#WrestleOttawa

Pan-American OG Qualifier Entries

Wednesday, March 4, 2020 - 15:32 By Eric Olanowski

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OTTAWA, Canada --- The Pan-American OG Qualifiers kick off March 13-15 in Ottawa, Canada, and feature 158 wrestlers from 18 different nations. The top-two finishers in each respective weight class lock up their nation's spot for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

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)
Roberto ALEJANDRO BLANCO (MEX)
Thomas Patrick GILMAN (USA)
Pedro Jesus MEJIAS RODRIGUEZ (VEN)

65kg
Agustin Alejandro DESTRIBATS (ARG)
David Washington DOS SANTOS MOREIRA (BRA)
Dillon Emmanuel WILLIAMS (CAN)
Wber Euclides CUERO MUNOZ (COL)
Alejandro Enrique VALDES TOBIER (CUB)
Albaro RUDESINDO CAMACHO (DOM)
Mauricio Javier SANCHEZ SALTOS (ECU)
Brandon Disair DIAZ RAMIREZ (MEX)
Sixto Miguel AUCCAPINA PEDRAGAS (PER)
Jose Javier RODRIGUEZ COLON (PUR)
Zain Allen RETHERFORD (USA)
Wilfredo Aogusto RODRIGUEZ BOCANEY (VEN)

74kg
Jorge Ivan LLANO (ARG)
Ranico  Ikkesh HOWARD (BAR)
Marcus Vinicius CALASANS CAMARGO (BRA)
Jasmit Singh PHULKA (CAN)
Leon Juan Carlos PERALTA LANAS (CHI)
Nestor Joaquin TAFUR BARRIOS (COL)
Jeandry GARZON CABALLERO (CUB)
Julio Rafael RODRIGUEZ ROMERO (DOM)
Victor Eduardo HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX)
Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR)
Anthony Jose MONTERO CHIRINOS (VEN)

David TAYLOR III (USA), a 2018 world champion, is returning to the mat for the first time in nearly a year after undergoing knee surgery. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

86kg
Ricardo Adrian BAEZ (ARG)
Reuben Leroy WILTSHIRE (BAR)
Clayton Steven PYE (CAN)
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)
David Morris TAYLOR III (USA)
Pedro Francisco CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN)

97kg
Jordan STEEN (CAN)
Maxwell Lemar LACEY GARITA (CRC)
Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB)
Luis Miguel PEREZ SOSA (DOM)
Miguel Javier SANCHEZ GERALDO (MEX)
Evan Amadour RAMOS (PUR)
Jose Daniel DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN)

125kg
Amarveer DHESI (CAN)
Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB)
Eduardo Maximiliano GARCIA BETANZOS (MEX)
Charles Zachary MERRILL (PUR)
Nicholas Edward GWIAZDOWSKI (USA)
Luis Felipe VIVENES URBANEJA (VEN)

Last year's Pan-American chapmion Luis Eduardo AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN) is on a quest to qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time in his career. He'll wrestle at 87kg. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

Greco-Roman
60kg
Marat GARIPOV (BRA)
Adam Takahashi MACFADYEN (CAN)
Dicther Hans TORO CASTANEDA (COL)
Luis Alberto ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB)
Jancel Miguel PIMENTEL GONZALEZ (DOM)
Andres Roberto MONTANO ARROYO (ECU)
Emerson Isaias FELIPE ORDONEZ (GUA)
Samuel GURRIA VIGUERAS (MEX)
Joshua Xavier MEDINA (PUR)
Ildar HAFIZOV (USA)
Gustavo Jesus RODRIGUEZ MARTINEZ (VEN)

