#Fortaleza2018

Six U.S. Wrestlers in Position to Win Gold at #Fortaleza2018

Friday, August 17, 2018 - 20:19 By Taylor Miller

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Joilson de Brito Ramos Junior Brazil

FORTALEZA, Brazil – After the first session of Greco-Roman action, the United States have six wrestler contending for gold at the 2018 Junior Pan American Championships in Fortaleza, Brazil.

Nine of the day’s 10 weight classes were contested as round robins. Of those nine, four weights had six athletes, allowing for pool play, including 60 kg, 63 kg, 77 kg and 130 kg.

In the only eight-man bracket of the tournament, 2017 Senior and Junior Pan Am silver medalist Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA) moved to the 67 kg finals with a dominant performance, winning two matches by tech fall.

The host country favorite will take on Julian HORTA (COL), who won bronze in both styles at last year’s tournament.

Moving to the finals at 60 kg is 2017 Junior Pan Am bronze medalist Andre CORTES (COL) and 2015 Cadet Pan Am champion and 2016 Cadet Pan Am silver medalist Samuel UGALDE (MEX).

At 63 kg, Dylan GREGERSON (USA) advanced to the finals, defeating three-time Pan Am medalist and 2017 Junior Pan Am runner up Jose DAVILA CABELLO (PER) in the first round.

Meeting up with Gregerson in the finals is Irving SALAZAR (MEX), who won Cadet Pan Am medals in 2015 and 2016.

The 77 kg finals features another athlete from Mexico, 2015 Cadet Pan Am runner-up Hector RODRIGUEZ. He will take on Jhonny ARIAS (COL).

The finalists at 130 kg are Anthony CASSIOPPI (USA) and Paul MORALES (MEX).

At last year’s Junior Pan Ams, Cassioppi won gold in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. Morales is a 2016 Cadet Pan Am silver medalist.

At 55 kg, 2017 Junior World silver medalist Cevion SEVERADO (USA) defeated 2016 Cadet World silver medalist Nestor DELGADO (MEX) in the first round with a second-period pin.

Should he win his match tonight, he will claim gold at the weight class.

Leonard MERKIN (USA) completed his tournament this morning, going 4-0 at 72 kg. Regardless of tonight’s results with the remaining matches left at the weight, Merkin will be awarded gold.

One of the round-five bouts at 82 kg is a true championship bout as Jhon CARMONA (COL) and returning Junior Pan American champion Carlos ESPINOZA (PER), who each went 3-0 in the first session.

At 87 kg, should Cameron CAFFEY (USA) win his bout against Nicolas BAEZ (ARG), he will claim the crown.

Austin HARRIS (USA) has already sealed the gold medal at 97 kg, winning both of his matches in a three-man bracket.

The medal matches are set for 5 p.m. ET live on Trackwrestling.  

 

#UnitedWorldWrestling

Cuba’s Trujillo Diaz honored with IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award

Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 09:29 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (November 24) — Wrestling coach Raul TRUJILLO DIAZ (CUB) received the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award on Monday during a ceremony at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The award was presented by IOC President Kirsty COVENTRY and Sergii BUBKA, Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Entourage Commission.

Trujillo Díaz has been one of the key figures in the inexorable rise of Cuba as one of the leading nations in Greco-Roman, with more than 52 years of coaching experience. He coached the Cuban and Portuguese national teams across five editions of the Olympic Games.

Cuba

“I am very honoured to receive this extraordinary recognition, Trujillo Diaz said. “I would like to thank the IOC, all the athletes I have coached over the past 50 years, the other wrestling coaches and people who worked tirelessly behind the scenes in the sport to which I have dedicated my life. All were my motivation and example. I also want to take the opportunity to thank United World Wrestling (UWW). And a big thank-you to someone very special who has always been with me – my family – for their great support.”

One of the legends he has trained is five-time Olympic champion Mijain LOPEZ (CUB), who at Paris 2024 became the first athlete in any sport to win five consecutive Olympic gold medals in the same event. Others who have been trained by Trujillo Diaz are Rio 2016 champion Ismael BORRERO (CUB) and Luis ORTA (CUB), the 60kg champion at Tokyo 2020.

As well as introducing training innovations that have helped lead his nation to success, Trujillo Díaz has published numerous research papers and articles on wrestling science and pedagogy. He has also worked widely for UWW across Latin America as an educator, bringing the breadth of his knowledge and experience to new generations of athletes and coaches.

Alongwith Truillo Diaz, volleyball coach Lang PING also received the IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award.

"It's really special to be here with all of you and to celebrate our two coaches for their incredible commitment and their lifetime of work in serving their athletes to become the best athlete, but also the best humans that they can be," said IOC President Kirsty Coventry during the ceremony. "So many of us who compete in sport know and understand that the lessons that we learn in sport will guide us in our everyday life after and this is where the role of coaches is so important,” she added.