#WrestleBuenosAires

Burroughs wins sixth Pan Am C'ship title; Ecuador nets two women’s champions

Saturday, May 6, 2023 - 01:14 By Taylor GREGORIO

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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Mat 5) – Women’s action wrapped up on Friday, while freestyle began at the 2023 Pan American Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Ecuador collected a pair of Pan Am titles in women’s freestyle today at 53kg and 57kg.

Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) won her first Senior Pan-Am title with an outstanding performance at 53kg. In the final, she defeated Betzabeth AGUELLO VILLEGAS (VEN). The Venezuelan was first on the board with a passivity point but Yepez soon scored a takedown from a counter. In the second period, Yepez was awarded a passivity point and a pair of caution-and-ones to win the bout, 5-1.

Earlier in the day, Aguello Villegas knocked off reigning world champion Dominique PARRISH (USA), 8-6, in the quarterfinals.

At 57kg, an early upset of Olympic champion and weight-class favorite Helen MAROULIS (USA) paved the way for another competitor to add “continental champion” to her resume. Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU) capitalized on the opportunity, making her way to the finals, where she defeated Giullia OLIVEIRA (BRA), 4-2. The win marks her second Pan Am gold.

Canada earned a champion with Ana GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) completing a title run at 62kg. In the finals, Godinez tallied a pin over Nathali GRIMAN HERRERA (VEN) in the first period. Despite Griman scoring first, Godinez stormed back with a throw near the edge, putting Griman to her back for a fall in 1:21.

One of the most promising up-and-coming heavyweights hails from Cuba— Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB). With U20 and U23 world gold as well as a Youth Olympic Games title, Marin Potrille added her first senior-level continental title. In the finals, she faced Tatiana RENTERIA RENTERIA (COL). Marin carried a 3-0 lead into the break, thanks to a buzzer-beating takedown. In the second period, Marin added a pair of step outs and a go-behind takedown to complete a decisive 7-0 win.

Between the two styles, the U.S. registered four gold-medal performances. Highlights from the day included Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) winning his sixth Pan-American championship title and Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) earning her seventh Pan-American championship gold.

Six-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist Burroughs dominated at 79kg, outscoring his competition, 30-0, to top the podium. In the finals, his shortest match of the day, Burroughs took just 74 seconds to earn the win over Jasmit PHULKA (CAN). Burroughs scored on a takedown into a leg lace followed by a four-point takedown from a blast double and ended it with another signature blast double.

Wrestling at 50kg in women’s freestyle, Hildebrandt, a world and Olympic medalist, went 3-0 on the day with all three wins coming in the form of 10-0 technical falls, including her finals win over Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU). In just 48 seconds, Hildebrandt scored a takedown and locked up a tight leg lace for four turns to earn No. 8.  

Winning her third Pan-Am championship on Friday was Forrest MOLINARI (USA), who snatched the crown at 68kg. Molinari, a World bronze medalist, needed just 46 seconds to secure a pin in the finals over Ambar GARNICA FLORES (MEX). In a scramble, Molinari scored a takedown and bullied Garnica to her back for the fall.

In freestyle, Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA) won the five-man round robin at 92kg. In the gold-medal matchup, Macchiavello went up early, 6-0, countering an attempted arm throw from Jeremy POIRIER (CAN) for a takedown into two turns from a gut wrench. Moments later, Macchiavello used a knee pick to get Poirier to his back for a fall in 1:39.

