Snyder shows top form ahead of World Championships

Saturday, July 16, 2022 - 21:06 By Vinay Siwach

TUNIS, Tunisia (July 16) -- Two months before the World Championships, Kyle SNYDER (USA) showed what his opponents will be up against. The three-time world and Olympic champion put on an impressive performance at the Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series event to win the 97kg gold.

Snyder, who has made it to the 97kg final of every Worlds and Olympics since 2015 barring one, outscored his opponents 32-1, winning his third gold medal of the year. He won the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix and the Pan-Am Championships in January and May respectively.

In Tunis, Snyder was up against two wrestlers from Turkey in Burak SAHIN and Polat POLATCI before beating Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ) in the final.

Against Ibragimov, who got on a single leg attack early in the bout, Snyder displayed his brute strength and conditioning, scoring stepouts with ease against a tired Ibragimov.

He led 2-0 with two stepouts and Ibragimov was warned for fleeing as well. After the Kazakhstan wrestler failed to score in the activity period, Snyder was up 4-0.

Another stepout and three takedowns were enough for Snyder to win 11-0 with all that action happening in just three minutes and 13 seconds.

Snyder will be eyeing his third World title after being denied by Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RWF) two times in the past four years. But he will still have to go through a strong field with Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) being one of the top opponents.

Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) won the 125kg gold, his second straight at Ranking Series. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Another freestyle wrestler who will be eyeing a world title in Belgrade is Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO). He was not as convincing as Snyder but did come home with the 125kg gold.

After finishing the group stage with two wins in two bouts, Petriashvili defeated Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) 12-2 in the semifinal, setting up a rematch against Hayden ZILLMER (USA) in the final. The two had met in Round 3 and Petriashvili scored a controlled 8-2 win.

But in the final, Zillmer gave Petriashvili a scare as he led 4-1 after two takedowns. But Petriashvili added a stepout before a takedown and turn which changed the score to 6-4 in his favor. Zillmer tried going behind but as the clock ticked, Petriashvili managed to hold him off and scored another takedown late in the bout to win 8-4.

Last year, the three-time world champion suffered disheartening losses to Gable STEVESON (USA) and Amirhossein ZARE (IRI) in the Olympic and Worlds final respectively in the space of two months.

But with two Ranking Series gold and the European Championships silver in his bag, Petriashvili will try to avenge his loss to Zare in Belgrade.

5 nations win WW gold

Women's wrestling came to a close in Tunis with India winning two gold medals out of the six on offer on day three. It had won two bronze and silver on Friday. ANTIM (IND) and Sarita MOR (IND) added the two golds on Saturday with BIPASHA (IND) winning silver at 72kg and MANISHA (IND) pocketing a bronze at 65kg.

The USA, Germany, Tunisia and Turkey won a gold each.

19-year-old Antim stole the show, defeating two Pan-American champions en route the gold at 53kg. She opened the day with a fall over Nour RAOUAFI (TUN) before an 11-0 win over Pan-Am champ Dominique PARRISH (USA).

Antim then faced Olympian Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) in Round 3 and managed to beat her 4-2 to book a spot in the semifinals against Esra PUL (TUR) who suffered the same fate as Raouafi.

From the other side of the bracket, 55kg Pan-Am champion Karla GONZALEZ (CAN) made her way to the final with wins over Pul, African champion Sarra HAMDI (TUN) and a 3-1 win over Parrish in the semifinal.

Antim began the final on the aggressive and scored a takedown in the zone to lead 2-0. Gonzalez was warned for fleeing during that exchange which extended Antim's lead to 3-0. Before the break, she added a stepout to extend her lead to 4-0.

But the second period saw a passive Antim and she was cautioned for the same as Gonzalez got on the scoreboard with that one point. But she failed to find an opening to score a takedown against Antim.

A final attempt was made by the Canadian wrestler but she was only awarded a point for Antim's negative defense. Canada challenged for a takedown but the reviews confirmed that it was after the time has expired.

The 5-2 win for Antim capped off a stunning run beginning with the U23 Asian Championships in which she was won a silver. Just five days ago, the U17 Worlds bronze medalist won the U20 Asian title in Manama, Bahrain.

