#WrestleGuatemala

USA Claims Eight Gold Medals for Team Title on Last Day of #WrestleGuatemala

Monday, May 31, 2021 - 02:12 By Taylor Miller

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GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – USA won the men’s freestyle team title on Sunday night, sweeping the gold medals at the 2021 Pan American Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Olympic champion and two-time World champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) dominated the 97kg weight class to earn his sixth Pan-American gold medal. In the final, he wrestled 2017 Pan Am silver medalist and three-time bronze medalist Luis PEREZ SOSA (DOM), who he defeated with an 11-0 win to secure the Golden Boot as the Outstanding Wrestler.

At 86kg, David TAYLOR (USA) collected his fourth Pan Am gold. Taking on Clayton PYE (CAN), Taylor put together a 10-0 win in 24 seconds. He also owns golds from the 2018 and 2019 Pan Am Championships as well as a gold from the 2020 Pan Am Olympic Qualifier.

Six Americans won gold medals in their first Senior Pan American event.

Two-time World champion at 79kg Kyle DAKE (USA) dominated his way to the crown at 74kg with four wins in his Pan American debut. For the gold, Dake defeated 2020 Pan Am bronze winner Victor HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX), 10-0.

Gable STEVESON (USA) finishes a shot on Santiago RESTREPO HERNANDEZ (COL) in their Round 2 matchup. Steveson won the match, 10-0. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

2017 Junior World champion and Tokyo Olympian Gable STEVESON (USA) won the 125kg weight class easily with five match wins, all of which were by technical superiorities, including a 10-0 win in the finals over 2018 Junior World silver medalist Aly BARGHOUT (CAN). It was his second victory of the day over Barghout as the two met earlier in the day in pool action.

At 57kg, Vitali ARUJAU (USA), a 2019 Junior World silver medalist, sailed through his opponents to win the title. In the gold-medal final, Arujau dominated 2017 Cadet Pan Am champion Roberto ALEJANDRO BLANCO (MEX), 10-0. It was his third win of the day.

For the crown at 65kg, Joseph MCKENNA (USA), a 2017 U23 World bronze medalist, took on Marcos DE BRITO SIQUEIRA (BRA) in the final, where he dominated for a 10-0 win and the gold medal.

Alec PANTALEO (USA) topped the podium at 70kg, taking out 2017 Pan Am bronze medalist Carlos ROMERO MILLAQUEO (CHI) with a quick 12-0 victory.

Shelton MACK (USA) won a close bout for the title at 61kg, defeating 2011 Pan Am Games champion and 2019 Pan Am Games silver medalist Juan RAMIREZ BELTRE (DOM) with a 2-0 victory.

Team USA won the team title with 10 champions and 250 points. Taking second was Canada with 116 points y rounding out the top-three was Mexico with 114 points.

En Español

CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA – USA ganó el titulo del equipo en el estilo libre masculino, con ocho campeones en el dia final del campeonato panamericano en la Ciudad de Guatemala.

Campeón olímpico 2016 y dos veces campeón mundial Kyle SNYDER (USA) colectó su sexta medalla de oro panamericana el domingo, dominando la categoría 97 kg. En el final, Snyder, dos veces olímpico, se enfrentó a Luis PEREZ SOSA (DOM), un medallista de plata panamericana 2017 y tres veces medallista de bronce. Snyder ganó con una puntuación 11-0 y aseguró el botín de oro.

En la categoría 86 kg, David TAYLOR (USA) ganó el oro panamericano por la cuarta vez. Enfrentándose a Clayton PYE (CAN), Taylor dominó en el final, 10-0. También ganó en 2018 y 2019 así como el torneo clasificatorio olímpico panamericano en 2020.

Seis de los estadounidenses compitieron en el campeonato panamericano por la primera vez.

Kyle DAKE (USA), dos veces campeón mundial en 79 kg, reclamó la corona en 74 kg con cuatro victorias en su debut panamericano. Para el oro, olímpico Dake derrotó a Victor HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX), medallista de bronce panamericana 2020, 10-0.

Campeón mundial juvenil 2017 y olímpico Gable STEVESON (USA) venció a la categoría 125 kg con cinco victorias el domingo. Todos fueron por superioridades técnicas, incluyendo una victoria 10-0 contra medallista de plata mundial juvenil 2018 Aly BARGHOUT (CAN) en el final. Fue la segunda dominación sobre Barghout. Más temprano en el día, Steveson también ganó 10-0.

En 57 kg, Vitali ARUJAU (USA), medallista de plata mundial juvenil 2019, conquistó todo los oponentes para asegurar el título. Para el oro, Arujau dominó a campeón panamericano cadete 2017 Roberto ALEJANDRO BLANCO (MEX), 10-0. Fue su tercera victoria del día.

