#WrestleOttawa

Pan-American Championship Entries

By Eric Olanowski

OTTAWA, Canada (March 2) --- The Pan-American Championships kick off March 6-9 in Ottawa, Canada, and will feature 192 athletes from 19 different nations wrestling -- including 16 returning gold medalists (listed in bold). 

Olympic champion Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) leads a list of eight returning Greco-Roman champions into Ottawa.

America’s pair of reigning world champions Tamyra MENSAH (USA) and Adeline GRAY (USA) are two of the five 2019 gold medalists that highlight the women’s wrestling part of the competition.

In freestyle, Anthony James ASHNAULT (USA), Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) and Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA) return to the Pan-American championships looking to retain the titles they claimed a year ago.

Freestyle
57kg

Bryan Lucas DE OLIVEIRA PEREIRA (BRA)
Ligrit SADIKU (CAN)
Oscar Eduardo TIGREROS URBANO (COL)
Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB)
Juan Rubelin RAMIREZ BELTRE (DOM)
Edwin Alexi SEGURA GUERRA (GUA)
Jesus Alejandro GARFIAS INFANTE (MEX)
Darian Toi CRUZ (USA)
Pedro Jesus MEJIAS RODRIGUEZ (VEN)

61kg
Scott Anthony Josef SCHILLER (CAN)
Tyler Lee GRAFF (USA)

65kg
Agustin Alejandro DESTRIBATS (ARG)
David Washington DOS SANTOS MOREIRA (BRA)
Vincent DE MARINIS (CAN)
Wber Euclides CUERO MUNOZ (COL)
Alejandro Enrique VALDES TOBIER (CUB)
Albaro RUDESINDO CAMACHO (DOM)
Mauricio Javier SANCHEZ SALTOS (ECU)
Sixto Miguel AUCCAPINA PEDRAGAS (PER)
Jose Javier RODRIGUEZ COLON (PUR)
John Michael DIAKOMIHALIS (USA)
Wilfredo Aogusto RODRIGUEZ BOCANEY (VEN)

Anthony James ASHNAULT (USA) is one of three returning freestyle Pan-American champions. (Photo: Lu Cruz)

70kg
Ranico  Ikkesh HOWARD (BAR)
Hugo Leonardo DE LIMA VIANA DE SOUZA (BRA)
Cruiz Saint Luc MANNING (CAN)
Brandon Disair DIAZ RAMIREZ (MEX)
Anthony James ASHNAULT (USA)

74kg
Jorge Ivan LLANO (ARG)
Jasmit Singh PHULKA (CAN)
Leon Juan Carlos PERALTA LANAS (CHI)
Nestor Joaquin TAFUR BARRIOS (COL)
Jeandry GARZON CABALLERO (CUB)
Julio Rafael RODRIGUEZ ROMERO (DOM)
Enrique Josue PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)
Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR)
Jordan Ernest BURROUGHS (USA)
Anthony Jose MONTERO CHIRINOS (VEN)

79kg
Guseyn RUSLANZADA (CAN)
Victor Eduardo HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX)
Jesus Augusto LANDA CESPEDES (PER)
Jason Michael NOLF (USA)

86kg
Ricardo Adrian BAEZ (ARG)
Reuben Leroy WILTSHIRE (BAR)
Clayton Steven PYE (CAN)
Carlos Arturo IZQUIERDO MENDEZ (COL)
Yurieski TORREBLANCA QUERALTA (CUB)
Gino Tanislado AVILA DILBERT (HON)
Angus Patrick ARTHUR (JAM)
Noel Alfonso TORRES CHACON (MEX)
Pool Edinson AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER)
Ethan Adrian RAMOS (PUR)
Alexander David DIERINGER (USA)
James Patrick DOWNEY III (USA)
Pedro Francisco CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN)

92kg
Maxwell Lemar LACEY GARITA (CRC)

Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA) is on a quest to win his fourth Pan-American title. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

97kg
Nishan Preet Singh RANDHAWA (CAN)
Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB)
Luis Miguel PEREZ SOSA (DOM)
Esdras Carlos LOPEZ PEREZ (MEX)
Evan Amadour RAMOS (PUR)
Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA)
Jose Daniel DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN)

125kg
Amarveer DHESI (CAN)
Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB)
Brandon Eloin ANGUIANO FLORES (MEX)
Charles Zachary MERRILL (PUR)
Anthony Robert NELSON (USA)
Luis Felipe VIVENES URBANEJA (VEN)

 

Reigning world champion Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) headlines the Greco-Roman entries that features eight returning champions. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

Greco-Roman
55kg

Sargis KHACHATRYAN (BRA)
Kieran Imran AKHTAR (CAN)
Max Emiliano NOWRY (USA)

60kg
Marat GARIPOV (BRA)
Adam Takahashi MACFADYEN (CAN)
Dicther Hans TORO CASTANEDA (COL)
Luis Alberto ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB)
Jancel Miguel PIMENTEL GONZALEZ (DOM)
Emerson Isaias FELIPE ORDONEZ (GUA)
Miguel Angel UGALDE AGUILAR (MEX)
Joshua Xavier MEDINA (PUR)
Leslie Michael FUENFFINGER (USA)
Gustavo Jesus RODRIGUEZ MARTINEZ (VEN)

