHAVEZ FIGUEROA (HON)
Atzimba LANDAVERDE MORENO (MEX)
Adeline GRAY (USA)
Maria ACOSTA (VEN)

#WrestleTirana

Jamalov loss, historic Olympic medal for Albania, defensive style: Valiev opens up to UWW

Monday, October 21, 2024 - 17:06 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (October 21) -- Cherman VALIEV (ALB) sits in the 'VIP Lounge' of the Feti Borova Sports Hall in Tirana on the sidelines of the U23 World Championships. He certainly is a very important person in Albania. At the Paris Olympics in August, Valiev won the bronze medal in the 74kg weight class, becoming Albania's first-ever Olympic medalist in any sport.

Two months later, he has had time to reflect on his Paris Olympic campaign, the controversial loss against Razambek JAMALOV (UZB), and is preparing for the new season, in which he wants to avenge that loss against Jamalov.

United World Wrestling caught up with Valiev on the sidelines of the U23 World Championships. Excerpts from the interview:

Chermen VALIEV (ALB)

- Reflecting on his bronze medal at the Paris Olympics

Valiev: It’s a dream for every athlete to compete at the Olympic Games. As for me, I was able to win a medal. It’s a historic medal for Albania, the first one ever in any sport. It’s a great honor for me that I was able to live up to their expectations. When I joined the national team, they believed in me. I am glad that I could meet their expectations.

I was given an apartment in Albania for winning the Olympic bronze. I am very grateful that they value the athlete’s hard work. I was given prize money as well. Sometimes people on the streets in Albania would come over and ask for a photo. It’s really nice and it motivates me to continue giving my all to show the best results. 

I realize that I’ve won a medal at the Olympic Games. This motivates me to keep working even harder. Time flies quickly, and before you know it, the next Olympic Games will be here.

Chermen VALIEV (ALB)

- Experience at the Paris Olympics

Valiev: I think I gave my all in those two days and did everything I could. I wrestled with all my strength and did my best on the mat. As I said before, I had four matches in Paris, and I won all four of them. To this day, I have been reviewing the matches and I believe that I won without any doubts. If there was any other wrestler in my position he would defend when leading the match. I wasn’t fleeing the mat, I was just defending and this is within the rules.

[In the bronze medal bout], I was emotionally motivated to avenge that loss in Istanbul [at the World Olympic Qualifier]. It was crucial for me at that time to prove that I was better than him, and I was very determined and focused on that match. So, I convincingly defeated Viktor with a score of 6-2 in Paris.

Chermen VALIEV (ALB)

- On his return to Ossetia after Paris Olympics

Valiev: I was welcomed very well in Ossetia as if I was an Olympic champion. I received a lot of support, people were saying that I was their Olympic champion. Even many people not from Ossetia, but from other regions were saying that they saw everything and that I was an Olympic champion for them. It’s very pleasing for me to be appreciated that way.

- On his wrestling style

Valiev: I am not going to change anything in my style. If you don't defend in wrestling, you will give up points. I defend and attack at the same time, scoring points. After all, I win matches somehow. If I didn’t attack, the referees wouldn’t give me points. As I said before, I will try to take the lead in order to avoid such situations in the future. I haven’t really noticed anyone saying that I have a passive wrestling style. I don’t know how to explain it, but as soon as I feel the referee is about to give a passivity point, I always try to change the course of the match. 

I don’t usually prepare for any specific wrestler. I just do my job. I have a plan in my head, I watch their matches, and I know their strengths and weaknesses. For example, if I know he has a signature move, I try not to get caught for that. Sitting and watching the matches of my opponents all day long isn't something I do.

Chermen VALIEV (ALB)

- On growing up with wrestling

Valiev: Wrestling is the number one sport in Ossetia. In my hometown Ardon, there was just wrestling and football. My elder brother started wrestling first. All our family is into it. My father used to wrestle as well. There are three kids in the family. My brother, sister and myself. I started wrestling when I was eight years old. My dad was wrestling only when he was at school, but my elder brother still trains, he sometimes competes at the local tournaments and finishes on the podium. So there was no choice. I liked playing football as well, but up until now, I do freestyle wrestling. When I was wrestling at the cadet level, I started showing some good results, I started going here and there to the training camps and competitions. I really loved that atmosphere of traveling to different places and meeting new people. So, I couldn’t give it up.

When I was a kid, the coaches were telling me that I was talented and that I had to train hard, but it wasn’t something like being a wonder kid or someone very special.

- On his idol Kudukhov

Valiev: I always wanted to be like Besik KUDUKHOV. I always tried to copy his wrestling style, his moves and his throws. He was super-fast and I really copied him, but only when I was a child. Over time I’ve got my own style and technique. It’s difficult to be as fast as he was. I got the chance to train with Besik only once. It was two days before he died. Up until now, people keep saying that he was a very well-mannered, decent man. He was not just a good wrestler, but also a very kind person. 

- On his return to competition next year

Valiev: My next tournament will be a Ranking Series here in Albania. When I step on the mat, the number one priority for me is to win the match. Of course, the Olympic medal gives me more confidence and status, but the medal won’t wrestle for me. So, I have to do my best to win the match.  

I have learned a little bit of the Albanian language, I really want to improve on that. But I need to start with English first.

(Translation by Karina Mirzoian)