Para la corona en la categoría 65 kg, Joseph MCKENNA (USA), medallista de bronce mundial U23, se enfrentó a Marcos DE BRITO SIQUEIRA (BRA) en el final. McKenna ganó el combate cómodamente con una victoria de 10-0.

Alec PANTALEO (USA) llegó a lo más alto del podio en 70 kg. En el final, compitió contra medallista de bronce panamericana 2017 Carlos ROMERO MILLAQUEO (CHI). Pantaleo ganó por 12-0 superioridad tecnica.

Shelton MACK (USA) ganó una pelea cerrada por el título en 61 kg, derrotando al campeón de los Juegos Panamericanos 2011 y medallista de plata de los Juegos Panamericanos 2019 Juan RAMIREZ BELTRE (DOM) con una victoria de 2-0.

USA ganó el titulo del equipo con 10 campeones y 250 puntos. Canadá aseguró la plata con 116 puntos, y en el tercer lugar Mexico anotó 114 puntos.

MEN’S FREESTYLE RESULTS
57 kg
GOLD - Vitali ARUJAU (USA) df. Roberto ALEJANDRO BLANCO (MEX), 10-0
BRONZE - Samuel ALVA PEDRAGAS (PER) df. Edwin SEGURA GUERRA (GUA), 5-3
BRONZE – Alexander FERNANDEZ PENA (DOM) df. Bryan DE OLIVEIRA PEREIRA (BRA), 9-1

61 kg
GOLD - Shelton MACK (USA) df. Juan RAMIREZ BELTRE (DOM), 2-0
BRONZE - Jorge OLVERA RODRIGUEZ (MEX) df. Esteban PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA), 3-1

65 kg
GOLD - Joseph MCKENNA (USA) df. Marcos DE BRITO SIQUEIRA (BRA), 10-0           
BRONZE - Jonnathan PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA) df. David PINILLA RODRIGUEZ (PAN), 3-1
BRONZE – Albaro RUDECINDO CAMACHO (DOM) df. Sebastian RIVERA (PUR), 10-0

70 kg
GOLD - Alec PANTALEO (USA) df. Carlos ROMERO MILLAQUEO (CHI), 12-0
BRONZE - Enrique PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA) df. Sebastian SOSA SANCHEZ (PAR), 12-0
BRONZE – Vincent DE MARINIS (CAN) df. Joao DOS SANTOS SILVA (BRA), fall 1:10

74 kg
GOLD – Kyle DAKE (USA) df. Victor HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX), 10-0
BRONZE - Jonathan PARRILLA RAMOS (PUR) df. Leon PERALTA LANAS (CHI), 4-4
BRONZE – Julio RODRIGUEZ ROMERO (DOM) df. Jasmit PHULKA (CAN), 4-0

86 kg
GOLD – David TAYLOR (USA) df. Clayton PYE (CAN), 10-0
BRONZE - Thales REIS ALVES (BRA) df. Emanuel CHAMORRO (ARG), 1:28
BRONZE – Noel TORRES CHACON (MEX) df. Juan RIVERA GARCIA (COL), 10-0

97 kg
GOLD - Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Luis PEREZ SOSA (DOM), 11-0
BRONZE - Maxwell LACEY GARITA (CRC) df. Marcos CARROZZINO (BRA), fall 4:31

125 kg
GOLD – Gable STEVESON (USA) df. Aly BARGHOUT (CAN), 10-0
BRONZE - Catriel MURIEL (ARG) df. Eduardo GARCIA BETANZOS (MEX), 5-1

#WrestleAthens

Greece gets Greco finalist at U17 Worlds; Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan keep up

Tuesday, July 29, 2025 - 15:26 By Vinay Siwach

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ATHENS, Greece (July 29) -- Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan continued their superb show in Greco-Roman at the World U17 Championships in Athens, Greece by earned two more spots in the finals.

On day one, the two countries, along with Georgia, were the only ones to enter multiple wrestlers in the final. On Tuesday, they added more while hosts Greece managed to enter one wrestler in the final, just the third-ever in Greco at World U17 Championships.

Asian U17 champion and returning bronze medalist at 71kg Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) led the way for his country, reaching the final after beating returning silver medalist from 65kg Yusif AHMADLI (AZE), 9-5, in the semifinal.

Ahmadli raced to a 5-0 lead from par terre but Valiev scored two stepouts before the break to cut the lead to 5-2. He got par terre in the second but failed to score any points. However, another stepout made it 5-4. Valiev kept pushing the pace of the bout and managed an awkward throw for four points. Azerbaijan challenged in vain as Valiev got the win.

