#Lima2019

Conder Wins Second Pan Am Games in First Day of Women’s Freestyle

Friday, August 9, 2019 - 03:48 By Taylor Miller

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LIMA, Peru - Whitney CONDER (USA) picked up her second Pan American Games title, defeating Lianna MONTERO HERRERA (CUB) in the 50 kg final of the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.

The American tallied the 10-2 win, using her counter offense to propel her to victory over Montero, a 2019 Pan Am Championships gold medalist.

The 2015 Pan Am Games champ, Conder is also a three-time Pan American Championships finalist, claiming gold in 2018.

Also winning gold for USA was Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), a 2018 World silver medalist, who secured her first Pan Am Games title with a tech fall win in the 53 kg finals against Betzabeth ARGUELLO VILLEGAS (VEN), who was a 2015 Pan Am Games bronze medalist.

Hildebrandt’s leg lace proved to be deadly as she turned Arguello four times after an early takedown for the 10-0 shutout. Hildebrandt also won the Pan American Championship earlier this year in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

At 57 kg, 2019 Pan Am champion and 2015 Pan Am Games bronze medalist Lissette ANTES CASTILLO (ECU) kept the USA from sweeping the gold medals as she held off 2008 Cadet Pan Am champion Jenna BURKERT (USA) for a 2-1 victory.

Trailing 1-0 at the break, Antes scored two step outs in the second period for the Pan Am Games title.

Countries taking home bronze medals included Peru, Colombia, Cuba, Canada, Puerto Rico and Brazil.

Women’s freestyle action wraps up on Friday with 62 kg, 68 kg and 76 kg.

2019 PAN AMERICAN GAMES
at Lima, Peru

Women’s freestyle finals

50 kg
GOLD - Whitney CONDER (USA) df. Yusneylis GUZMÁN LÓPEZ (CUB), 10-2
BRONZE - Thalia MALLQUI PECHE (PER) df. Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU), 3-1
BRONZE - Carolina CASTILLO HIDALGO (COL) df. Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA), 5-1

53 kg
GOLD - Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Betzabeth ARGUELLO VILLEGAS (VEN), 10-0
BRONZE - Lianna MONTERO HERRERA (CUB) df. Justina BENITES VASQUEZ (PER), 11-0
BRONZE - Jade PARSONS (CAN) df. Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU), 6-3

57 kg
GOLD - Lissette ANTES CASTILLO (ECU) df. Jenna BURKERT (USA), 2-1
BRONZE - Nes RODRIGUEZ TIRADO (PUR) df. Alejandra ROMERO BONILLA (MEX), 4-3
BRONZE - Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) df. Paula RAMIREZ (NCA), fall 1:27

#UWWAwards

UWW Breakout Wrestlers of 2025: Hidlay, Farokhi, Onishi

Monday, December 15, 2025 - 12:24 By Eric Olanowski

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 14) -- The 2025 Breakout Wrestlers of the Year were not the ones anyone circled heading into the season. They weren’t the favorites, or the ones analysts picked to walk away from the season as world medalists.

They were the outsiders, largely unproven and underestimated. But that all changed in a single season when they smashed expectations, catapulting themselves into world-wide stardom with world-title runs that nobody saw coming.

Freestyle Breakout Performer of the Year: Trent HIDLAY (USA)

Before 2025, Hidlay had never climbed to the top of a podium at an international event. His  2025 season even began with more doubt than promise, dropping his second match of the year to rising Azeri phenom Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) at the Zagreb Open. But that loss lit a fuse. From that moment on, the 26-year-old didn’t just improve -- he transformed.

Hidlay unleashed a stunning 13-match win streak and collected gold medals at the Pan-American Championships, the Budapest Ranking Series and the World Championships. Along the way, he knocked off giants -- Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE), Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), and Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), just to name a few.

Then came the finale: a world finals comeback for the ages. Down and all but finished, Hidlay stormed back to defeat Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW). In one year, Hidlay didn’t just win -- he arrived.

Greco-Roman Breakout Performer of the Year: Gholemreza FAROKHI (IRI)

When opportunity knocked, Farokhi wasn’t just there to answer it, he was there to kick the door off its hinges. The 23-year-old stepped into Iran’s senior lineup for the first time in his career and tore through anyone in front of him -- whether it was at 82kg or 87kg.

Farokhi bulldozed his way to gold medals at the two World Championships he participated in. He racked up a perfect 17-0 record, including 11 technical superiority wins and six decisions, sweeping gold at the World Championships, U23 World Championships, the Islamic Solidarity Games, and the Zagreb Open Ranking Series.

Women’s Wrestling Breakout Performer of the Year: Sakura ONISHI (JPN)

At 19 years old, Onishi entered the senior circuit with massive goals but had zero experience and zero fear. In mere months, she became a problem no one had an answer for.

Onishi tore through the season with a flawless 15-0 record, capturing titles at the Senior and U20 World Championships, the Asian Championships, and the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series. Her dominance wasn’t subtle -- it was exactly what you’d expect from a Japanese women’s wrestler -- 11 tech falls, three pins, and a decision, outscoring opponents 158-17.