Pan-Am preview: USA chasing dominance with star-studded line-up

Saturday, April 30, 2022 - 13:15 By Vinay Siwach

ACAPULCO, Mexico (April 30) -- Kyle DAKE (USA) will be in a new territory next week. The three-time world champion will be defending his Pan-Am title for the first time in his career.

Dake, an Olympic bronze medalist, won the gold in '21 in his first Pan-Am championships and in five days, he will be entering his second, unusual for the Cornell University graduate. He will be leading a solid USA team to Acapulco which will be looking to repeat an unprecedented performance of defending all 10 golds from last year.

In Guatemala City, the USA captured all 10 freestyle gold medals to win the team title with ease. While Olympic champions David TAYLOR (USA) and Gable STEVESON (USA) are not entered, five-time world champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) is returning to the competition after two years.

But for Dake, wrestling for the first time since winning his first world title down at 74kg, it will be another chance to cement his authority at the weight as he chases the Paris Olympics gold in 2024.

In Tokyo, Dake was stunned by a quarterfinals loss by Magomed KADZHIMURADEAU (BWF) using some two big four-point throws, the way Dake is popular to finish his bouts.

But putting a rare day behind, he went on to win the bronze over Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) and two months later won the gold in Oslo over two-time European champion Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK).

The 30-year-old will start as the favorite in Mexico in a bracket which has familiar names in Jasmit PHULKA (CAN), Franklin CASTILLO (CUB) and Franklin GOMEZ (PUR).

On paper, Dake should not have any trouble claiming the gold but with some experience in Phulka and Gomez, he will be put to test. Castillo can be the dark horse in the competition if Dake slips up.

Another world champion who will be defending his title will be Kyle SNYDER (USA). The two-time world champion and Tokyo silver medalist has been a constant in the USA team since the 2015 World Championships and will now be looking to add another Pan-Am title at 97kg.

Oslo world champion Thomas GILMAN (USA) will be looking to win the title at 57kg while silver medalist from Oslo Daton FIX (USA) is entered at 61kg. J'den COX (USA) is entered at 92kg.

Apart from the world medalists, defending champion Joseph McKENNA (USA), Zain Retherford (USA), Zahid VALENCIA (USA) and Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA) complete the line-up for the country.

It can be called the warm-up for the USA World Team Trials in first week of June but over the years, the country has sent their best wrestlers to the Pan-Am Championships and perhaps continuing the same trend this year.

The last time the USA returned without a gold medal was in 2001 when Cuba won the majority of the gold. But for the last 20 years, the USA has won at least a gold medal at the tournament and once again they will be looking for a dominant performance with a star-studded team.

All USA wrestlers will start as the favorites in their weight classes but a few challengers can stop them from maintaining a perfect record.

At 65kg, McKenna will have Argentina Olympian Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) and fellow NCAA wrestler Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) in the draw which can prove to be a test for the defending champion.

For Valencia, a flamboyant 86-kilogramer, Ethan RAMOS (PUR) could prove to be a problem. Ramos would fancy himself beating Valencia if the two clash in the tournament.

At 125kg, Gwiazdowski is returning to the team after Steveson's move to be away from amateur wrestling. The two-time world bronze medalist will be under pressure to perform after missing out on a medal in Oslo.

Yezep Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) will be looking for her first senior Pan-Am title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The women's wrestling brackets will be much closer than freestyle. The USA will still be favorites to defend their team title from last year.

At 50kg, Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) is the favorite to win the title but Kamila BARBOSA (BRA) and Yoannia PEREZ (CUB) can trouble her. The top-seeded wrestler will be wrestling for the first time since winning the silver medal in Oslo.

Former world champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) is entered at 55kg and it all may come down to a battle against Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU). Winchester had a stunning run at the Ranking Series event in Istanbul, winning the gold and she would like to maintain the perfect start she has had to the year.

But U23 world champion Yepez is debuting at her senior Pan-Am and can challenge Winchester. She qualified for the Tokyo Olympics at 50kg before moving up to 53kg to win the world title in Belgrade. The history creator now has a chance to win her first continental title if she can repeat the performance from Serbia.

Forrest MOLINARI (USA) will be the favorites to win 65kg.

