#GuatemalaCityWrestle

Junior Pan Ams Set for Guatemala

Tuesday, June 4, 2019 - 16:39 By Taylor Miller

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En espanol

Los Campeonatos Panamericanos Junior están programados para el 5 al 7 de junio, en el gimnasio nacional Teodoro Palacios Flores en la ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala.

En los tres estilos olímpicos, el campo incluye ocho medallistas de los Campeonatos Mundial o los Juegos Olímpicos de la Juventud, con seis registrados en el estilo libre femenino. También hay varios campeones y medallistas panamericanos listos para competir en los campeonatos continentales.

Estilo libre masculino

Carson LEE (CAN) es el líder en logros individuales con una medalla de bronce del Campeonato mundial cadete de 2018. Buscará el título en 97 kg.

Solo hay uno campeón panamericano junior que regresara, Jonathan PRATA ALAS (ARG), quien gano el título en 57 kg el año pasado. Se le unieron dos campeones del Cadete Pan Am de 57 kg, entre ellos Lucas NAVARRETE VIDAL (ECU) y Roberto ALEJANDRO BLANCO (MEX).

Navarrete gano en 2016, y Alejandro clamo su título en 2017.

Además de Alejandro, hay dos otros campeones del Cadete Pan Am representando a México la próxima semana, incluyendo Luis LOPEZ VASQUEZ en 97 kg and Luis OROZCO CORTEZ en 125 kg. 

Peyton ROBB (USA), un campeón panamericano cadete en estilo libre masculino y grecorromana, está registrado por 70  kg.

Yendo a su segundo campeonato continental del ano es Cristian SOLENZAL LOPEZ (CUB), quien ganó una medalla de plata en los Campeonatos Panamericanos Senior de 2019. Competirá en 65 kg en el estilo libre masculino y en 67 kg en grecorromana.

La competición en estilo libre masculino empieza el 7 de junio.

Estilo libre femenina

La categoría de peso de 50 kg parece ser la más dura en todo el torneo, con tres medallistas mundiales.

En frente es la campeona mundial cadete y la campeona de los Juegos Olímpicos de la Juventud Emily SHILSON (USA). Ella también ganó una medalla de plata en los Campeonatos Mundiales de Cadete de 2017 y medallas de oro en los Campeonatos Panamericanos Cadete en 2017 y 2018.

Buscando a desafiarla es Julieta MARTINEZ GONZALEZ (MEX) and Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU). Las dos tienen medallas de bronce de los Campeonatos Mundiales Cadetes de 2017.

Martínez González es una campeona panamericano cadete de 2017, y Yépez Guzmán gano títulos en los niveles de U15 y Cadete.

También en el campo de 50 kg es campeona panamericano junior de 2017 Alexia SEAL (CAN).

Martínez González no es la única campeona panamericano representando a México. También hay Atzimba LANDAVERDE MORENO (MEX), quien quiere defender su título panamericano junior en 68 kg.

Todas de las ocho luchadoras de México han Ganado una medalla panamericano.

Además de Shilson, E.E.U.U. tiene otra medallista mundial en Tiare IKEI (USA), quien competirá en 53 kg. Ella gano una medalla de bronce el año pasado en los Mundiales Cadetes.

En los pesos superiores, hay dos medallistas de los Juegos Olímpicos de la Juventud, incluyendo campeona Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) en 76 kg y medallista de plata Linda MACHUCA (ARG) en 72 kg.

Katherine RENTERIA CUERO (COL) regresa a defender su título panamericano junior en 59 kg.

La competición en estilo libre femenina empieza el 6 de junio.

Grecorromana

El único medallista mundial en grecorromana es Nestor DELGADO RAMIREZ (MEX), quien va competir en 55 kg. Delgado posee una medalla de plata de los Campeonatos Mundiales Cadetes de 2016. También termino en quinto lugar en 2015.

También ganó una medalla de oro en los Campeonatos Panamericanos Cadetes en 2016 y una medalla de plata en los Campeonatos Panamericanos Junior el año pasado.

Hay siete otros quien han ganado títulos panamericanos.

El único campeón Panamericano Junior que regresa es Andrés CORTES HERRERA (COL). Busca defender su título en los 60 kg.