Mor won her second straight Ranking Series gold after winning it in Almaty in June. Wrestling Siwar BOUSETA (TUN) in Round 3, Mor brushed off a 4-0 deficit to win 14-4 and capture the 59kg gold. In her three bouts, she scored 30 points while giving up only four in the bout against Bouseta.

The top-ranked wrestler has now confirmed the top seed at 59kg for the World Championships.

Khadija JLASSI (TUN) won the lone gold medal for the home country. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

India had the chance to pick up a third gold of the night had Manisha won her 65kg Round 3 bout against Khadija JLASSI (TUN).

Manisha had defeated Emma BRUNTIL (USA) in the morning session while the USA wrestler had eked out a 7-6 win against Jlassi. Manisha now needed an outright win to claim the gold or a loss by a five-point difference after scoring seven or more points.

On the other hand, Jlassi not only needed a win, but she also had to do it with more than four points. But she took an 8-0 lead using a beautiful figure-4 move early in the bout. As Manisha played catch up, Jlassi managed to defend her lead and win 8-6 even as she struggled to keep up with the pace of the bout.

All three had a win and four classification points each but Jlassi had 14 technical points which help her win the gold. Both Manisha and Bruntil had eight technical points but the USA wrestler had conceded only seven while Manisha had given up nine points which cost her the silver as well.

World bronze medalist Buse TOSUN (TUR) dashed India's hope of another gold by beating U20 World silver medalist BIPASHA (IND), 10-5, in the 72kg final.

Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) tackles Emily SHILSON (USA) in the 50kg final in Tunis. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

At 50kg, Olympic bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) showed that she is all set for the World Championships by picking up gold.

She began with a victory via fall against Patricia BERMUDEZ (ARG) before battling it out with NEELAM (IND) in the semifinal. She had a slender lead of 2-1 against Neelam but managed to score late in the bout to make it 4-2.

She faced U23 world champion and compatriot Emily SHILSON (USA) in the final. But it was a one-sided affair as Hildebrandt used the snap to a great effect and scored an 11-0 win over Shilson.

At 55kg, World silver medalist Nina HEMMER (GER) defeated Lobna ICHAOUI (TUN) via fall in the one-off match.

Sunday will see the remaining eight freestyle weight categories in action with Iran hoping to finalize their World Championships with a selection trial at 57kg and 79kg.

Day 3 Results

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Emily SHILSON (USA), 11-0

BRONZE: Patricia BERMUDEZ (ARG) df. NEELAM (IND), via fall
BRONZE: Lisa ERSEL (GER) df. Zehra DEMIRHAN (TUR), 3-2

53kg
GOLD: ANTIM (IND) df. Karla GONZALEZ (CAN), 5-2

BRONZE: Esra PUL (TUR) df. Dominique PARRISH (USA), via injury default

55kg
GOLD: Nina HEMMER (GER) df. Lobna ICHAOUI (TUN), via fall

59kg
Round 3: Elena BRUGGER (GER) df Diana WEICKER (CAN), via injury default
Round 3: Sarita MOR (IND) df. Siwar BOUSETA (TUN), 14-4

Final standing
GOLD: Sarita MOR (IND)
SILVER: Elena BRUGGER (GER)
BRONZE: Siwar BOUSETA (TUN)

65kg
Round 3: Khadija JLASSI (TUN) df. MANISHA (IND), 8-6

Final standing
GOLD: Khadija JLASSI (TUN)
SILVER: Emma BRUNTIL (USA)
BRONZE: MANISHA (IND)

72kg
GOLD: Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. BIPASHA (IND), 10-5

BRONZE: Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN) df. Amit ELOR (USA), via forfeit
BRONZE: Skylar GROTE (USA) df. MANJU (IND), 10-0

Freestyle

97kg
GOLD: Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ), 11-0

BRONZE: Deepak NEHRA (IND) df. Oktay CIFTCI (TUR), 16-6
BRONZE: Burak SAHIN (TUR) df. Polat POLATCI (TUR), 5-4

125kg
GOLD: Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) df. Hayden ZILLMER (USA), 8-4

BRONZE: Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) df. Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ), 2-1

#WrestleCoralville

2026 Pan-American Championships Preview: Freestyle, Greco-Roman, Women's Wrestling

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 - 08:30 By Vinay Siwach

CORALVILLE, IOWA, United States (May 5) -- Eight years of dominance at the Pan-American Championships.

