Brazil’s Rodrigues Wins Second-Consecutive Pan Am Title, Secures Golden Boot

Sunday, May 30, 2021 - 03:22 By Taylor Miller

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) took out U23 World champion Alexandria TOWN (CAN) twice on Saturday to win the gold medal at 57kg at the 2021 Pan American Championships.

Earlier in the day, Rodrigues pinned Town in the first period, and in the final, the Brazilian repeated her effort with another fall, this time in the second period for her second-consecutive Pan American title. For her performance, Rodrigues earned the Golden Boot as the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.

Five wrestlers from the United States won titles in women’s freestyle on Saturday, including five-time World champion Adeline GRAY (USA), 2019 World champion Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA), 2018 World silver medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), Olympian Kayla MIRACLE (USA) and Cadet World champion Ronna HEATON (USA).

Competing at 76kg, Gray, who will wrestle in her second Olympic Games later this year, claimed four wins on the day. In her final bout of the competition, Gray took on 2014 World silver medalist Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA), whom she defeated 8-0. The win marks her fourth Pan American gold medal. She won three at the Championships and one at the Pan Am Games in 2015.

Mensah-Stock didn’t spend much time on the mat en route to her winning the 68kg crown for the fourth-straight time. In the gold-medal match, Mensah-Stock took out two-time Pan Am finalist Yessica OVIEDO PEREZ (DOM), 10-4.

Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) claimed the 50kg with a 10-0 shutout over Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU). (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

Olympian Sarah Hildebrandt handling captured the crown at 50kg. To take gold, she downed 2020 Pan Am bronze medalist and past Junior Pan Am champion Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU) with a 10-0 victory. This is Hildebrandt’s sixth-overall continental gold medal.

Miracle, a U23 World silver medalist, dominated 2019 Pan American champion Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA), 6-0, recording her second win of the day over the Brazilian. Earlier in the day, Miracle won 10-0 to start her tournament. She adds to her 2019 Pan Am Games title.

Taking the crown at 53kg, Ronna HEATON (USA) defeated 2011 Junior World bronze medalist Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU). Earlier in the tournament, Valverde won 10-0 over the American, but in their second matchup, Heaton was able to turn the tables in her favor, 9-6.

In a special and emotional moment during women’s freestyle competition, longtime Argentinian representative and four-time Pan American medalist Luz VAZQUEZ (ARG) retired from competition after winning bronze at 68kg.

In the team race, USA won with 240 points. Taking second was Brazil with 144 points, and rounding out the top-three was Canada with 115 points.

Nathan JACKSON (USA) was one of two USA freestylers who were crowned champions on Saturday. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

Alongside the six women’s freestyle weights, two men’s freestyle weights were contested on Saturday, 79kg and 92kg, both of which the USA won.

Thomas GANTT (USA) earned the gold at 79kg, defeating Nestor TAFUR BARRIOS (COL) with an 8-0 win in the finals. Overall, he won four matches on the day, including three by technical superiorities.

In his Pan American debut, Nathan JACKSON (USA) collected the gold medal in round-robin action at 92kg. In his last bout, Jackson defeated Jeremy POIRIER (CAN) with an impressive 10-0 first-period performance.

The competition continues Sunday with the final eight weight classes in men’s freestyle. Action begins at 12 p.m. ET live on uww.org.

En Espanol

CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA – Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) derrotó a la campeona mundial U23 Alexandria TOWN (CAN) dos veces para ganar la medalla de oro en 57kg en el campeonato panamericano en la Ciudad de Guatemala el sábado.

Más temprano en el día, Rodrigues venció a Town por puesta espalda en el primer periodo, compitiendo en una competencia en estilo Nordic. En el final, Rodrigues ganó otra vez por puesta espalda en 4:23. Es su segundo título panamericano consecutivo. Gracias a su gran día, Rodrigues recibió el botín de oro.

Cinco estadounidenses reclamó títulos en estilo libre femenino, incluyendo cinco veces campeona mundial Adeline GRAY (USA), campeona mundial 2019 Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA), medallista mundial 2018 Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), olímpica Kayla MIRACLE (USA) y campeona mundial cadete Ronna HEATON (USA).

Compitiendo en la categoría 76kg, Gray, una dos veces olímpica, emergió victoriosa en cuatro combates. En el final, se enfrentó a medallista de plata mundial 2014 Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA). Gray dominó por 8-0. Es su cuarta medalla de oro panamericana. Ganó los campeonatos panamericanos en 2018 y 2019, y también tiene un oro de los Juegos Panamericanos Toronto en 2015.

Mensah-Stock no estaba en el colchón por mucho tiempo hoy. Ella triunfó en los tres combates en 68kg por la corona. En la final, Mensah-Stock derrotó a Yessica OVIEDO PEREZ (DOM), una dos veces finalista panamericana, con un 10-4 victoria. El oro marca su cuarto título panamericano consecutivo.