Molinari rebounded from her loss to Emma BRUNTIL at the Ivan Yariguin Grand Prix to beat her in Istanbul and claim the bragging right at 65kg for the USA. She will now be looking to win the gold in Mexico.

At 53kg, while Dominique PARRISH (USA) remains in the fray, the battle for gold may well come down to World bronze medalist Samantha STEWART (CAN) and Ecuador veteran Luisa VALVERDE (ECU). Stewart is returning to the continental championships after six years. She won the gold medal at 55kg in 2016.

Ideally for Ecuador, young star Yepez should have been at 53kg but veteran Valverde has been the mainstay at this weight. The 31-year-old has impressive seven Pan-Am medals including gold in 2020. While Stewart claimed the bronze in Oslo, Valverde fell short as she lost her bronze-medal bout.

The two have met before with Valverde leading the head-to-head 2-1 in the last two years. She has wins over Stewart from the 2020 Matteo Pellicone and Pan-Am Olympic Games Qualifier.

A three-way battle can ensue at 62kg and 76kg. The two Olympic weight classes will have young stars pitted against some veterans.

At 62kg, U23 world champion Ana GONZALEZ (CAN) and world silver medalist Kayla MIRACLE (USA) pitted against each other. The two have met twice before with the USA wrestler winning both times. But Gonzalez has reduced the deficit.

After her first 8-0 loss, Gonzalez was closer to Miracle, suffering a 6-5 loss but the battle in Mexico can well see her win her first over the Tokyo Olympian.

But Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) can spoil their party. In a stunning start to the year, she defeated two-time world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) at the Yasar Dogu. She will be backing herself to win the title in Mexico.

At 76kg, in a rare occurrence, none of Adeline GRAY (USA) or Erica WIEBE (CAN) are entered for the tournament.

For Canada, that means '18 72kg world champion Justina DI STASIO (CAN) is the favorite. A four-time Pan-Am champion, she will be eyeing a start that can get her going for the Paris Olympic cycle if Wiebe decides to sit out. Di Stasio has been a formidable force at the heavyweight and Mexico can be an opportunity to fulfill the dream of an Olympic medal.

But challenging her are two young stars -- Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) and Milaimys POTRILLE (CUB). The two have had decent success at the age-group level. Renteria won a junior Pan-Am title and picked up a silver medal at the U23 Worlds in Belgrade in 2021.

While she has been away from the mat for some time, Potrille will be looking for a big win at the senior level. Since debuting internationally in 2018, where she picked up a Cadet Pan-Am title and a Youth Olympic Games gold medal. A year later, she picked up junior and U23 world titles at the age of 18.

Despite the three top wrestlers, others in the field cannot be left out. Ecuador’s Genesis VALDEZ (ECU), who took silver at this event last year with an 11-0 victory over 2014 world silver medalist Aline SILVA (BRA). Also in attendance are Youth Olympic Games silver medallist Linda MACHUCA (ARG) and Junior Pan-Am silver medallist Diamond GUILFORD (USA).

Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) will be wrestling at 130kg. (Photo: UWW / Max Rose-Fyne)

The return of Rio Olympic champion Ismael BORRERO (CUB) headlines the Greco-Roman field at the competition. The Cuban star was expected to win the gold in Tokyo but lost his second bout and had to bow at the tournament.

Borrero, the two-time world champion and Rio Olympic gold medalist, will be lacing his boots up for the first time since the Tokyo Olympic Games. After dominating his way to gold at the 2019 World Championships, he battled COVID twice.

His opponents may fancy beating the star who is returning for the first time since the Tokyo Games.

Another Cuban star Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) will be in action in Mexico. He is back on the team after Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) won the gold in Tokyo.

Three defending champions in Benjamin PROVISOR (USA), Kevin CASTILLO (HON) and Leo HEREDIA (DOM) are returning to win a second straight.

#WrestleBratislava

Valiev tops Sidakov; Uguev, Ramazanov win European golds

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 - 23:16 By Vinay Siwach

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 9) -- It took Chermen VALIEV (ALB) five bouts, a tense European Championships final, a challenge decision in his favor and a some incredible skill but he finally managed to beat world champion Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW).