That is the standard the United States has set on the continental stage, winning team titles in freestyle, Greco-Roman, and women’s wrestling at every edition of the tournament since 2018.

There is little reason to expect 2026 to be any different.

A powerful U.S. squad will headline the home edition of the 2026 Pan-American Championships, which runs May 7-10 in Coralville, Iowa, United States.

DOWNLOAD FULL PREVIEW HERE | HOW TO WATCH | PAN-AM ENTRIES

World and defending champions Zahid VALENCIA (USA) at 86kg and Trent HIDLAY (USA) at 92kg will lead the 30-member squad that also features world silver medalist Levi HAINES (USA) at 79kg, Real WOODS (USA) at 65kg, and local star Stephen BUCHANAN (USA) at 97kg.

Valencia, who won the world gold in 2025, opened his season this year at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series, winning a bronze medal. He looks to return to the top of the podium in Coralville like did at his previous two Pan-Am Championships. Valencia has won six bouts overall without much trouble and outscored his opponents 32-0 last year.

He is likely to win the gold medal this year as well and extend his unbeaten run in the continent unless returning silver medalist Jorge LLANO (ARG) can avenge his loss from last year.

Past medalist Ethan RAMOS (PUR) will be returning to Pan-Ams after four years and has a good chance to finish on the podium. Kevin DE LEON TREVINO (MEX), bronze medalist last year, is also returning with an aim to change the color of his medal.

The 92kg bracket has only four wrestlers so Hidlay will have to win three bouts to retain his gold medal. Joining him are returning silver medalist Andrew JOHNSON (CAN), Brazil's rising star Lucas ALVAN (BRA) and last year's silver medalist at 79kg Shane JONES (PUR) who is not at 92kg.

Similarly at 79kg, it will be a round-robin bracket with Haines as the favorite. Haines, who won the world silver in Zagreb with some incredibly high-paced wrestling, can face some resistance from Patrik LEDER (CAN) in an otherwise smooth sail.

A rematch of the World Championships bronze-medal bout is on the cards at 65kg as world bronze medalist Woods and fifth-placer Peiman BIABANI (CAN) are entered. Woods defeated Biabani in Zagreb but the Canadian has the arsenal to counter Woods especially in a rematch.

At 125kg, Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) will be returning to defend his gold medal which he won in spectacular manner, using a five-point throw and a fall.

Paris Olympian Jonovan SMITH (PUR), youngster Jorawar DHINSA (CAN) and 37-year-old returning bronze medalist Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN) will be among the challengers for Hendrickson.

Buchanan, who grabbed wrestling headlines after beating Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) at the Zagreb Open, will start at 97kg. It will be only his second international competition. Returning silver medalist Arturo SILOT TORRES (CUB) will hope to win the gold medal over Buchanan in front of the American's home crowd.

Among other competitors are Nishan RANDHAWA (CAN), Edwin MORALES (PUR) and Cristian SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN).

At 74kg, Geannis GARZON TAMAYO (CUB) will look to make amends after being disqualified last year for brutality. However, U20 Pan-Am champion Phillip WEBSTER (USA) stands in his way.

Adam THOMSON (CAN) has made steady improvements in his career and won bronze last year. The Canadian and former medalist Jonathan PARRILLA RAMOS (PUR) have a good chance of finishing on the podium.

Two of the three weight classes in which the U.S. did not win the gold medal last year were 57kg, and 70kg. (The third was 65kg).

But this year, 57kg is missing defending champ Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX), leaving the category wide open. The entries this year include returning bronze medalists Liam CRONIN (USA) and Edwin SEGURA GUERRA (GUA) and former silver medalists Darian CRUZ (PUR) and Pedro MEJIAS RODRIGUEZ (VEN).

At 70kg, with 2025 gold medalist Austin GOMEZ (MEX) retiring, a new champion will be crowned. The U.S. is sending Ridge LOVETT (USA) who finished eighth at the 2026 Muhamet Malo Ranking Series.

Other entries include former medalist Mauricio LOVERA (ARG), Michael ZALE (CAN), Francisco GONZALEZ TORRES (MEX) and youngster Victor SOTO RIVERA (PUR).

At 61kg, Austin DESANTO (USA) will fancy his chances of winning gold in a round-robin bracket. Desanto began his year with a gold medal at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series after winning the round-robin bracket in which he also pinned AMAN (IND).

