Toronto, Greco-Roman, Pan American Games

Montano Wins First Wrestling Gold for Ecuador at Pan Am Games

Thursday, July 16, 2015 - 03:41 By William May

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TORONTO, Canada (July 14) – Andres MONTAÑO (ECU) won Ecuador’s first gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Pan American Games on Wednesday with an 11-0 technical triumph over Ali SOTO (MEX).

Montaño converted an early takedown into a lift and turn for a 6-0 lead and then slammed the door on Soto with a bodylock takedown to the secure the gold medal.

It was the first gold medal for Ecuador in the classic style and first wrestling gold medal since 1971 when Sergio GONZALEZ (ECU) won the 48kg crown in freestyle in Cali, Colombia.

Meanwhile, U.S. wrestlers won two out of three in the gold medal finals as Andrew BISEK (75kg) and Jon ANDERSON (85kg) both dialed up technical falls in the finals.

Bisek converted in par terre with a chest-high gut wrench and lift to back-arching throw for a quick win over Alvis ALMENDRA (PAN), who takes home Panama’s first wrestling medal from the Games since 1991 despite the loss. Bisek outscored his opponents 25-0.

Anderson won his first Pan Am gold with a dominant tournament, matching Bisek’s output, beating opponents by a combined 25-0 score. Anderson pushed through Querys PEREZ (VEN) 9-0, finishing the bout with two takedowns.

Venezuela stands second in the medals table with one gold and one silver medal. Anderson won last year’s Pan Am Championships in Mexico City at 80kg.

Wuileixis RIVAS (VEN), the 2014 Pan Am champion at 71kg, gave Venezuela a wrestling gold medal for a second straight Games with a 13-1 technical fall win over Bryce SADDORIS (USA).

At 59kg, Cristobal TORRES (CHI) scored with a late go-behind takedown to sew up a 3-0 win over Dylan WILLIAMS (CAN) for one bronze medal.

Spenser MANGO (USA), the Pan American runner-up in April, flipped Jansel RAMIREZ (DOM) with a reverse waistlock and short lift in the first period and held on for a 6-3 win and the other bronze medal.

At 66kg, Miguel MARTINEZ (CUB), the gold medalist at the Pan Am Championships, scored with a go-behind takedown and bodylock before Jair Alexis CUERO (COL) defaulted. Mario MOLINA (PER) shook off an early four-point throw and forced a disqualification on Jefrin MEJIA (HON) in the second period for the second bronze.

Despite a disastrous opening session for Cuba, Martinez and Alan VERA (85kg) were able to secure a pair of bronze medals for the traditional Pan Am powerhouse.

Pan American runner-up Juan ESCOBAR (MEX) was the only wrestler to secure a fall in the medal matches Wednesday, when he stepped over an arm throw attempt by Luis AVENDANO (VEN) and pressed for the fall.

Greco-Roman Medal Match Results
59kg
GOLD: Andres MONTANO (ECU) df. Ali SOTO (MEX) by TF, 11-0
BRONZE: Cristobal TORRES (CHI) df. Dylan WILLIAMS (CAN), 3-0
BRONZE: Spenser MANGO (USA) df. Jansel RAMIREZ (DOM), 6-3

66kg
GOLD: Wuileixis RIVAS (VEN) df. Bryce SADDORIS (USA) by TF, 13-1
BRONZE: Miguel MARTINEZ (CUB) df. Jair Alexis CUERO (COL) by Default (6-0)
BRONZE: Mario MOLINA (PER) df. Jefrin MEJIA (HON) by Disqualification (9-4)

75kg
GOLD: Andrew BISEK (USA) df. Alvis ALMENDRA (PAN) by TF, 8-0
BRONZE: Carlos MUNOZ (COL) df. Maximiliano PRUDENZANO (ARG), 4-3
BRONZE: Juan ESCOBAR (MEX) df. Luis AVENDANO (VEN) by Fall

85kg
GOLD: Jon ANDERSON (USA) df. Querys PEREZ (VEN) by TF, 9-0
BRONZE: Cristian MOSQUERA (COL) df. Alfonso LEYVA (MEX) by TF, 8-0
BRONZE: Alan VERA (CUB) df. Oscar MARTINEZ (HON) by TF, 9-0

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UWW Announces LA 2028 Olympic Qualification Calendar

Friday, May 1, 2026 - 13:37 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 1) -- United World Wrestling has announced the calendar for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualification.

As previously announced, the LA 2028 qualification cycle will include four Ranking Series events, 2027 and 2028 continental championships, 2027 World Championships, the 2028 continental qualifiers and the 2028 World Olympic Qualifier.

The first event of the Olympic qualification cycle will be the 1st Ranking Series event in February 2027. The Ranking Series event will be held in a new seven-day format from February 15 to 21.

It will be followed by the 2027 continental championships beginning with Asian Championships from March 30 to April 4. European Championships will be held from April 5 to 11, followed by the African Champions from April 12 to 18.

The Oceania Championships will be held from April 23 to 25 and the Pan-American Championships will go on from April 28 to May 2.

LA 2028

Once the continental championships are done, the Ranking Series will return with the second stop to be held from May 31 to June 6. The third and final Ranking Series event of 2027 will be held from July 19 to 25. Both these events will also be held in a seven-day format.

The last event of 2027 that will offer ranking points will be the 2027 Senior World Championships, to be held from September 11 to 19. Medalists in the 18 Olympic weight classes at the 2027 World Championships will earn a LA 2028 quota for their respective NOCs.

2027 Events for Rankings Points

1st Ranking Series: February 15-21
Asian Championships: March 30-April 4
European Championships: April 5-11
African Championships: April 12-18
Oceania Championships: April 23-25
Pan-American Championships: April 28-May 2
2nd Ranking Series: May 31-June 6
3rd Ranking Series: July 19-25
World Championships: September 11-19

LA 2028

The qualification cycle will continue in 2028 with the first and only Ranking Series event. It will be held from January 17 to 23.

More ranking points will be awarded at the 2028 continental championships. The Oceania Championships will start from February 18 to 20, followed by the Pan-American Championships from February 24 to 27.

The European Championships will be next from February 28 to March 5 and soon after the Asian Championships will commence from March 6 to 12. The African Championships will be held from March 14 to 19.

2028 Events for Rankings Points

Ranking Series: January 17-23
Oceania Championships: February 18-20
Pan-American Championships: February 24-27
European Championships: February 28-March 5
Asian Championships: March 6-12
African Championships: March 14-19

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympic quotas based on rankings will be allocated after the end of the African Championships.

The qualification cycle will then move to continental Olympic qualifiers where the finalists will earn direct quotas for respective NOCs. At the World Olympic Qualifier, the gold medal winner will earn direct quota for the NOC.

The African & Oceania Olympic Qualifiers will kick-off this phase and it will be held from March 24 to 26.

The Pan-American Olympic Qualifiers will be held from March 31 to April 2 and the European Olympic Qualifiers from April 7 to 9. The last continental qualifiers will be the Asian Olympic Qualifiers to be held from April 14 to 16.

After a month's break, the World Olympic Qualifiers, the last chance, will be held from May 18 to 21.

LA 2028

Olympics Qualifiers

African & Oceania Olympic Qualifiers: March 24-26
Pan-American Olympic Qualifiers: March 31-April 2
European Olympic Qualifiers: April 7-9
Asian Olympic Qualifiers: April 14-16
World Olympic Qualifiers: May 18-21

Wresting at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games will be held from July 24 to 30.

The location of the all the events will be communicated by UWW in due time. For details of events, visit uww.org/events.