63kg
Andres Roberto MONTANO ARROYO ( ECU)
Xavier Tramain JOHNSON (USA)

67kg
Joseph DASHOU (CAN)
Cristobal Alonso TORRES NUNEZ (CHI)
Julian Stiven HORTA ACEVEDO (COL)
Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB)
Enyer Manuel FELICIANO (DOM)
Cristhian Alberto RIVAS CASTRO (ECU)
Diego Alberto MARTINEZ DE LEIJA (MEX)
Nilton Gonzalo Marcos SOTO GARCIA (PER)
German Manuel DIAZ MALDONADO (PUR)
Alejandro SANCHO (USA)
Anthony Javier PALENCIA PUENTES (VEN)

72kg
Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA)
Raymond Anthony BUNKER III (USA)

77kg
Angelo Rafael MARQUES MOREIRA (BRA)
Brayden William AMBO (CAN)
Jair Alexis CUERO MUNOZ (COL)
Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB)
Patrick Harrison SMITH (USA)
Wuileixis de Jesus RIVAS ESPINOZA (VEN)

82kg
Jose Andres VARGAS RUEDA (MEX)
Marciano George ALI (PUR)
John Walter STEFANOWICZ JR (USA)

Two-time defending Pan-Ame champion Luis Eduardo AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN) is entered at 87kg. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

87kg
Ronisson BRANDAO SANTIAGO (BRA)
Ioannis NARLIDIS (CAN)
Carlos Andres MUNOZ JARAMILLO (COL)
Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB)
Carlos Alberto ADAMES PALMER (DOM)
Ariel Andres ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ (HON)
Lesyan Osvaldo COUSIN OTOMURO (JAM)
Alfonso Antonio LEYVA YEPEZ (MEX)
Josef Patrick RAU (USA)
Luis Eduardo AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN)

97kg
Guilherme EVANGELISTA DIAS (BRA)
Thomas Rahontsiiosta BARREIRO (CAN)
Gabriel Alejandro ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB)
Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON)
Edson Everardo ACUNA SALAZAR (MEX)
Tracy Gangelo HANCOCK (USA)
Luillys Jose PEREZ MORA (VEN)

130kg
Luciano DEL RIO (ARG)
Charles Frederick THOMS (CAN)
Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI)
Angel Ernesto PACHECO ROMERO (CUB)
Leo Dalis SANTANA HEREDIA (DOM)
Luis Alberto ROMAN BARRIOS (MEX)
Adam Jacob COON (USA)
Moises Salvador PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN)

Five-time world champion Adeline Maria GRAY (USA) is looking to win her third Pan-American gold medal. (Photo: Tony Rotundo) 

Women's Wreslting
50kg
Patricia Alejandra BERMUDEZ (ARG)
Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA)
Madison Bianca PARKS (CAN)
Carolina CASTILLO HIDALGO (COL)
Yusneylis GUZMAN LOPEZ (CUB)
Jacqueline Del Rocio MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU)
Mariana DIAZ MUNOZ (MEX)
Thalia Jihann MALLQUI PECHE (PER)
Victoria Lacey ANTHONY (USA)
Genesis Rosmary MILANO OLIVIO (VEN)

53kg
Jade Mariah PARSONS (CAN)
Luisa Elizabeth VALVERDE MELENDRES( ECU)
Zeltzin HERNANDEZ GUERRA (MEX)
Gabriela Nicole RAMOS DIAZ (PUR)
Haley Ruth AUGELLO (USA)

Lissette Alexandra ANTES CASTILLO (ECU) will look to defend her 2019 Pan-Am crown. She'll wrestle at 57kg. (Photo: Tony Rotundo) 

57kg
Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Hannah Fay TAYLOR (CAN)
Lianna de la Caridad MONTERO HERRERA (CUB)
Lissette Alexandra ANTES CASTILLO (ECU)
Brenda Esmeralda Isay FERNANDEZ SALAZAR (MEX)
Nes Marie RODRIGUEZ TIRADO (PUR)
Kelsey Rene CAMPBELL (USA)
Betzabeth Rebeca SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN)

59kg
Karoline SILVA DE SANTANA (BRA)
Alexandria Rebekkah TOWN (CAN)
Lauren Nora LOUIVE (USA)

Defending champion Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) is looking to add a third Pan-American gold medal to her resume. (Photo: Lu Cruz)

62kg
Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Jessica Lise BROUILLETTE (CAN)
Jackeline RENTERIA CASTILLO (COL)
Yessica Coraima OVIEDO PEREZ (DOM)
Alejandra ROMERO BONILLA (MEX)
Mallory Maxine VELTE (USA)
Nathaly Josefina GRIMAN HERRERA (VEN)

Reigning world champion Tamyra MENSAH (USA) is one of the five returning women's wrestling Pan-American champions. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