Valiev and Sidakov clashed in the final of the European Championships in Bratislava on Wednesday, and the Albanian came out as a 4-2 winner, winning for the first time against Sidakov in five bouts and becoming a European champion at 74kg.

"I've faced Zaurbek before," Valiev said. "Until now, he always came out as the winner. Today, I managed to win, and I'm really happy about that. Zaurbek and I have been good friends since childhood, I have a lot of respect for him. But today, I guess luck was more on my side."

The final sequence between Chermen VALIEV (ALB) and Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) which resulted in a Valiev win. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The two last clashed in the Russian National Championships which Sidakov won 3-2. But Valiev has since moved to Albania, won a bronze medal at 74kg at the Paris Olympics and emerged as one of the biggest names at 74kg.

Sidakov, world champion in 2023 at the weight class, had wrestled at the European Championships once before -- in 2016 at 70kg but did not win a medal.

In the final, Sidakov held the criteria lead 1-1 when Valiev was put on the activity clock again but he managed to drive Sidakov out of bounds during the 30-second period and get a point for a 2-1 lead.

With 50 seconds left on the clock, Sidakov went for a deep ankle pick, but got countered by Valiev for two-point exposure. Both continued the scramble and Sidakov managed to get a reversal for one point. However, it was initially scored two points for Sidakov which made it 3-2 for Sidakov before the referees awarded two for Valiev and a reversal point for Sidakov. That made the score 4-4 with Sidakov leading on criteria with six seconds remaining.

However, Albania challenged the call and on review, the 44-second scramble was awarded as two points for Valiev and a reversal point for Sidakov which gave Valiev a 4-2 lead to defend which he did. Sidakov limped off the mat which was later confirmed as a knee injury.

"The final was really tough for me, very intense match right up until the last second," he said. "Even at the end, it wasn’t clear who would get the score. But the score was given in my favor. I prepared hard and gave it 100 percent, put everything into my training. And today, God rewarded me with a gold medal."

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Valiev, a former world U23 champion, is now focused on winning the senior world title and said that the gold medal in Bratislava will be a motivation to win in the Zagreb event in September.

"I’ll start preparing for the next competition," he said. "The main goal this year is the World Championships, and I hope to get there healthy and ready. I’ll keep that gold medal in my mind and keep pushing forward."

With that loss Sidakov, Tokyo Olympic champion at 74kg, suffered his first since 2018 when he lost Hetik CABALOV (SRB) in the Ivan Yaryguin Ranking Series.

While Sidakov suffered a loss, fellow Tokyo Olympic champion Zavur UGUEV (UWW) pulled off another last-second thrilling win over Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) to win his first-ever European gold medal.

Uguev, who was struggling with form in recent past and finished without a medal at the World Championships last year, rebounded with a 7-5 victory in the 61kg final to win gold.

"I’m truly happy," Uguev said. "I had even forgotten what it feels like to be called up to the top of the podium."

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The final got off to a mesmerizing start with Uguev suplexing Harutyunyan during the Armenian's activity period. He was awarded two points for the move but he challenged for four points but lost, making the score 3-1.

In the second period, Uguev tried to pass behind for a takedown but Harutyunyan got hold of his leg and tripped him for four points to claim a 5-3 lead. Uguev was not giving up though. As Harutyunyan tried pushing him out, Uguev hit a underhook throw for two points to make the score 5-5 but Harutyunyan led on criteria for his bigger technique.

This was settled in the final minute when Uguev got on a single leg attack, elevated and finished with a takedown with 25 seconds left. He defended his 7-5 lead to win the gold medal.

"I had said it was going to be an interesting match and it really was," he said. "I got thrown unexpectedly early on and had to catch up. I was working, pushing forward, but I wasn’t worried — I believed I could close the gap, even though I couldn’t at first."

Uguev had three European medals, a bronze and silver, in the past having lost to Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) in 2017 and 2018. But he came a two-time world and Olympic champion.

"I was lying down and a thought came to me," he said. "I looked back and realized -- I didn’t actually have a European medal yet. And I thought, “Now it’s time. I have to win one.”

Since winning the gold at 57kg at the Tokyo Games, Uguev has two fifth-place finishes at the World Championships internationally. But with the win on Wednesday, Uguev put his hat in the ring for the world title later this year.