Women’s wrestling
50kg
GOLD – Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU), 10-0
BRONZE – Yusneylis GUZMAN LOPEZ (CUB) df. Thalia OLIVEIRA DE FREITAS (BRA), fall 1:45
BRONZE – Patricia BERMUDEZ (ARG) df. Madison PARKS (CAN), fall 5:24

53kg
GOLD – Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) df. Betzabeth AGUELLO VILLEGAS (VEN), 5-1
BRONZE – Karla ACOSTA MARTINEZ (MEX) df. Dominique PARRISH (USA), 4-2
BRONZE – Laura HEERIN AVILA (CUB) df. Thalia MALLQUI PECHE (PER), 11-0

57kg
GOLD – Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU) df. Giullia OLIVEIRA (BRA), 4-2
BRONZE – Angela ALVAREZ MARTINEZ (CUB) df. Nes RODRIGUEZ TIRADO (PUR), fall 1:53
BRONZE – Betzabeth SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN) df. Camila AMARILLA (ARG), fall 0:38

62kg
GOLD – Ana GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) df. Nathali GRIMAN HERRERA (VEN), fall 1:21
BRONZE – Kayla MIRACLE (USA) df. Javiera ROCO PARDO (CHI), 10-0
BRONZE – Lais NUNES (BRA) df. Katherine RENTERIA CUERO (COL), fall 2:04

68kg
GOLD – Forrest MOLINARI (USA) df. Ambar GARNICA FLORES (MEX), fall 0:46
BRONZE – Hangelen LLANES ECHEVARRIA (CUB) vs. Soleymi CARABALLO HERNANDEZ (VEN), 8-3
BRONZE – Yanet SOVERO NINO (PER) vs. Saidy CHAVEZ FIGUEROA (HON), 3-1

76kg
GOLD – Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) df. Tatiana RENTERIA RENTERIA (COL), 7-0
BRONZE – Justina DI STASIO (CAN) df. Maria Jose ACOSTA ACOSTA (VEN), 4-1
BRONZE – Genesis REASCO VALEZ (ECU) df. Emelyn BAUTISTA CORCINO (DOM), 11-0

Freestyle
79kg
GOLD – Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) df. Jasmit PHULKA (CAN), 10-0
BRONZE – Shane JONES (PUR) df. Victor HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX), 11-0
BRONZE – Nestor TAFUR BARRIOS (COL) df. Alexander CUSINGA GOMEZ (PER), 10-0

92kg
GOLD – Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA)
SILVER – Jeremy POIRIER (CAN)
BRONZE – Luis VILLAGOMEZ PAREDES (ECU)

Development

New Referee and Rules Courses coming to the UWW Academy

Monday, December 9, 2024 - 13:34 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 9) --- The Development Department and Referee Commission will launch a series of courses centered around Olympic wrestling and refereeing rules. Evaluating holds and situations are not always easy and can be very complex.  These courses are designed to highlight specific and more complicated rules in hopes of providing a better understanding of how situations are being evaluated. Over the next year, will be 10 courses developed and published on the UWW Academy site.

“We are excited to announce new courses on the UWW Academy Platform, designed to elevate refereeing standards and promote excellence across all levels. These courses cover essential topics such as attack-counterattack actions, evaluation of holds, takedown and control, and out-of-bounds situations," said Antonio Silvestri. "As Head of the Refereeing Commission, I encourage all referees—experienced or starting out—to take advantage of these courses. Continuous learning is key to our success, and these courses will help us maintain the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and professionalism in every match. Let's keep raising the bar together." 

The first course on Attack vs Counterattack situations has been published on the Academy site. Attack vs Counterattack situations are referees' most complicated and challenging situations to evaluate. This course will try to highlight how these situations are evaluated and what questions referees must answer during an action. While this course and the others are centered around referees, they are available and encouraged to be completed by all wrestling stakeholders.

The Attack vs Counterattack course will begin with background information and the rules which include video examples.  Then the course will provide 10 specific video examples along with explanations. Next the participants will practice their video analysis with 10 videos.  The course will finish with a 15-video quiz. All the courses that will be published will follow a similar format.

The UWW Academy is the official educational platform for United World Wrestling. It offers numerous courses on coaching, referees, rules, sports administration, and beach wrestling. The academy also offers additional resources, performance analysis metrics from major UWW events, videos, and the Wrestle4Fun curriculum. It is free and available to all participants. To get started and create your free profile, please visit  https://academy.uww.org/.