It is at this weight class that Greece will look to bag a gold medal as Dimitrios SOULIS (GRE) became just the third finalist for Greece at a World U17 Championships after he defeated Marlen MEIRBEKULY (KAZ), 9-8, in a thrilling semifinal. 

Soulis led 8-4 with 10 seconds remaining in the bout when Meirbekuly hit a four-pointer to make it 8-8. However, Soulis had the criteria with a scoring action of four points, two points and two points while Meirbekuly had actions of one point, one point, two points and four points.

The second finalist for Uzbekistan came at 51kg after Otabek TURSUNOV (UZB) reversed the par terre and then scored four gut-wrenches to beat Polat KARADENIZ (TUR), 9-1, in the semifinals. He will face Hikmat HAGVERDIYEV (AZE) in the final who got a stepout with 18 seconds left against Asian U17 champion Islam KURBANOV (KGZ) to beat him 4-3 in the other semifinal.

Nurkerim KUMARBEKOV (KGZ) became the star for Kyrgyzstan as he surprised European champion Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE) with a big headlock throw for four points to start the semifinal. A lost challenge from Azerbaijan made it 5-0 for Kumarbekov.

With no passivity call in the second period, Kumarbekov kept his pace and Huseynli tried some desperate moves, getting for a takedown which gave Kumarbekov a 7-0 win.

It would have been an Kyrgyzstan-Iran final but Kuanyshbek ZHANGAZHOL (KAZ) had other ideas. He rallied from behind to beat Benyamin KHEZLI (IRI).

The Iranian took just 20 seconds to get on board with a takedown and turn that was only awarded after a challenge from Iran. He took a 4-0 lead against Kuanyshbek ZHANGAZHOL (KAZ) who used some solid arm-drags to score a stepout and then a takedown to cut it to 4-3.

As the time ran out, Zhangazhol dished out one more attack and got the headlock for four points. While Khezli got a counter turn, that was not enough for a win as Zhangazhol kept his 7-6 lead. Iran challenged the final move but it was a clear throw from Zhangazhol. The loss left Khezli in tears.

At 60kg, European bronze medalist Denys SEREDIN (UKR) suffered a heartbreaking loss in the semifinals as Amangeldi YSAKBAEV (KGZ) used a front headlock throw for four points with just 00:03 left on the clock to win 5-1 and earn a place in the final.

Seredin had defended well for the full match and was leading 1-1 on criteria but he let his guard down for the final five seconds of the bout.

Ysakbaev will take European silver medalist Ali NAZAROV (AZE) in the final after the Azerbaijani defeated Abolfazl ZARE (IRI) 1-1 in the other semifinal. Nazarov was winner based on the criteria that he scored the first point in an 1-1 scoreline match.

At 92kg, Kanstantsin KASYAN (UWW), who was seventh last year, booked a spot in the final this year after a 3-1 win over Ionut PATRU (ROU). Both wrestler got par terre positions but Patru was docked two points for headbutting in the second period which proved to be the difference between the two.

Winning the gold, however, will be a big ask for Kasyan as he faces Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI) in the final after he cleaned up Ahmet UZUN (TUR) 7-0 in the other semifinal.

RESULTS

45kg
GOLD: Nurkerim KUMARBEKOV (KGZ) vs. Kuanyshbek ZHANGAZHOL (KAZ)

SF 1: Nurkerim KUMARBEKOV (KGZ) df. Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE), 7-0
SF 2: Kuanyshbek ZHANGAZHOL (KAZ) df. Benyamin KHEZLI (IRI), 8-6

51kg
GOLD: Otabek TURSUNOV (UZB) vs. Hikmat HAGVERDIYEV (AZE)

SF 1: Hikmat HAGVERDIYEV (AZE) df. Islam KURBANOV (KGZ), 4-3
SF 2: Otabek TURSUNOV (UZB) df. Polat KARADENIZ (TUR), 10-1

60kg
GOLD: Ali NAZAROV (AZE) vs. Amangeldi YSAKBAEV (KGZ)

SF 1: Amangeldi YSAKBAEV (KGZ) df. Denys SEREDIN (UKR), 6-1
SF 2: Ali NAZAROV (AZE) df. Abolfazl ZARE (IRI), 1-1

71kg
GOLD: Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) vs. Dimitrios SOULIS (GRE)

SF 1: Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) df. Yusif AHMADLI (AZE), 9-5
SF 2: Dimitrios SOULIS (GRE) df. Marlen MEIRBEKULY (KAZ), 9-8

92kg
GOLD: Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI) vs. Kanstantsin KASYAN (UWW)

SF 1: Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI) df. Ahmet UZUN (TUR), 7-0
SF 2: Kanstantsin KASYAN (UWW) df. Ionut PATRU (ROU), 3-1