#WrestleOttawa

Three Americans and Two Cubans Win Gold in Greco at #WrestleOttawa

Saturday, March 7, 2020 - 02:34 By Taylor GREGORIO

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OTTAWA, Canada – The United States won three of the night’s six gold medals on Friday night at the Pan American Championships in Ottawa, Canada.

The United States saw gold-medal performances from Max NOWRY (55kg), Raymond BUNKER (72 kg) and G’Angelo HANCOCK (97 kg).

Nowry (USA) faced Kieran AKHTAR (CAN) for the title. Nowry used three big moves to Akhtar, 10-0, in just 1:13. The victory marks Nowry’s second-consecutive Pan American Championships gold medal.

Claiming the title at 72 kg was Bunker who faced Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA) in the only match of the day contested at 72 kg.

Bunker trailed 2-0 at the break but went up late in the second period, drawing a passivity and a caution-and-two from de Brito to hang on for a 3-2 win.

In the finals at 97 kg, Hancock avenged a loss from earlier in the day against Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB).

The two wrestled in pool action in the morning session, where Rosillo won by pin. Being the top two athletes from their pools, Hancock and Rosillo advanced to opposite semifinals, and were eventually pitted against each other in the finals.

There, Hancock drew a passivity from Rosillo and capitalized in par terre, scoring two big throws for an eventual 10-0 win.

Cuba picked up two gold medals on Friday, winning at 67 kg and 130 kg.

2016 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) outscored his opponents 37-2 on the day.

In the finals, he cruised past Diego MARTINEZ de LEIJA (MEX), 11-2. Martinez scored first with a takedown on the edge, but Borrero stormed back, scoring 11 unanswered points for the technical fall victory and his sixth Pan Am Championships title.

In another Cuba vs. USA finals matchup, Angel PACHECO ROMERO (CUB) dominated 2018 World silver medalist Adam Coon in the gold bout.

Pacheco rattled off two takedowns and a gut wrench for an early 6-0 lead. The Cuban added two step outs for an 8-0 tech fall.

The final gold medal went to Ditcher TORO CASTANEDA (COL), who defeated Leslie FUENFFINGER (USA) in the 60 kg finals.

Toro went ahead quickly with a takedown and two gut wrenches. The USA challenged one of the guts, but it failed, giving Toro a 7-0 lead. To wrap up the bout, Toro hit a throw on the edge for two points and a 9-0 victory.

The win marks Toro’s first Pan Am gold at the Senior level. He also owns two Junior Pan Am titles.

Also of note at the same weight, Emerson FELIPE ORDONEZ (GUA) won a bronze medal. He was funded by the United World Wrestling Development Technical Assistance program, which allows athletes from developing countries the opportunities to compete at top-level events.

En Espanol                                                                           

OTTAWA, Canada – Los Estados Unidos gano tres de las seis medallas de oro en el primer día de competencia del Campeonato Panamericano en Ottawa, Canada. 


Los ganadores de la medalla de oro fueron, Max NOWRY (55 kg), Raymond BUNKER (72 kg) y G’Angelo HANCOCK (97 kg). 
 

En 55 kg, Nowry, ganó 10-0 contra Kieran AKHTAR (CAN), solo necesito 1:13 para realizar tres acciones de 4 puntos y asi ganar su segunda medalla de oro panamericana consecutiva.
 

El titulo en 72 kg fue para Bunker quien luchó contra Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA) en el único combate de la categoría. 
 

Bunker estaba perdiendo 2-0 después del primer periodo, pero anoto tres puntos en los dos minutos finales para finalizar el combate 3-2. 
 

En la final de 97 kg, Hancock se recupero de la derrota matutina ante Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB), Hancock lanzo a Rosillo dos veces, con lo que consolido la victoria 10-0. 
 

Cuba gano dos medallas de oro esta noche, reclamando los títulos en 67 kg y 130 kg. 
 

En 67 kg, el tres veces Campeonato mundial y olímpico Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) domino a la competición, superando a sus oponentes con 37 puntos a favor y solo 2 en contra.
 

En el final, Borrero derroto a Diego MARTINEZ de LEIJA (MEX); Martínez marco primero, pero Borrero anotó 11 puntos sin respuesta, para ganar su sexto título Panamericano con un marcador de 11-2.
 

En otro enfrentamiento final entre Cuba y Estados Unidos, Angel PACHECO ROMERO (CUB) dominó al medallista de plata mundial de 2018 Adam Coon y Anoto ocho puntos rápidamente para quedarse con la victoria por superioridad técnica. 
 