He will be joined by Garette SAUNDERS (CAN), Peter HAMMER CUDE (CRC) and Caleb SMITH (PUR) in the bracket.

Defending champion Kylie WELKER (USA) and world champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) are expected to meet in the 76kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

Women's Wrestling (DOWNLOAD FULL PREVIEW HERE)

The 76kg division has produced a different champion at each of the last six Pan-American Championships. Three of those title winners will compete again in Iowa. While several weight classes at the Pan-Ams appear predictable on paper, 76kg stands out as the division to watch.

Defending champion Kylie WELKER (USA) will likely have a face-off against world champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) who she defeated in the semifinals last year. The two can only meet in the final as both are seeded on opposite sides.

The Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medalists Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) and Milaimy MARIN (CUB) are also entered for the competition. Renteria has lost two Pan-Am finals and is returning to the tournament after two years. Marin, who won the 2023 title by beating Renteria in the final, will also be eyeing her second title.

Another Olympic medalist in action is Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) who has been a force at 53kg for some years, and she recently won silver at the World Championships.

The U.S. is sending former U20 world champion Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) who has not had similar success at the senior level but is still a tough competitor. Former U23 world silver medalist Serena DI BENEDETTO (CAN) will also look to reach the podium and challenge Guzman and her bid for a fourth Pan-Am title.

At 57kg, defending champion Yaynelis SANZ (CUB) will return in a packed bracket featuring former champion Giullia PENALBER (BRA), veteran Luisa VALVERDE (ECU), Amanda MARTINEZ (USA), Bertha ROJAS CHAVEZ (MEX) and 55kg champion Karla GODINEZ (CAN) who is now at 57kg.

At 62kg, there will be a new champion as the 2025 gold medalist Ana GODINEZ (CAN) has decided to skip the tournament. Returning silver medalist Astrid MONTERO (VEN) will fancy her chances but the bracket has former champion Lais NUNES (BRA) and returning bronze medalist Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX) as well.

Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) will lead the U.S. challenge while Canada is sending Annika FINES (CAN).

The U.S. will hope that the 68kg gold stays with it despite last year's gold medalist Kennedy BLADES (USA) not part of the team. Former U20 world champion Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) will lead the charge in this weight class. Among the contenders are returning silver medalist Nathaly GRIMAN (VEN), returning bronze medalist Virginia JIMENEZ (CHI) along with Eduarda RODRIGUES (BRA) and Aleah NICKEL (CAN).

Former U17 world champion Katie GOMEZ (USA) has made a drastic but successful drop to 50kg as she earned a spot on the U.S. team last week. She will be looking for her first Pan-Am title in Coralville but adjusting to the weight will be a bigger challenge.

Returning silver medalist Madison PARKS (CAN) will definitely fancy her chances against Gomez and bronze medalist Nohalis LOYO (VEN) would like to change the color of her medal. Cuba is sending U23 Pan-Am champ Greili BENCOSME (CUB) who will hope for a podium finish.

In the non-Olympic weight classes, the U.S. has strong representation. U20 world champion and prodigious talent Everest LEYDECKER (USA) is the favorite at 55kg. She began the season with a gold medal at the Zagreb Open. She will be joined by Amber WIEBE (CAN) and Josefina RAMIREZ (MEX) in the bracket.

At 59kg, defending champion and world bronze medalist Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN) will once again start as the favorite despite the presence of Daniela MARTINEZ (MEX), Abigail NETTE (USA) and Mayara RAMOS (BRA).

Former world silver medalist Kayla MIRACLE (USA) is back on the mat after a brief period in which she was out of action. She will have to win two bouts to confirm the gold medal at 65kg. Returning silver medalist Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN) will try to find a way past Miracle and clinch the gold medal this year. They are joined by Alexis GOMEZ (MEX) in the bracket.

Ellise DAYNES (CAN), Michelle OLEA RUIZ (MEX) and Precious BELL (USA) complete the 72kg bracket for the Pan-Am Championships.

Luis ORTA (CUB) is a three-time Pan-American champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

Greco-Roman (DOWNLOAD FULL PREVIEW HERE)

Cuba has historically dominated Greco-Roman wrestling at the Pan-American Championships. Up until 2021, it routinely collected multiple gold medals, including clean sweeps of all weight categories in 1988, 1997 and 2005. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the country struggled to maintain that level of dominance.