Hildebrandt, olímpica, dominó a la categoría 50kg. En el final, venció a Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU), una medallista de bronce panamericana 2020, con una puntuación 10-0. Es su sexto medalla de oro panamericano.

En el final en la categoría 62kg, olímpica Miracle, una medallista de plata mundial U23, dominó a la campeona panamericana 2019 Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA), 6-0, por la segunda vez hoy para ganar su segunda oro panamericano. Esta mañana, Miracle abrió su torneo contra Nunes y ganó 10-0. Ella también tiene un oro de los Juegos Panamericanos Lima en 2019.

En la categoría 53kg, Ronna HEATON (USA) superó contra medallista mundial juvenil Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU) en el final, vengando una pérdida de Valverde, 10-0, más temprano en el día. Heaton estaba perdiendo 6-0 pero anotó nueve puntos para ganar el oro, 9-6.

En un momento muy especial durante la competencia de estilo libre femenino, la representante argentina y cuatro veces medallista panamericana Luz VAZQUEZ (ARG) se retiró de la competencia después de ganar el bronce en 68kg.

USA capturó el título del equipo con 240 puntos. Ganando la plata fue Brasil con 144 puntos, y en el tercer lugar fue Canadá con 115 puntos.

Además de las seis categorías de estilo libre femenino el sábado, se disputaron dos pesos de estilo libre masculino, 79kg y 92kg. USA ganó ambos.

Thomas GANTT ganó el oro en la categoría 79kg, derrotando a Nestor TAFUR BARRIOS (COL) en el final, 8-0. En total, Gantt reclamó cuatro victorias, incluyendo tres por superioridades técnicas.

En 92kg, Nathan JACKSON (USA) recibió el oro en su debut panamericano. Compitiendo en un round robin, Jackson ganó cuatro peleas. Para el título, Jackson venció contra Jeremy POIRIER (CAN), 10-0, en el primer periodo.

La competencia sigue mañana con las ocho categorías restantes en estilo libre masculino. Empieza a las 10 a.m. hora local. Se puede ver en uww.org.

WOMEN’S FREESTYLE RESULTS
50kg
GOLD – Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU), 10-0
BRONZE – Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA) df. Yusmy CHAPARRO URREGO (COL), 3-0
BRONZE – Patricia BERMUDEZ (ARG) df. Madison PARKS (CAN), 5-2

53kg
GOLD – Ronna HEATON (USA) df. Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU), 9-6
BRONZE – Sabrina GAMA TAPAJOS (BRA) df. Laura PEREDO TORRES (MEX), 2-2

57kg
GOLD – Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) df. Alexandria TOWN (CAN), fall 3:40
BRONZE – Cameron GUERIN (USA) df. Alma VALENCIA ESCOTO (MEX), 7-2

62kg
GOLD – Kayla MIRACLE (USA) df. Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA), 6-0
BRONZE – Alejandra ROMERO BONILLA (MEX) df. Leonela AYOVI PARRAGA (ECU), 11-0

68kg
GOLD – Tamyra STOCK MENSAH (USA) df. Yessica OVIEDO PEREZ (DOM), 10-4
BRONZE – Luz Clara VAZQUEZ (ARG) df. Ambar GARNICA FLORES (MEX), fall 4:23
BRONZE – Grabriela PEDRO DA ROCHA (BRA) df. Alexia SHERLAND (CAN), 10-0

76kg
GOLD – Adeline GRAY (USA)
SILVER – Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU)
BRONZE – Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA)

MEN’S FREESTYLE
79kg
GOLD – Thomas GANTT (USA) df. Nestor TAFUR BARRIOS (COL), 8-0
BRONZE – Samuel BARMISH (CAN) df. Jorge LLANO (ARG), 6-0

92kg
GOLD – Nathan JACKSON (USA)
SILVER – Jeremy POIRIER (CAN)
BRONZE – Angel BAUTISTA LOPEZ (MEX)

#WrestleAcapulco

Flawless U.S. sweeps Pan-Am Championships

Sunday, February 25, 2024 - 05:36 By Gaurav Bhatt

Team USA capped off their Pan-American Championships campaign flawlessly, winning all seven gold medals on offer on Saturday in Acapulco.

Spencer LEE (57kg), Nick LEE (65kg), Alec PANTELO (70kg), Alex FACUNDO (79kg), Nate JACKSON (92kg), Kyle SNYDER (97kg), and Mason PARRIS (125kg) finished atop the podium as the US contingent completed a sweep of men's Freestyle titles.

Such was the domination that all but two Americans struck gold without giving up a point.

Snyder asserted his supremacy in the 97kg division, winning his sixth straight and seventh overall gold medal. The Rio Olympic gold medallist and three-time world champion opened his run by pinning Luis PEREZ (DOM) — an opponent Snyder had also beaten in the 2017 and 2021 Pan-Am finals. Synder then carried the momentum into an 11-0 technical fall against Matias URIBE (CHI) before the final clash against familiar foe Arturo SILOT (CUB).

