#WrestleBuenosAires

USA Men’s Freestyle Perfect in Morning Session, Sends All Eight to #WrestleBuenosAires Finals

By Taylor Miller

Photo: Joe COLON (USA) defeats World champion Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB). Photo by Lucia Cruz. 

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – The USA men’s freestylers went 21-0 on Sunday morning, putting all eight Americans in the gold-medal match in the final day of the 2019 Pan Americans Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Four-time World champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) advanced at 74 kg, where he will take on 2015 Pan American silver medalist Jevon Balfour.

In his quarterfinal match, Burroughs narrowly escaped 2011 World silver medalist Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR), scoring a takedown with 0.5 seconds left in the match to win.

At 97 kg, Kyle SNYDER (USA), 2016 Olympic champion and two-time World champion, picked up two technical falls to move on to the finals, where he will face two-time World runner-up and 2010 World bronze medalist Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB).

2018 World champion at 86 kg David TAYLOR (USA) had a strong showing in his first three matches, winning with two pins and a tech fall.

Tonight, Taylor will face 2018 South American Games champion Pedro CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN).

At 61 kg, 2018 World bronze medalist Joe COLON (USA) began his day with a 9-3 win over 2018 World champion Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB).

For gold in round-robin action, Colon will face 2009 Junior Pan Am silver medalist Scott SCHILLER (CAN).

Also defeating a World champion this morning was Josh RODRIGUEZ (USA), who opened his day at 57 kg with a 7-2 win over 2017 U23 World champion Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB).

Tonight, Rodriguez will go head-to-head with 2018 Pan American silver medalist Oscar TIGREROS URBANO (COL).

Two-time World bronze medalist Nick GWIAZDOWSKI (USA) advanced to the finals at 125 kg. In the semis Gwiazdowski shut down two-time Greco-Roman World bronze medalist Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB), 11-1.

In the finals, the American will face nine-time Pan American medalist Korey JARVIS (CAN).

Also in position for gold medals are Colton MCCRYSTAL (USA) at 65 kg and Anthony ASHNAULT (USA) at 70 kg.

McCrystal will face Damian SOLENZAL LOPEZ (CUB), while Ashnault will take on Cristian KARLIKOWSKI (ARG).

The finals are set for 5 p.m. local time (4 p.m. EST) live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Finals pairings

57 kg
GOLD - Joshua RODRIGUEZ (USA) vs. Oscar TIGREROS URBANO (COL)
BRONZE - Daniel ALVES DO NASCIMENTO (BRA) vs. Pedro MEJIAS RODRIGUEZ (VEN)
BRONZE –  Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB) vs. Darthe CAPELLAN (CAN)

61 kg – fourth-round matches
Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) vs. Juan RODRIGUEZ JOVEL (ESA)
Joseph COLON (USA) vs. Scott SCHILLER (CAN)

65 kg
GOLD - Colton MCCRYSTAL (USA) vs. Damian SOLENZAL LOPEZ (CUB)
BRONZE - Mauricio SANCHEZ SALTOS (ECU) vs. Daniel BRIOSO (DOM)
BRONZE – Sixto AUCCAPINA PEDRAGAS (PER) vs. Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG)

70 kg – fifth-round matches
Nicholas ROWE (CAN) vs. Hugo Leonardo DE LIMA VIANA DE SOUZA (BRA)
Cristian KARLIKOWSKI (ARG) vs. Anthony ASHNAULT (USA)

74 kg
GOLD - Jevon BALFOUR (CAN) vs. Jordan BURROUGHS (USA)
BRONZE - Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR) vs. Adonis ARROYO (VEN)
BRONZE –  Julio RODRIGUEZ ROMERO (DOM) vs. Jorge DESPAIGNE LAGAR (CUB)

86 kg
GOLD - Pedro CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN) vs. David TAYLOR III (USA)
BRONZE - Meruzhan NIKOYAN (ARG) vs. Lazaro HERNANDEZ LUIS (CUB)
BRONZE – Christian ANGUIANO FLORES (MEX) vs. Alexander MOORE (CAN)

97 kg
GOLD - Kyle SNYDER (USA) vs. Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB)
BRONZE - Maxwell LACEY GARITA (CRC) vs. Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN)
BRONZE – Evan RAMOS (PUR) vs. Jordan STEEN (CAN)

125 kg
GOLD - Korey JARVIS (CAN) vs. Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA)
BRONZE - Eduardo GARCIA BETANZOS (MEX) vs. Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB)
BRONZE - Jorge MEDINA ARROYO (ECU) vs. Antoine BRAGA ABOU JAOUDE (BRA)

#BeachWrestling

Sakurai swaps mat for sand, wins Beach Wrestling gold

By Vinay Siwach

TOKYO (May 13) -- Paris Olympic champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) made a return to competition for the first time since August last year. However, it was not on the mat.

Sakurai, who won gold medal at 57kg in Paris, returned to compete in beach wrestling. She wrestled at the Japan Beach Wrestling National Team Qualifying Tournament held in Tachikawa, Tokyo on Sunday and won gold at 60kg

"It may sound strange for me to say it, but I felt that I was suited to it," Sakurai was quoted by Japan Olympic Committee.

Sakurai, who is not entered for the June 19-22 Meiji Cup, Japan's qualifying tournament for the World Championships in September, is now qualified to compete for Japan in Beach Wrestling this year.

"Since I am qualified for the international tournament, I will try to participate," she said. "I want to be number one. I'll practice on the sandy beaches of Kochi [Prefecture]."

The three-time world champion, however, did not rule out the possibility of returning to the mat soon.

"I am still practicing on the mat and when I feel like I am ready, I will be back on the mat," she said.