The dip was evident in 2020, when Cuba managed three golds. For any other country, that would be a successful campaign. However, for Cuba it was their worst performance since 2003. Since then, Cuba has not won more than three golds, hitting rock bottom in 2024 with just one gold.

Cuba is now hoping to reverse that trend. Led by Olympic and world champion Luis ORTA (CUB), Cuba will eye at least four golds in Coralville. Orta is among the three defending champs from Cuba returning along with Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) and Oscar PINO (CUB).

Orta, a bronze medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is a four-time Pan-American champion and remains unbeaten in the tournament. He will compete at 67kg in Coralville, where he is expected to extend that streak.

The weight also features returning silver medalist Nestor ALMAZA (CHI) and U23 world bronze medalist Otto BLACK (USA) making his Pan-Am debut. Other contenders include returning 72kg silver medalist Nilton SOTO (PER), 2023 bronze medalist Andres MONTANO (ECU) and Mauricio LOVERA (ARG), a former bronze medalist trying to do the Greco and Freestyle double again.

At 97kg, Rosillo enters as the defending champion and favorite. The 2023 world champion, who also won bronze in Paris, will look to add another continental title. His main rival remains Kevin MEJIA (HON), a three-time champion who defeated Rosillo in the 2024 final before finishing runner-up in 2025.

Returning bronze medalist Carlos ADAMES (DOM) and U23 Pan-Am champion Juan DIAZ (VEN), who is making his senior debut, add further depth to the field.

Pino is placed in a highly competitive 130kg category as he faces a tough challenge from Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA), last year’s silver medalist, and Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalist Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI), who returns after a two-year break.

Acosta defeated Pino in the 2024 final while Zagreb Open champion Schultz pushed him close in 2025. Gino AVILA (HON), who won bronze medals last year in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman, will be wrestling only Greco this year.

Cuba will hope for golds in other weight classes as well and the biggest hope will be four-time 87kg champion Daniel GREGORICH (CUB), who turns 30 on the first day of the competition.

However, 2025 82kg champion Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) will be the biggest hurdle as he brings the European style to the mat and Gregorich, away from international wrestling for two years, will have to adjust quickly.

Others in the bracket include returning silver medalist Luis AVENDANO (VEN) who also lost to Gregorich in the 2023 final, returning bronze medalist Jose VARGAS (MEX) and Johan BATISTA (DOM), a silver medalist from 2022 after losing to Gregorich in the final.

At 60kg, Paris Olympian Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) makes his Pan-Ams debut and faces returning silver medalist Alexis RODRIGUEZ (MEX), 2023 champion Dalton ROBERTS (USA) and age-group Pan-Am champion Abel SANCHEZ (PER).

With no Cuban entry, the 77kg category is wide open. Former U17 world champion Joel ADAMS (USA) leads the U.S. challenge but will have experienced wrestlers like Joilson DE BRITO (BRA), a former silver medalist and returning to competition after two years, in the bracket.

Two age-group stars Dario CUBAS (PER) and Darfel PARADA (VEN) will make their senior debuts in Coralville and are medal threats.

Big-throwing Kamal BEY (USA) will be at 82kg and with Diego MACIAS (MEX) as the only other wrestler in the category, the two will face directly for gold.

Returning to international wrestling after four years, 36-year-old Max NOWRY (USA) will look to win his fourth Pan-Am title to go along with his golds in 2013, 2019 and 2020.

The other three in his 55kg bracket are at least 14 years younger to Nowry. Yan LANDIM (BRA), Moises PERALTA (ECU) and returning silver medalist Isaac MARIN (MEX) will be the ones challenging the veteran Nowry.

Returning 63kg champion Jeremy PERALTA (ECU) has 41-year-old Marat GARIPOV (BRA) in the same bracket along with U23 Pan-Am champion Angel SEGURA (MEX) and two senior debutants Derick MARTINEZ (PUR) and Landon DRURY (USA).

A round-robin will decide the champion at 72kg as Mauri VICENTE (BRA), Emerson FELIPE (GUA) and Benjamin PEAK (USA) complete the bracket.

Snyder shows top form ahead of World Championships

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2026 Pan-American Championships Preview: Freestyle, Greco-Roman, Women's Wrestling