Maroulis, Miracle post contrasting wins to clinch Pan-Am golds
Thursday, February 22, 2024 - 17:33 By Gaurav Bhatt
ACAPULCO, Mexico (February 22) -- Kayla MIRACLE (USA) needed miraculous escapes while Helen MAROULIS' (USA) experience was on show as they struck gold for the United States at the Pan-American Championships on Thursday. Overall, the American women earned four gold and two bronze medals in a dominant display in Acapulco.
Miracle defeated two-time champion Ana GODINEZ (CAN) 6-6 in the 62 kg final to win her second Pan-Am Championships gold. Maroulis beat Giullia PENALBAR (BRA) 4-1 in 57kg to grab her first medal at the event since the 55kg gold in 2012.
After a strong start in her opening bout, Miracle needed to rally back twice on her way to glory. The two-time world silver medallist pinned Astrid MONTERO (VEN) in a thrilling semifinal.
For the majority of the bout, Montero was the more aggressive wrestler. She earned the opening point after Miracle couldn't score on the shot clock, and followed it up with a takedown. Early in the second period, she added two more to take a 5-0 lead.
Miracle fought back with a fantastic sequence. The American went for a double-leg takedown, secured Montero's right leg, got her back and put on the work, eventually pinning her opponent with 90 seconds left on the clock.
Then Miracle got a measure of revenge against Godinez, who had defeated the American in the 62kg final two years ago at the same venue.
Miracle was again put on the shot clock further emboldening Godinez into attacking. Miracle instead reversed the Canadian's shot to pull off two chest wraps. Godinez then secured a single-leg takedown in a flash to finish the first period as the leader at 4-3.
Late in the second period, Godinez earned two points with a double leg, however, Miracle countered the move with another powerful chest wrap to lead 6-5. Godinez earned another point for a step out but Miracle's defense in the final seconds secured her the criteria win.
Godinez went for a desperate takedown and missed it as the clock ran out. The Canadian, who was gunning for a hat-trick of gold medals, sat on the mat in crushing disappointment.
Both wrestlers will take the mat at next week's Pan-Am Olympic qualifier.
Earlier, Maroulis — a three-time World champion and 2016 Olympic gold medallist — brought her big stage experience to the mat against Penalber. The two finalists had sailed into the final without giving up a single point.
Maroulis opened the scoring with a headlock, pushing Penalber out of bounds. The Brazilian was put on the shot clock and couldn't score, giving up a 2-0 lead to end the period.
In the second period, Maroulis conceded her first and only point of the day when she couldn't score on the shot clock. With 10 seconds left on the clock, Penalber went for a lunge onto Maroulis' right leg. The American defended and countered to bring the Brazilian down and finish the match with authority.
The silver was the seventh medal at the event for the two-time champion Penalber, who also won the gold at the Pan-American Games last November.
In the 50kg category, four-time medallist Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU) won her first gold medal, defeating Mariana ROJAS (VEN) 4-3.
Alisha HOWK (USA) took home the 55kg gold with a 4-4 win over Zeltzin HERNANDEZ (MEX). The American had to miss out on a rematch from last year after defending champion Diana WEICKER (CAN) gave walkovers.
Brooklyn HAYS defeated Katie MULKAY (CAN) 6-4 and Edna JIMENEZ (MEX) 11-0 to clinch the 72kg gold while Olivia DI BACCO (CAN) won her first gold at the event with a walkover victory over Soleymi CARAVALLO (VEN).
In Greco-Roman action, the 20-year-old Alexis VARGAS (MEX) won the 72kg gold medal. Two-time champion Kevin MEJIA (HON) defeated last year's bronze medallist Alan VERA (USA) to take home the 97kg title.
RESULTS
Women's Wrestling
50kg
GOLD: Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU) df. Mariana ROJAS DIAZ (VEN), 4-3
BRONZE: Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) df. Katie DUTCHAK (CAN),8-2
BRONZE: Moran YORLENIS MILAGROS (PAN) df. Kamila BARBOSA (BRA), 7-6
55kg
GOLD: Alisha HOWK (USA)
SILVER: Zeltzin HERNANDEZ (MEX)
BRONZE: Diana WEICKER (CAN)
57kg
GOLD: Helen MAROULIS (USA) df. Giullia OLIVEIRA (BRA), 4-1
BRONZE: Yocleidy RAMIREZ (DOM) df. Hannah TAYLOR (CAN), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) df. Andrea GONZALEZ (COL), 6-4
62kg
GOLD: Kayla MIRACLE (USA) df. Ana GODINEZ (CAN), 6-6
BRONZE: Lais NUNES (BRA) df. Arely NOVELO (MEX), 11-0
BRONZE: Astrid MONTERO (VEN) df. Katherine RENTERIA (COL), 11-1
68kg
GOLD: Olivia DI BACCO (CAN) df. Caraballo SOLEYMI (VEN), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Ayovi LEONELA (ECU) df. Alejandra RIVERA (MEX), 6-3
BRONZE: Alexandria GLAUDE (USA) df. Nicoll PARRADO (COL), 3-3
Greco-Roman
72kg
GOLD: Alexis VARGAS (MEX)
SILVER: Calebe CORREA (BRA)
BRONZE: Noah WACHSMUTH (USA)
97kg
GOLD: Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON) df. Alan VERA GARCIA (USA), 8-0
BRONZE: Luillys PEREZ (VEN) df. Pedro BELLO (MEX), 5-1
BRONZE: Adames CARLOS (DOM) df. Gomez RICARDO (ARG), 8-0
Gold medalist at 79kg in 2024, Nan CAO (CHN) will be wrestling at 86kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov) 
Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) is the defending champion at 87kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)
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