Los seis campeones Cadete Panamericanos en el campo representan a México o Estados Unidos: Miguel UGALDE AGUILAR (MEX) en 60 kg, Hunter LEWIS (USA) en 63 kg, Diego MARTINEZ DE LEIJA (MEX) en 72 kg, Calvin GERMINARO (USA) en 72 kg, Arturo CAMACHO VALENCIANO (MEX) en 82 kg and Jesus LOPEZ NINO (MEX) en 87 kg.

Hay tres medallistas de Pan Am Senior registrados para la próxima semana, incluyendo campeón de 2019 Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB) en 97 kg, subcampeón en estilo libre masculino de 2019 Cristian SOLENZAL LOPEZ (CUB) en 65 kg y subcampeón de 2018 Gerardo OLIVA MONTES (PER) en 67 kg.

Solenzal Lopez competirá en estilo libre masculino y grecorromana.

El competición grecorromana empieza el 5 de junio.

 

 

 

 

 

In English

The Junior Pan American Championships are set for next week, June 5-7, Teodoro Palacios Flores National Gym in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Across all three Olympic styles, the field includes eight World or Youth Olympic Games medalists, with six registered in women’s freestyle. There are also several past Pan American champions and medalists ready to compete at the continental championships.

Men’s Freestyle

Carson LEE (CAN) leads the field in individual accomplishments, with a 2018 Cadet World bronze medal to his name. He’ll seek the title at 79 kg.

There is only one returning Junior Pan American champion, Jonathan PRATA ALAS (ARG), who won the title at 57 kg last year. He is joined by two past Cadet Pan Am champions at 57 kg, including Lucas NAVARRETE VIDAL (ECU) and Roberto ALEJANDRO BLANCO (MEX).

Navarrete Vidal won in 2016, while Alejandro Blanco claimed his title in 2017.

In addition to Alejandro Blanco, there are two other Cadet Pan Am champs representing Mexico next week, Luis LOPEZ VASQUEZ at 97 kg and Luis OROZCO CORTEZ at 125 kg.  

Peyton ROBB (USA), a 2017 Cadet Pan American champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman, is registered at 70 kg. He is the only wrestler entered that has won titles in both styles.

Heading to his second continental championships of the year is Cristian SOLENZAL LOPEZ (CUB), who won silver at the 2019 Senior Pan American Championships. He will compete at 65 kg in freestyle and 67 kg in Greco-Roman.

The men’s freestyle competition will take place on June 7.

Women’s Freestyle

The 50 kg weight class seems to be the toughest in the entire tournament, featuring three World medalists.

Leading the pack is 2018 Cadet World and Youth Olympic Games champion Emily SHILSON (USA). She is also a 2017 Cadet World silver medalist and won Cadet Pan Am championships in 2017 and 2018.  

Looking to challenge her is Julieta MARTINEZ GONZALEZ (MEX) and Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU). Both won bronzes at the 2017 Cadet World Championships.

Martinez Gonzalez is a 2017 Cadet Pan Am champion, and Yepez Guzman won U15 and Cadet Pan Am titles in 2016.

Also lurking at 50 kg is 2017 Junior Pan Am champion Alexia SEAL (CAN).

Martinez Gonzalez is not the only Pan Am champion representing Mexico. Her teammate Atzimba LANDAVERDE MORENO (MEX) looks to defend her 2018 Junior Pan Am title at 68 kg.

Of note, all eight of Mexico’s entrants in women’s freestyle have won at least one medal at a Pan American Championships.

In addition to Shilson, the USA boasts another World medalist in Tiare IKEI (USA), who will compete at 53 kg.

In the upper weights, there are two Youth Olympic Games medalists, including 2018 champion Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) at 76 kg and 2018 silver medalist Linda MACHUCA (ARG) at 72 kg.

At 59 kg, be on the lookout for returning Junior Pan Am champion Katherine RENTERIA CUERO (COL).

The women’s freestyle competition will take place June 6.  

Greco-Roman

The lone World medalist in Greco-Roman is Nestor DELGADO RAMIREZ (MEX), who is slated to wrestle at 55 kg. Delgado won World silver at the 2016 Cadet World Championships. He also registered a fifth-place finish at the 2015 Cadet World Championships.