Denis TSARGUSH, who was in the corners of both Sidakov and Uguev, said that Sidakov's loss a bit difficult to digest.

"We performed well overall. It’s just that the final match with Zarubek left a bit of a bitter aftertaste," he said. "He could have won but Chermen also wrestled really well."

Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL), Paris 2024 Olympic champion was also in action on Wednesday and he scored a thrilling 9-5 win against Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) in the 86kg final.

Kadzimahamedau was leading in 5-1 after he had scored two takedowns and Ramazanov got going only in the final minute. He scored a takedown with a leg-hold before turning Kadzimahamedau four times to make it 9-5. Ramazanov got Kadzimahamedau.

"All my thoughts were about winning — I really didn’t want to lose," Ramazanov said. "If the match had ended like that, without me giving it my all, it would’ve been incredibly disappointing. That’s why I switched into full gear — I wasn’t thinking about tactics anymore, I was just pushing forward. I would rate my performance around 6 out of 10. There were a lot of strong athletes."

Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) gut wrenches Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) for the win in the 86kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

With the win, Ramazanov won his second European title and he also avenged his 2019 79kg final loss at the European Championships.

"I wanted to avenge for past losses, but it wasn’t about proving anything," he said. "I just always try to choose the toughest opponents — especially the ones I’ve lost to before."

Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) won his fourth European Championships gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 92kg, three-time European champion Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) added a fourth after he sneaked through the final against Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 6-5.

Kurugliev, who also has a European Games gold medal, opened the final with an ankle pick for a takedown in the first thirty second of the bout and maintained till the break. There was no points scored in the bout until the last 25 seconds.

Nurmagomedov asked for a takedown but he lost the challenge which gave Kurugliev another point. He soon scored a stepout to cut the lead to 3-1 and as he tried to score another, Kurugliev circled and scored a go-behind as Nurmagomedov thought he completed the stepout.

A challenge would have helped Nurmagomedov at this point but he had already used it and Kurugliev's lead swelled to 5-1.

Nurmagomedov got a takedown with a ankle pick for two point and he got another point for Kurugliev's fleeing, making the score 5-4. The bout resumed in par terre with four seconds on the clock but Nurmagomedov failed to score a turn and lost the final.

Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) scores the winning throw against Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) during the 125kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

The European Championships had a different winner at 125kg in 13 years as Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) needed a buzzer-beating front body throw for four to defeat Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO), 7-7, in the final.

Meshvildishvili thus became the first wrestler not named Taha AKGUL (TUR) or Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) to win the 125kg gold medal since 2012.

Manashvili was leading 7-3 with seven seconds remaining when Meshvildishvili scored a reverse exposure throw for four, awarded only after the Azerbaijan side challenged.

Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) with Taha AKGUL (TUR) during the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The win also captured the Freestyle team title for Azerbaijan over Georgia. The two countries were tied at 94 points and the winner of 125kg would take his country to the top of the podium.

Meshvildishvili's win gave Azerbaijan 119 points for the top spot while Georgia was second with 114 points. Turkiye finished third with 73 points.

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Zavur UGUEV (UWW) df. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), 7-5

BRONZE: Andrii DZHELEP (UKR) df. Dzmitry SHAMELA (UWW), 3-1
BRONZE: Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) df. Leomid COLESNIC (MDA), 11-0

74kg
GOLD: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) df. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW), 4-2

BRONZE: Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) df. Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL), 6-4
BRONZE: Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) df. Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), 3-0

86kg
GOLD: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) df. Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW), 9-5

BRONZE: Osman GOCEN (TUR) df. Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL), 4-2
BRONZE: Artur NAIFONOV (UWW) df. Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA), 10-0

92kg
GOLD: Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) df. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 6-5

BRONZE: Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) df. Yaraslau IADKOUSKI (UWW), 5-0
BRONZE: Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) df. Ahmed BATAEV (BUL), 8-6

125kg
GOLD: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) df. Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO), 7-7

BRONZE: Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW) df. Vlagyiszlav BAJCAJEV (HUN), 5-2
BRONZE: Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL) df. Azamat KHOSONOV (GRE), 8-0

Pan-Am preview: USA chasing dominance with star-studded line-up

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Valiev tops Sidakov; Uguev, Ramazanov win European golds