67kg
Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA)
Daniel Troy COLES (CAN)
Cristobal Alonso TORRES NUNEZ (CHI)
Julian Stiven HORTA ACEVEDO (COL)
Enyer Manuel FELICIANO (DOM)
Cristhian Alberto RIVAS CASTRO (ECU)
Manuel Alejandro LOPEZ SALCEDO (MEX)
Nilton Gonzalo Marcos SOTO GARCIA (PER)
German Manuel DIAZ MALDONADO (PUR)
Ellis E COLEMAN (USA)
Anthony Javier PALENCIA PUENTES (VEN)

Reigning Pan-American champion Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB) is tasked with trying to qualify Cuba for the Olympic Games at 77kg. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

77kg
Angelo Rafael MARQUES MOREIRA (BRA)
John YEATS (CAN)
Jair Alexis CUERO MUNOZ (COL)
Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB)
Jose Andres VARGAS RUEDA (MEX)
Marciano George ALI (PUR)
Patrick Harrison SMITH (USA)
Wuileixis de Jesus RIVAS ESPINOZA (VEN)

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)
Daniel VICENTE GOMEZ (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)
Luis Gerardo RIVERA ALVARADO (MEX)
Tracy Gangelo HANCOCK (USA)
Luillys Jose PEREZ MORA (VEN)

130kg
Luciano DEL RIO (ARG)
Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA)
Bradley Thomas HILDENBRANDT (CAN)
Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI)
Leo Dalis SANTANA HEREDIA (DOM)
Luis Alberto ROMAN BARRIOS (MEX)
Adam Jacob COON (USA)
Moises Salvador PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN)

Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA), last year's 55kg world champion, will make her international debut down at the Olympic weight of 53kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Women's Wrestling
50kg
Patricia Alejandra BERMUDEZ (ARG)
Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA)
Jessica Anne Marie MACDONALD (CAN)
Carolina CASTILLO HIDALGO (COL)
Yusneylis GUZMAN LOPEZ (CUB)
Jacqueline Del Rocio MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU)
Rita Fatima ROJAS CHAVEZ (MEX)
Thalia Jihann MALLQUI PECHE (PER)
Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA)
Genesis Rosmary MILANO OLIVIO (VEN)

53kg
Samantha Leigh STEWART (CAN)
Luisa Elizabeth VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU)
Zeltzin HERNANDEZ GUERRA (MEX)
Gabriela Nicole RAMOS DIAZ (PUR)
Jacarra Gwenisha WINCHESTER (USA)
Amy Ann FEARNSIDE (USA)

Reinging 59kg world champion Linda MORAIS (CAN) is making her second appearance down at 57kg. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

57kg
Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Linda MORAIS (CAN)
Lianna de la Caridad MONTERO HERRERA (CUB)
Lissette Alexandra ANTES CASTILLO (ECU)
Alma Jane VALENCIA ESCOTO (MEX)
Nes Marie RODRIGUEZ TIRADO (PUR)
Helen Louise MAROULIS (USA)
Betzabeth Rebeca SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN)

62kg
Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Michelle Christina FAZZARI (CAN)
Jackeline RENTERIA CASTILLO (COL)
Yessica Coraima OVIEDO PEREZ (DOM)
Alejandra ROMERO BONILLA (MEX)
Kayla Colleen Kiyoko MIRACLE (USA)
Nathaly Josefina GRIMAN HERRERA (VEN)

68kg
Luz Clara VAZQUEZ (ARG)
Dailane GOMES DOS REIS (BRA)
Danielle Suzanne LAPPAGE (CAN)
Tatiana RENTERIA RENTERIA (COL)
Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB)
Leonela Aleyda AYOVI PARRAGA (ECU)
Virginia Jaqueline FERNANDEZ SALAZAR (MEX)
Yanet Ursula SOVERO NINO (PER)
Maria Jose ACOSTA ACOSTA (VEN)

76kg
Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA)
Erica Elizabeth WIEBE (CAN)
Andrea Carolina OLAYA GUTIERREZ (COL)
Milaimys de la Caridad MARIN POTRILLE (CUB)
Genesis Rosangela REASCO VALDEZ (ECU)
Gabriela Renata CANALES HERRERA (MEX)
Andrimar Daniela LAZARO DIAZ (VEN)

2026 World Championships

Hedayati Beats World Champ Mirzazadeh to Claim Iran's World Team Spot

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 - 10:33 By Vinay Siwach

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KERMAN, Iran (June 16) -- World champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) decided to skip the second bout of the best-of-three series against Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI), ending his hopes of defending his world title this year.