In addition to his World silver, Delgado owns a gold from the 2016 Cadet Pan American Championships and silver from last year’s Junior Pan American Championships in Brazil.

Apart from Delgado, seven others have won Cadet or Junior Pan Am titles.

The only returning Junior Pan American champion is Andres CORTES HERRERA (COL). He looks to defend his title at 60 kg.

The six Cadet Pan American champions in the field represent either Mexico or USA: Miguel UGALDE AGUILAR (MEX) at 60 kg, Hunter LEWIS (USA) at 63 kg, Diego MARTINEZ DE LEIJA (MEX) at 72 kg, Calvin GERMINARO (USA) at 72 kg, Arturo CAMACHO VALENCIANO (MEX) at 82 kg and Jesus LOPEZ NINO (MEX) at 87 kg.

There are three Senior Pan Am medalists registered for next week, including 2019 champion Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB) at 97 kg, 2019 runner-up in freestyle Cristian SOLENZAL LOPEZ (CUB) at 65 kg and 2018 runner-up Gerardo OLIVA MONTES (PER) at 67 kg.

Solenzal Lopez will compete in both Greco-Roman and men’s freestyle.

The Greco-Roman competition will take place on June 5.

#WrestleSamokov

Onishi repeats as U20 world champ; Blaze wins 61kg gold

Wednesday, August 20, 2025 - 21:52 By Vinay Siwach

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SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 20) -- Four bouts, a combined score of 40-0, and a total time on the mat of five minutes and 24 seconds -- all matches finished inside the first period.

Sakura ONISHI (JPN) put on one of the most dominant performances at the World U20 Championships, becoming a two-time world champion by winning the 59kg gold in Samokov, Bulgaria, on Wednesday.

The Japanese wrestling phenom spent less time on the mat than a full six-minute wrestling match and won all bouts with a 10-0 score, just like she did in 2024. Onishi has now outscored her opponents 80-0 over the two tournaments.

After three wins on Tuesday, Onishi faced Karin SAMUELSSON (SWE) in the final. She locked Samuelsson's legs around her head, turning her four times after the takedown. She used the technique on three of her four wins.

"I didn't want to finish quickly. I wanted to focus on winning each point and play the match with that focus," Onishi said.

Onishi feels that she has improved technically since last year, especially after winning the senior Asian Championships in which she faced stiff competition.

"I've been working on improving in various ways," she said. "I wanted to aim even higher in terms of technique and physical strength. The fact that I wasn't defeated in the senior category boosted my confidence. Winning the Asian Championships and Ranking Tournament in Tirana also boosted my confidence."

Sakura ONISHI (JPN)Sakura ONISHI (JPN) uses her trademark lace against Karin SAMUELSSON (SWE) in the 59kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Next for Onishi is the senior World Championships in September as she prepares to win the world title in Zagreb as well. To prepare for that she wanted to test herself again in this age group.

"The World Championships are coming up, and I think this category is just one step in the process," she said. "I think I've taken a good step forward, and I definitely want to win the senior World Championships."

Ray HOSHINO (JPN)Ray HOSHINO (JPN) works on a takedown against SRISHTI (IND) in the 68kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Japan won its second gold medal through Ray HOSHINO (JPN), who also won her second World U20 title. Hoshino, the 2023 world U20 champion, showed no signs of rust in her 7-0 hammering of SRISHTI (IND) in the 68kg final in Samokov.

Srishti, a returning bronze medalist, tried to score on Hoshino, but the Japanese wrestler overpowered her and clearly had a better game plan for the final bout.

Hoshino scored the first takedown of the final and then added a step-out to take a 3-0 lead. She then scored a go-behind to extend her lead to 5-0 at the break. An ankle pick during Srishti's attack gave Hoshino her third takedown of the match and a 7-0 lead she kept until the end.

India crowned one champion on Wednesday when TAPSYA (IND) defeated the European U20 champion, Felicitas Domajeva (NOR), 5-2, to win the 57kg gold medal.

In a match decided by a single move, Tapsya scored a takedown and used an arm-bar to pin Domajeva, who survived the attempt but fell behind 5-0 as she had already conceded a point for passivity.