La ultima medalla de oro fue para Ditcher TORO CASTANEDA (COL), quien derrotó a Leslie FUENFFINGER (USA) en los 60 kg, con un marcador de 9-0. 
 

Esta victoria marca el primer oro Panamericano de Toro en la categoría Senior que se suma a sus dos títulos en Campeonatos Panamericanos Juveniles.
 

También en 60 kg, Emerson FELIPE ORDONEZ (GUA) ganó una medalla de bronce, quien participó gracias al programa de Asistencia Técnica del Departamento de Desarrollo de la United World Wrestling, que brinda a los atletas de países en desarrollo la oportunidad de competir en eventos de alto nivel.

FINALS RESULTS

55 kg
GOLD – Max NOWRY (USA)
SILVER – Kieran AKHTAR (CAN)
BRONZE – Sargis KHACHATRYAN (BRA)

60 kg
GOLD – Ditcher TORO CASTANEDA (COL) df. Leslie FUENFFINGER (USA), 9-0
BRONZE – Emerson FELIPE ORDONEZ (GUA) df. Marat GARIPOV (BRA), 4-3
BRONZE – Jancel PIMENTEL GONZALEZ (DOM) df. Miguel UGALDE AGUILAR (MEX), 8-0

67 kg
GOLD – Ismael BORREREO MOLINA (CUB) df. Diego MARTINEZ de LEIJA (MEX), 11-2
BRONZE – Alejandro SANCHO (USA) df. Julian HORTA ACEVEDO (COL), 10-0
BRONZE – Cristhian RIVAS CASTRO (ECU) df. Cristobal Alonso TORRES NUNEZ (CHI), 7-2

72 kg
GOLD – Raymond BUNKER (USA)
SILVER – Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA)

97 kg
GOLD - G’Angelo HANCOCK (USA) df. Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB), 10-0
BRONZE – Luillys Jose PEREZ MORA (VEN) df. Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON), injury default

130 kg
GOLD – Angel PACHECO ROMERO (CUB) df. Adam COON (USA), 8-0
BRONZE – Moises PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN) df. Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI), injury default
BRONZE – Leo SANTANA HEREDIA (DOM) df. Luciano DEL RIO (ARG), 3-0

 

#UWWAwards

UWW Breakout Wrestlers of 2025: Hidlay, Farokhi, Onishi

Monday, December 15, 2025 - 12:24 By Eric Olanowski

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 14) -- The 2025 Breakout Wrestlers of the Year were not the ones anyone circled heading into the season. They weren’t the favorites, or the ones analysts picked to walk away from the season as world medalists.

They were the outsiders, largely unproven and underestimated. But that all changed in a single season when they smashed expectations, catapulting themselves into world-wide stardom with world-title runs that nobody saw coming.

Freestyle Breakout Performer of the Year: Trent HIDLAY (USA)

Before 2025, Hidlay had never climbed to the top of a podium at an international event. His  2025 season even began with more doubt than promise, dropping his second match of the year to rising Azeri phenom Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) at the Zagreb Open. But that loss lit a fuse. From that moment on, the 26-year-old didn’t just improve -- he transformed.

Hidlay unleashed a stunning 13-match win streak and collected gold medals at the Pan-American Championships, the Budapest Ranking Series and the World Championships. Along the way, he knocked off giants -- Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE), Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), and Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), just to name a few.

Then came the finale: a world finals comeback for the ages. Down and all but finished, Hidlay stormed back to defeat Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW). In one year, Hidlay didn’t just win -- he arrived.

Greco-Roman Breakout Performer of the Year: Gholemreza FAROKHI (IRI)

When opportunity knocked, Farokhi wasn’t just there to answer it, he was there to kick the door off its hinges. The 23-year-old stepped into Iran’s senior lineup for the first time in his career and tore through anyone in front of him -- whether it was at 82kg or 87kg.

Farokhi bulldozed his way to gold medals at the two World Championships he participated in. He racked up a perfect 17-0 record, including 11 technical superiority wins and six decisions, sweeping gold at the World Championships, U23 World Championships, the Islamic Solidarity Games, and the Zagreb Open Ranking Series.

Women’s Wrestling Breakout Performer of the Year: Sakura ONISHI (JPN)

At 19 years old, Onishi entered the senior circuit with massive goals but had zero experience and zero fear. In mere months, she became a problem no one had an answer for.

Onishi tore through the season with a flawless 15-0 record, capturing titles at the Senior and U20 World Championships, the Asian Championships, and the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series. Her dominance wasn’t subtle -- it was exactly what you’d expect from a Japanese women’s wrestler -- 11 tech falls, three pins, and a decision, outscoring opponents 158-17.