Hedayati, who has been knocking on the door of Iran's world team for more than two years, defeated Mirzazadeh, 5-1, in the opening selection bout at 130kg to secure a spot on Iran's Greco-Roman team for the 2026 World Championships, to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1.

Mirzazadeh still had a chance to claim the spot if he won the remaining two bouts, but he chose not to continue in the series, effectively conceding the berth to Hedayati.

Hedayati scored on a passivity point, two pushouts and a two-point go-behind. Mirzazadeh's only point came from passivity as he failed to score from par terre.

"I respect Mirzazadeh a lot as he is a world champion," Hedayati told UWW. "But we worked a lot for one year to beat him."

In the selection bout last year, Hedayati hoped to hang on for a 1-1 criteria victory but Mirzazadeh scored a par terre turn to win 3-1. Hedayati switched his strategy this year and did not wait for the par terre position. He even asked for a standing restart when Mirzazadeh was called passive.

"Last year, I waited for the second period to win 1-1, but now I started to push right off the whistle," he said. "My plan was to push him out because I can do it. When I got passivity advantage, I asked for a start in standing."

Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI)Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) defeated Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI), 5-1.

The 22-year-old Hedayati, who hails from Amol, the same town as 125kg freestyle world champion Amirhossein ZARE (IRI), will be making his senior World Championships debut in Astana as part of a strong Iran team that features three champions among seven returning medalists.

Zare was present in Kerman to support and coach Hedayati, who calls the Freestyle wrestler 'a brother'.

"I train with Zare because of our weight classes and he came here for my match," he said. "Outside of the mat, we run together, go for hiking, cross country and share a lot of time together to discuss wrestling. We always talk about winning the gold medal together, especially at the Olympics."

The Olympics are still two years away, but Zare and Hedayati can both win gold at the World Championships in Astana.

Hedayati, despite his debut, will enter as the favorite at 130kg. He has already won golds at the U20 and U23 World Championships, the Asian Championships and Ranking Series. He has registered wins over all major 130kg wrestlers including Riza KAYAALP (TUR), Oscar PINO (CUB), Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR), among others.

His only international loss came in 2022 in the U20 World Championships final, 6-4, against Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) that he has since avenged.

"I am training with Ghasem REZAEI (2012 London Olympic champion at 96kg) to improve my par terre offense so I can be a complete wrestler. My defense in par terre is good," he said.

In other weight classes, Iran will be bringing seven medalists including three champions. Olympic champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) will be at 67kg and Hadi SARAVI (IRI) at 97kg. Both are defending world champions along with Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) who will be at 82kg.

The returning silver medalists are Payam AHMADI (IRI) at 55kg and Alireza MOHMADI (IRI) at 87kg, while Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) at 63kg and Danial SOHRABI (IRI) at 72kg are returning bronze medalists.

Former U20 world champion Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI), who finished 17th last year, will look to win a medal for his team along with Ali OSKOU (IRI) at 77kg who will be making his World Championships debut.

Iran's Freestyle team for the 2026 World Championships will be selected on Friday, June 19 with Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) and Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI), both at 97kg. 

Iran's Greco-Roman Team for 2026 World Championships

55kg: Payam AHMADI (IRI)
60kg: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI)
63kg: Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI)
67kg: Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI)
72kg: Danial SOHRABI (IRI)
77kg: Ali OSKOU (IRI)
82kg: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI)
87kg: Alireza MOHMADI (IRI)
97kg: Hadi SARAVI (IRI)
130kg: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI)