#WrestleBuenosAires

USA earns four titles, Cuba two in opening day of Pan Ams

By Taylor GREGORIO

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (May 3) -– The 2023 Pan American Championships kicked off today in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with six Greco-Roman weight classes contested — 55kg, 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 97kg and 130kg. 

Seven weights were scheduled for today; however, no entries were registered at 63kg. 

At 55kg, it was a round-robin tournament with Dalton DUFFIELD (USA) taking the gold with a pair of wins over Jose RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ (MEX) and Axel ROLON (ARG), who earned silver and bronze, respectively. 

The USA also added gold medals at 60kg, 72kg and 97kg. 

Dalton ROBERTS (USA) registered a 9-0 technical fall in the 60kg finals over Jeremy PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU). Roberts opened scoring with a step out for a 1-0 lead and was later awarded a four-point throw, which was overturned after Peralta’s corner challenged the call. Shortly after, Roberts got on top with a takedown and immediately went into a trapped-arm gut for three turns to end the bout. 

For gold at 72kg, Justus SCOTT (USA) outlasted Kenedy MORAES PEDROSA (BRA). The score was knotted, 1-1, at the break, but Scott gained momentum with a passivity call for a chance on top, leading to a pair of turns. Moraes earned a late step out, but it was not enough, and Scott emerged with a 6-2 victory. 

The 97kg finals was a win by injury default for Josef RAU (USA), who was slated to face two-time defending Pan Am champ Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON). The win marks Rau’s third Pan Am title with golds coming in 2015 and 2020. 

There were also injury defaults in the finals at 67kg and 130kg. Both victors in those matches hail from Cuba. Taking the crown at 67kg was Tokyo Olympic champion Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB). It’s his third Pan Am gold. At 130kg, three-time World medalist Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) collected his fifth Pan Am title. 

The tournament continues tomorrow with the conclusion of Greco-Roman (77kg, 82kg, 87kg) and the start of women’s freestyle (55kg, 59kg, 65kg, 72kg). Fans can catch all the action live on UWW.org. 

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD – Dalton DUFFIELD (USA)
SILVER – Jose RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ (MEX)
BRONZE – Axel ROLON (ARG) 

60kg
GOLD – Dalton ROBERTS (USA) df. Jeremy PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU), 9-0 

BRONZE – Kevin DE ARMAS RODRIGUEZ (CUB) df. Ditcher TORO CASTANEDA (COL), win by injury default
BRONZE – Raiber RODRIGUEZ OROZCO (VEN) df. Alexis RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ (MEX), 7-2 

67kg
GOLD – Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB) df. Nestor ALMANZA TRUYOL (CHI), win by injury default
BRONZE – Julian HORTA ACEVEDO (COL) df. Enyer FELICIANO (DOM), 9-2
BRONZE – Andres MONTANO ARROYO (ECU) df. Edisson OLMOS GUTIERREZ (MEX), 6-1 

72kg
GOLD – Justus SCOTT (USA) df. Kenedy MORAES PEDROSA (BRA), 6-2
BRONZE – Jose VARELA GARCIA (GUA) df. Jesus GUZMAN DAVILA (PER), 3-1 

97kg
GOLD – Josef RAU (USA) df. Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON), win by injury default
BRONZE – Igor ALVES DE QUEIROZ (BRA) df. Ricardo GOMEZ (ARG), 9-0
BRONZE – Carlos ADAMES PALMER (DOM) df. Luillys PEREZ MORA (VEN), 9-0 

130kg
GOLD – Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) df. Gino AVILA DILBERT (HON), win by injury default
BRONZE – Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI) df. Donald LONGENDYKE (USA), 8-0
BRONZE – Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA) df. Moises PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN), 5-3

#WrestleBuenosAires

Cuba battling for fourth and fifth Greco-Roman gold medals at #WrestleBuenosAires

By Taylor Miller

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Cuba put two in tonight’s Greco-Roman finals, including Yosvanys PENA FLORES and Antonio DURAN ROBLES. The country is going for its fourth and fifth gold medals in Greco this week.

Pena Flores will face 2017 Junior World champion Kamal BEY (USA) in the 77 kg bracket, and Duran Robles will take on two-time Pan Am bronze medalist Luis AVENDANO ROJAS.

In position for gold at 82 kg is Cheney HAIGHT (USA) and Carlos ESPINOZA CASTRO (PER). Both won their first-round matches in round robin and will battle for the title tonight.

The first four weights of women’s freestyle was also contested, and USA has already won two gold medals, putting up winning-records in round-robin action.

At 55 kg, Alex HEDRICK began her tournament with a fall and followed it up with a decision, and wrestling at 65 kg, Julia SALATA registered two technical falls for the crown.

The gold medal at 59 kg will be decided between Karoline SILVA DE SANTANA (BRA) and Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN), who are each 2-0 going into tonight.

A similar situation at 72 kg, the title will come down to Rachel WATTERS (USA) and Dejah SLATER (CAN) in a three-man brackets.

Action will begin at 5 p.m. local time (4 p.m. EST) live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Finals pairings

Greco-Roman

77 kg
GOLD - Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB) vs. Kamal BEY (USA)
BRONZE - Juan ESCOBAR (MEX) vs. David CHOC HUOC (GUA)
BRONZE - Jair CUERO MUNOZ (COL) vs. Johan BATISTA (DOM)

82 kg – round three matches
Cheney HAIGHT (USA) vs. Carlos ESPINOZA CASTRO (PER)

87 kg
GOLD - Luis AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN) vs. Antonio DURAN ROBLES (CUB)
BRONZE - Carlos ADAMES PALMER (DOM) vs. Alfonso LEYVA YEPEZ (MEX)
BRONZE - Phillip BARREIRO (CAN) vs. Patrick MARTINEZ (USA)

Women’s freestyle

55 kg – round three matches
Elis AZERRAD PARODI (ARG) vs. Jayd DAVIS (CAN)

59 kg – round three matches
Karoline SILVA DE SANTANA (BRA) vs. Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN)
Andribeth RIVERA BELLIARD (PUR) vs. Kelsey CAMPBELL (USA)

65 kg – round three matches
Jessica BROUILLETTE (CAN) vs. Grabriela PEDRO DA ROCHA (BRA)

72 kg – round three matches
Rachel WATTERS (USA) vs. Dejah SLATER (CAN)