Pan Am Games, Toronto

Canadians Reel ‘Em In, but ‘Big One’ Gets Away in Pan Am Games

Saturday, July 18, 2015 - 04:17 By William May

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TORONTO, Canada (July 17) – Canada’s young trio of female entries on Friday reeled in nearly all the top-ranked wrestlers on the final day of women’s wrestling events at the Pan America Games.  But, in the end, the “Big One” got away.

World champion Adeline GRAY (USA) turned upset-minded Justina DI STASIO (CAN) as time expired in the 75kg gold medal final for a 7-6 victory while denying Canada a perfect day on the mats in front of their adoring fans.

Ranked No.1 at 75kg by United World Wrestling, Gray notched a pair of technical falls in the afternoon, including a 10-0 thumping of world silver medalist Aline FERREIRA (BRA), who rebounded for a bronze medal in the evening session.

Gray, however, may have been surprised in the final by the tenacious Di Stasio, who scored a four-point takedown early in the second period for the lead – a lead that seesawed back and forth until the world champ’s last-second turn.

Earlier, Di Stasio bumped off 2011 Pan American Games gold medalist Lisset HECHEVARRIA (CUB), 4-4, in the semifinals in a rematch of their final at the Pan American championships. Di Stasio won the April match-up 5-3.

Braxton STONE (CAN) also bumped off a 2011 Pan American Games gold medalist in the 63kg final where she defeated Katerina VIDIAUX (CUB), 7-3. In the afternoon session, the 20-year-old Stone rallied for six points in the second period for a 6-5 triumph over two-time Olympic Games bronze medalist Jackeline RENTERIA (COL).

Meanwhile, former junior world champion Dorothy YEATS (CAN) got Canada rolling by pinning Pan American championships winner Yudaris SANCHEZ (CUB) in the quarterfinals at 69kg and the following up with a 14-3 technical fall over runner-up Luz VAZQUEZ (ARG) in the semifinals.

Yeats later locked up a cross-ankle lock and worked in for points on her way to a 13-2 win over Maria ACOSTA (VEN) in the final. Yeats’ win and Vazquez victory over Sanchez in the bronze medal bout secured the unofficial team title, 47-46, over Cuba.

 

Also, on the first day of men’s freestyle action at the Games, Yowlys BONNE (CUB) and Brent METCALF (USA) each won in the 57kg and 65kg finals, respectively, as Cuba and the U.S. split the two gold medal match-ups.

Bonne wrestled cautiously against Angel ESCOBEDO (USA), but when Escobedo attempted to lock up for a big throw, the world bronze medalist countered with a drop for four points and then, a lift and another drop for four more and a 10-0 technical fall.

Metcalf, meanwhile, got rolling in the second period of the 65kg with a pair of outside single-leg attacks and finished with a double-leg for an 8-2 victory over 2013 Pan American champ Franklin MAREN (CUB).

Wrestling at the Pan American Games concludes Saturday with the final four weight categories in freestyle – 74kg, 86kg, 97kg and 125kg.

Women’s Wrestling
63kg
GOLD: Braxton STONE (CAN) df. Katerina VIDIAUX LOPEZ (CUB), 7-3
BRONZE: Jackeline RENTERIA (COL) df. Jessica OLIVARES (PER), 8-5
BRONZE: Erin CLODGO (USA) df Dennisse ANTES (ECU) by Default

69kg
GOLD: Dorothy YEATS (CAN) df. Maria ACOSTA (VEN) by TF, 13-2
BRONZE: Diana MIRANDA (MEX) df. Dayanara RIVERA (PUR), 1-1
BRONZE: Luz VAZQUEZ (ARG) df. Yudaris SANCHEZ (CUB), 7-1

75kg
GOLD: Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Justina DISTASIO (CAN), 7-6
BRONZE: Lisset HECHEVARRIA (CUB) df. Jarismit WEFFER GUANIPE (VEN), 2-1
BRONZE: Aline FERREIRA (BRA) df. Ana GONZALEZ (PUR) by Fall

Freestyle
57kg
GOLD: Yowlys BONNE (CUB) df. Angel ESCOBEDO (USA) by TF, 10-0
BRONZE: Emir HERNANDEZ (COL) df. Pablo BENITEZ (PER), 6-1
BRONZE: Pedro MEJIAS (VEN) df. Kevin BONILLA (HON), 7-0

65kg
GOLD: Brent METCALF (USA) df. Franklin MAREN (CUB), 8-2
BRONZE: Franklin GOMEZ (PUR) df. Marvin MIRANDA (GUA) by TF, 10-0
BRONZE: Haislan GARCIA (CAN) df. Hernan GUZMAN (COL), 2-0
Gallery
2015 Pan American Games - Day 3

2026 World Championships

Yazdani Interview: 'Changing Weight Classes Difficult, But Ready for 97kg Challenge'

Saturday, June 20, 2026 - 06:27 By

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- By Amirreza ALIASGARI

KEMRAN, Iran (July 19) -- Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) made his eighth World Championships for Iran on Friday after beating Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI), 4-2 and 5-3, in two straight matches at 97kg.

In 2015, Yazdani was at 70kg and won a silver medal at his debut World Championships. For a decade, he spent his wrestling career at 86kg, winning two Olympic silver medals, three world titles, two world silver and one bronze medal.

Now at 97kg after two shoulder surgeries, a 31-year-old Yazdani is adjusting to the new weight class. As he returns to the World Championships after three years, Yazdani will be chasing his eighth medal and fourth title.

After making the Iran team for the World Championships, to be held in Astana from October 24 to November 1, Yazdani spoke to United World Wrestling about the challenges of 97kg, returning to the World Championships and how his body is holding up.

Excerpts:

- How are you feeling physically after the two tough matches?

Yazdani: I’ve improved in some areas, especially when it comes to my breathing and conditioning. But we didn’t really have enough time to focus on strength training, so we worked on that a bit less than we wanted to. With the time that’s left until the World Championships, I’m going to do everything I can to get myself in the best shape possible and be even better prepared.

- How prepared were you for the wrestle-off against Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI)?

Yazdani: For these competitions, I’d say I was about 70 percent ready. It’s hard to be 100 precent prepared for a tournament like this, but by the time the World Championships come around, I’ll definitely be in better shape and more prepared.

- What are your thoughts on competing at 97kg, a weight class that may have four Olympic champions in Astana?

Yazdani: The 97kg weight class is new for me, and of course I have new opponents now. It’s quite different from 86kg. I hope I can put on a good performance in this weight class as well. There are a lot of great champions here, and I hope I get the chance to wrestle against them, challenge myself, and show my best wrestling at the World Championships.

- But will it be challenging for your to be at the top at this weight class?

Yazdani: I already knew how many top wrestlers compete in this weight class. Considering my physical condition, I decided last year to move up to 97kg. Since it’s also an Olympic weight class, I wanted to make the move early so I’d have enough time to fix any weaknesses and adapt before the Olympics. My goal is to be at my very best for both the Olympics and the World Championships, which are just as important.

I wanted to move up sooner so I could get comfortable in this weight class as quickly as possible. Once you get to around 30 years old, things naturally become a little more difficult, and changing weight classes isn’t as easy as it used to be. There are definitely challenges at 97kg, and I’ve thought about all of them. Hopefully, I’ll be able to put on my best performance and come away with a great result.