68kg
Luz Clara VAZQUEZ (ARG)
Dailane GOMES DOS REIS (BRA)
Olivia Grace DI BACCO (CAN)
Tatiana RENTERIA RENTERIA (COL)
Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB)
Leonela Aleyda AYOVI PARRAGA (ECU)
Ambar Michell GARNICA FLORES (MEX)
Yanet Ursula SOVERO NINO (PER)
Tamyra Mariama MENSAH (USA)
Maria Jose ACOSTA ACOSTA (VEN)

72kg
Brenda AGUIAR DOS SANTOS (BRA)
Shauna Ailein KUEBECK (CAN)
Victoria Christine FRANCIS (USA)

76kg
Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA)
Justina Renay DI STASIO (CAN)
Andrea Carolina OLAYA GUTIERREZ (COL)
Milaimys de la Caridad MARIN POTRILLE (CUB)
Genesis Rosangela REASCO VALDEZ (ECU)
Gabriela Renata CANALES HERRERA (MEX)
Adeline GRAY (USA)
Andrimar Daniela LAZARO DIAZ (VEN)

#WrestleZagreb

Valiev outsmarts Sidakov again to reach Worlds final

By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 14) -- For five minutes and 50 seconds in both the 74kg semifinals, there was little indication that the results will change. But 10 seconds were enough for Chermen VALIEV (ALB) and Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) to change the outcome.

Valiev was down 4-2 against Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) but managed to elevate the latter's leg from an attack before tripping him on the edge for a two-point takedown, taking a 4-4 criteria lead with three seconds remaining.

Sidakov tried a desperate attack but gave up another takedown even in that short time as Valiev reached his first-ever World Championships final on debut in Zagreb, Croatia.

Takahashi was down 4-1 against Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) but the Japanese scored a takedown and turned Salkazanov through a gut-wrench to lead 5-4. He still had 6 seconds to defend and he managed to do it with ease. Slovakia challenged for fleeing from Takahashi but that was lost which added an additional point to make it 6-4.

Valiev and Takahashi, both with clutch wins, will now clash in the 74kg final for the world title on Monday.

Three other weight classes were also in action on Sunday and the United States was the only country to put two wrestlers in the finals -- Levi HAINES (USA) at 79kg and Trent HIDLAY (USA) at 92kg.

Haines, who stunned world champion Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) in the quarterfinals, scored a controlled 4-1 victory over Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) in the semifinals. Olonbayar got the first point via passivity of Haines but the U.S. wrestler scored a counter exposure for two points and take a 2-1 lead.

He scored a ankle pick for another two-point takedown and defended his 4-1 lead for the win and reach the final, a surprise in a tough 79kg bracket.

On Monday, he will try to stop Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) from becoming Greece's first-ever wrestling world champion in history. The European champion from Greece showed some of the most high-paced wrestling in the semifinal against world silver medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) to win 8-3.

Nokhodi, was often stood squared-up, had no answered to Kougioumtsidis' constant attacks as the Greece wrestlers led 6-3 at the break. He scored a single-leg takedown in the second period and won 8-3.

Hidlay, who has switched levels in his career this year, reached the final at 92kg after destroying world silver medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 15-4, in the semifinals.

Nurmagomedov was in the match when the score was 5-4 with 2:23 left but Hidlay switch gears since, scoring a go-behind, a feet-to-back four-pointer and a takedown to finish with a technical superiority win.

He will face Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW) for the gold medal after Gadzhimagomedov managed to hold off Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) for an 11-6. Firouzpour, who had multiple age-group world titles, kept shooting for Gadzhimagomedov's legs but the UWW wrestler kept countering those attack with lift exposures.

Gadzhimagomedov then sealed the win with stepout, handing him a 9-6 lead and a takedown finishing the match 11-6.

Harutyunyan pinned after Lee heroics

Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) undoubtedly had the most impressive win of the morning session when he defeated Olympic silver medalist Spencer LEE (USA) 14-3 in the quarterfinals.

The win put Harutyunyan as the favorite to advance to the final at 57kg. However, Asian champion Chongsong HAN (PRK) had different ideas. He hit a lateral drop on Harutyunyan in the semifinals and secured a fall to enter the final. Han is the first Freestyle wrestler from the DPR Korea to enter the final in 11 years.

Han will now try to become a world champion when he takes on Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) in the 57kg final after the Kyrgyz wrestler took it to Paris Olympic bronze medalist Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), winning 8-0.

Abdullaev seemed to have burnt out from the earlier matches and had little fight left in him as Almaz Uulu scored points at his will in the semifinals including four stepouts.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Chongsong HAN (PRK) vs. Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ)

SF 1: Chongsong HAN (PRK) df. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), via fall
SF 2: Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) df. Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), 8-0

74kg
GOLD: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) vs. Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN)

SF 1: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) df. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW), 6-4
SF 2: Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 6-4

79kg
GOLD: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) vs. Levi HAINES (USA)

SF 1: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) df. Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI), 8-3
SF 2: Levi HAINES (USA) df. Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL), 4-1

92kg
GOLD: Trent HIDLAY (USA) vs. Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW)

SF 1: Trent HIDLAY (USA) df. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 15-4
SF 2:  Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW) df. Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI), 9-6