In the final seconds of the bout, Domajeva scored a takedown, but it was harmless to Tapsya, who defended any turn attempts to win 5-2 and India's first gold in Samokov.

The loss ended hopes for Domajeva to win the first world U20 gold medal for Norway in 37 years. She had became the first Norway wrestler to enter the World U20 Championships final in Women's Wrestling in 15 years.

Marcus BLAZE (USA)Marcus BLAZE (USA) celebrates, like his roommate at Penn State Masanosuke ONO (JPN), after winning the 61kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

U.S. defends Freestyle title

Marcus BLAZE (USA) upgraded his bronze medal from last year to a gold medal, and Maxwell MCENELLY (USA) won the gold medal in the 86 kg weight class as the United States successfully defended its freestyle team title at the World U20 Championships. With five gold medals, the U.S. had its best showing in the competition's history since 1984.

Blaze, who lost to the Japanese world champion Masanosuke ONO (JPN) last year, defeated a former world U17 champion Ahora KHATERI (USA), 10-0, in the final, his fourth win via technical superiority.

With his gold medals at the World U17 and U20 Championships, Blaze joins an elite group of wrestlers who have won world titles at both the U17 and U20 levels.

In Samokov, Blaze demonstrated that he will be a formidable opponent at the senior level as well. He wrestled with solid positioning and scored with various techniques. In the final match, he wrestled Khateri patiently, scoring five stepouts in the first period. A caution against Khateri made it 6-0, and then a go-behind and turn by Blaze made it 10-0.

"I feel good," Blaze said. "I wrestled pretty well. Throughout the tournament, I just kept getting better and better. I feel good about it. Our coaches gave me a game plan, and I stuck to it."

Before the final match, Blaze received a text message from his high school coach, Scott BURNETT, who explained Khateri's wrestling style and told Blaze to "suffocate" his opponent.

"When I was really young, my coach always said to be in a great position the whole time," he said. "Before the final, he told me to suffocate my opponent, and I feel like that's what I did out there."

Marcus BLAZE (USA)Marcus BLAZE (USA) is now a world U17 and U20 champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In his international career, Blaze has lost only once — to Ono in 2024 — but now, both wrestlers train at Penn State in the United States. After winning the gold medal, Blaze imitated Ono's 2024 celebration after the Japanese had won gold at the U20 World Championships.

"I live with Ono; he's my roommate," Blaze said. "He's a great person. At that time, he was just way better. I'm thankful to be able to wrestle with him every single day."

The second gold medal for the U.S. came from McEnelly, who defeated Bozigit ISLAMGEREEV (UWW) 8-0 at 86 kg.

McEnelly prevented Islamgereev from attacking his legs and wrestled at a fast pace throughout the final. He scored four takedowns to shut out Islamgereev.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

57kg
GOLD: TAPSYA (IND) df. Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR), 5-2

BRONZE: Dolzhon TSYNGUEVA (UWW) df. Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Anna STRATAN (KAZ) df. Tindra DALMYR (SWE), 9-3

59kg
GOLD: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) df. Karin SAMUELSSON (SWE), 10-0

BRONZE: Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) df. Ella FINDING (CAN), 4-1
BRONZE: Yifan ZHU (CHN) df. Aubre KRAZER (USA), 5-3

68kg
GOLD: Ray HOSHINO (JPN) df. SRISHTI (IND), 7-0

BRONZE: Eduarda RODRIGUES BATISTA (BRA) df. Laura KOEHLER (GER), via fall
BRONZE: Odzaya ERDENEBAT (MGL) df. Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR), 9-8

Freestyle

61kg
GOLD: Marcus BLAZE (USA) df. Ahora KHATERI (IRI), 10-0

BRONZE: Omar AYOUB (PUR) df. Adlan SAITIEV (UWW), 8-6
BRONZE: Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (UWW) df. Sargis BEGOYAN (ARM), 12-11

86kg
GOLD: Maxwell MCENELLY (USA) df. Bozigit ISLAMGEREEV (UWW), 8-0

BRONZE: Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) df. Razmik YEPREMYAN (ARM), 4-2
BRONZE: Ahmet YAGAN (TUR) df. Ryogo ASANO (JPN), 9-3