In what was the third straight final between the two, Silot took Snyder to the limit. The 22-year-old, who had previously lost technical falls to the American, came out strong, but couldn't maintain his pace as Snyder completed a hard-fought 10-5 win.

Spencer Lee returned to international action after almost eight years and spent a total of 141 seconds on the mat. Lee began his marauding run with a 10-0 shutout against Oscar TIGREROS (COL) before mirroring the result against Davi SILVA (BRA).

In the final against Pedro MEJIAS (VEN), Lee — a three-time age-level World champion — put on a clinic of two-point moves. And while the five-time medallist Mejias managed a two-point counter, the writing was on the wall for the Venezuelan as Lee rolled him to victory.

Nick Lee soared to the top in the 65kg category with a commanding 10-0 victory over Joshua KRAMER (ECU), before posting another 10-0 tech fall win over Jacob Alexander TORRES (CAN). The 25-year-old's final opponent — three-time medallist Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) — forfeited the match.

Jackson was named the Outstanding Wrestler and awarded the Golden Boot at the Pan-Am Championships, and his blink-and-you-miss 92kg routs showed why.

He stormed out of the blocks, opening his campaign with a massive double-leg takedown into a leg lace roll on Tejvir BOAL (CAN), before securing the fall in under two minutes. Another highlight-reel moment came against Erwin VARGAS (MEX), as Jackson jumped over the Mexican's attack and secured a pin. Jackson — who won the gold medal at the Zagreb Open last month — then shut out Cesar UBICO (GUA) and Jose BETANCOURT (PUR); the four victories coming in a total of 275 seconds.

Alec PANTALEO (USA), blue, won his second Pan-Am title. (Photo: UWW / William Bain)

Pantaleo clinched his second 70kg title after three years with the routs of Victor SOTO (PUR), Erick BARRON (MEX), and Lovera Mauricio MAURICIO (ARG). The 27-year-old received a walkover win from Peiman BIABANI (CAN).

After winning the 74kg gold at the U20 Pan-Am Championships, Facundo returned to Mexico to win his first international gold. The 22-year-old opened his title run with a 10-0 dismantling of 2019 bronze medallist Jasmit PHULKA (CAN), then secured an injury default win against Dylan PALACIO (URU). Facundo sealed his championship status with a 10-0 drubbing of Jose CANO (MEX).

Mason PARRIS (USA) dominated his way to 125kg gold. (Photo: UWW / William Bain)

World medallist Parris secured the 125 kg gold with a 10-0 victory against Richard DESCHATELETS (CAN), followed by back-to-back injury default wins over Jose DIAZ (VEN) and Donovan SMITH (PUR).

With a perfect campaign, Team USA won the men's freestyle team trophy with 250 points. Canada came second at 98 points, followed by Puerto Rico with 89.

Earlier, Team USA secured both Greco-Roman and women's freestyle team trophies with 183 and 205 points respectively. The Greco-Roman competitors won 2 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze to finish ahead of Mexico (125 points), while American women secured 5 gold, 1 silver, and 4 bronze, with Canada second at 140 points.

This is the seventh consecutive year that the United States swept all three team trophies.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Spencer LEE (USA) df. Mejias PEDRO JESUS (VEN), 12-2

BRONZE: Guesseppe REA VILLARROEL (ECU) df. Jaime PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA), 11-3
BRONZE: Oscar TIGREROS URBANO (COL) df. Davi SILVA GIOVANNETTI (BRA), 13-2

65kg
GOLD: Nicholas LEE (USA) df. Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Shannon HANNA (BAH) df. Albaro RUDECINDO CAMACHO (DOM), 11-9
BRONZE: Joshua KRAMER (ECU) df. Jacob ALEXANDER TORRES (CAN), 9-6

70kg
GOLD: Alec PANTALEO (USA) df. Peiman BIABANI (CAN), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Lovera MAURICIO (ARG) df. Victor SOTO RIVERA (PUR), 10-0

79kg
GOLD: Alexander FACUNDO (USA)
SILVER: Jasmit PHULKA (CAN)
BRONZE: Jose CANO LOPEZ (MEX)

92kg
GOLD: Nathan JACKSON (USA)
SILVER: Tejvir BOAL (CAN)
BRONZE: Cesar UBICO (GUA)

97kg
GOLD: Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Arturo SILOT (CUB), 10-5

BRONZE: Cristian SARCO (VEN) df. Ailton BRITO (BRA), 11-0
BRONZE: Luis PEREZ (DOM) df. Matias URIBE (CHI), 10-0

125kg
GOLD: Mason PARRIS (USA) df. Jonovan SMITH (PUR), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Ibrain TORRES ESPINOSA (CUB) df. Avila GINO (HON), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Diaz JOSE DANIEL (VEN) df. Richard DESCHATELETS (CAN), 6-0

Brazil’s Rodrigues Wins Second-Consecutive Pan Am Title, Secures Golden Boot

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Flawless U.S. sweeps Pan-Am Championships