#Fortaleza2018

USA Finishes Team Sweep with Nine Freestyle Champions at #Fortaleza2018

Monday, August 20, 2018 - 00:35 By Taylor Miller

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FORTALEZA, Brazil – The United States ran away with its third team title of the week, producing nine freestyle champions at the 2018 Junior Pan American Championship in Fortaleza, Brazil.

Piggybacking off the team titles in Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle, the U.S. men’s freestyle team scored 240 points for the top spot on the podium, followed by Canada with 147 points and Mexico with 100 points.

Four of USA’s champions won gold in the Greco-Roman tournament earlier this weekend.

Dylan GREGERSON (USA) spent less than a period on the mat in the 61 kg final, defeating Marco PALMERO (CAN), 10-0, in 2:41.

At 97 kg, Austin HARRIS (USA) picked up his second gold medal with a fall over Emiliano PRADO GUZMAN (MEX), locking up a cradle halfway through the first period to get the fall at 1:42.

Two other U.S. wrestlers, Anthony CASSIOPPI and Cameron CAFFEY, already claimed Junior Pan American freestyle titles to double up on 2018 Pan Am golds after successful morning sessions, with each wrestler going 4-0.

Cassioppi, who won the Golden Boot in Greco-Roman, secured the crown at 125 kg, while Caffey won at 92 kg.

The U.S. dominated in its other four finals, tallying two tech falls, one pin and one come-from-behind decision.  

Andrew ALIREZ (USA) recorded his third 10-0 technical fall of the day, defeating 2015 Cadet Pan American freestyle champion Cristian SANTIAGO PEREZ (MEX) in the 65 kg finals.

Following his teammate’s lead, Austin O’CONNOR (USA) rattled off 14 unanswered points against Jose VARELA GARCIA (GUA) for at 14-4 tech fall and the crown at 70 kg.

At 79 kg, Anthony MANTANONA (USA) capped off an impressive day, which included two tech falls and two pins.

His championship bout only lasted 21 seconds as he stuck Miguel ORNELAS REYNOSO (MEX).

Surviving a thrilling match in the 74 kg final was Jeremiah MOODY (USA), who scored seven points in the last 60 seconds to edge out Ty BRIDGEWATER (CAN), 12-10.

At 86 kg, Kordell NORFLEET (USA) snagged his fourth first-period technical fall, finishing off Connor PATTISON (CAN), 10-0, in 1:12.  

At 57 kg, 2017 Cadet South American champion Jonathan PRATA ALAS (ARG) won the title in a thrilling victory over Kevin CHAVEZ BETANCUR (COL) that saw multiple points scored in the final 30 seconds. Prata had his hand raised in a 10-6 win.

His performance earned Prata the freestyle Golden Boot.

Team scores (top five)
1. USA – 240
2. Canada – 147
3. Mexico – 100
4. Brazil – 96
5. Colombia - 75

Final results

57 kg
GOLD - Jonathan PRATA ALAS (ARG)
SILVER - Kevin CHAVEZ BETANCUR (COL)
BRONZE- Brandon COURTNEY (USA)

61 kg
GOLD - Dylan GREGERSON (USA)
SILVER - Marco PALMERO (CAN)
BRONZE - Angel TINOCO TORRES (PER)
BRONZE - Oscar CALVOPINA CANCIO (ECU)

65 kg
GOLD - Andrew ALIREZ (USA)
SILVER - Cristian SANTIAGO PEREZ (MEX)
BRONZE - Connor MCNEICE (CAN)
BRONZE - Enrique PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)

70 kg
GOLD - Austin O'CONNOR (USA)
SILVER - Jose VARELA GARCIA (GUA)
BRONZE - Gunnar SALES (CAN)

74 kg
GOLD - Jeremiah MOODY (USA)
SILVER - Ty BRIDGEWATER (CAN)
BRONZE - Marcos QUESADA MARTINEZ (PER)

79 kg
GOLD - Anthony MANTANONA (USA)
SILVER - Phelipe DOS SANTOS RIBEIRO (BRA)
BRONZE - Miguel ORNELAS REYNOSO (MEX)

86 kg
GOLD - Kordell NORFLEET (USA)
SILVER - Nicolas BAEZ (ARG)
BRONZE - Jhon CARMONA ALCANTARA (COL)

92 kg
GOLD - Cameron CAFFEY (USA)
SILVER - Hunter LEE (CAN)
BRONZE - Pedro GARAY LOPEZ (MEX)

97 kg
GOLD - Austin HARRIS (USA)
SILVER - Guilherme PRADELLA LIMA (BRA)
BRONZE - Richard DESCHATELETS (CAN)

125 kg
GOLD - Anthony CASSIOPPI (USA)
SILVER - Aly BARGHOUT (CAN)
BRONZE - Andrew GUNNING (PER)

 

 

2026 World Championships

Maroulis, Dake, Snyder Make U.S. Team for 2026 World Championships

Saturday, June 20, 2026 - 08:53 By United World Wrestling Press

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NEWARK, New Jersey, United States -- Four-time world champion Kyle DAKE (USA) returned to the United States team for the World Championships after three years after beating defending world champion Zahid VALENCIA (USA) in best-of-three series at 86kg on Friday.

Dake overcame a round one loss to take two straight matches from Valencia at the 2026 Final X, the World Championships selection tournament for the U.S.

Apart from Dake, world champions Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Helen MAROULIS (USA) also made the team and will look to defend their gold medals in Astana, Kazakhstan from October 24 to November 1.

Paris Olympic champion will also be eyeing her third world title after she got a forfeit in her matches to make the team the at 72kg. Now a mother of four-month old child, Elor has not wrestled internationally since the gold medal win in Paris in August 2024.

United StatesThe eight winners of Final X on Friday. (Photo: USA Wrestling / Tony Rotundo)

Dake, who lost the first bout to Valencia 3-2, returned to win 4-1 and 4-0 in second and third bouts to lock up his place at 86kg.

Snyder also had to go the distance to beat Stephen BUCHANAN (USA) at 97kg. Buchanan snuck in a 5-5 criteria win in round two, before Snyder rebounded with a controlled 9-3 decision in round three.

For a second-straight year, Maroulis faced Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) at 57kg in Women's Wrestling and it was much closer this time around. Maroulis defeated Martinez, 8-1 and 6-0, for two straight wins.

A few young stars also made the team and will be taking their first trip to the senior World Championships.

Among the top battles was at 61kg in which U20 world champion Marcus BLAZE (USA) defeated U23 world champion Jaxen FORREST (USA) in three bouts.

Blaze managed a 2-2 criteria win over Forrest in the first bout before the latter bounced back with a 6-1 win in the second. Blaze locked the third bout with a 5-2 win.

United StatesThe eight Final X winners in Women's Wrestling on Friday. (Photo: USA Wrestling / Tony Rotundo)

At 50kg in Women's Wrestling, U17 world champion Morgan TURNER (USA) took out Katie GOMEZ (USA) in three bouts. The 18-year-old won the first bout over Gomez 7-2 before dropping the second 3-2. However, dictated the third one and finished as an 8-2 winner.

With the win, Turner has qualified to represent the U.S. at the U20, U23 and Senior World Championships this year.

A second 18-year-old high school graduate, Everest LEYDECKER (USA), won at 55kg in straight matches. The U20 world champion defeated Areana VILLAESCUSA (USA), 2-1 and 3-1, to make her first senior-level world team.

In other Women's Wrestling matches, former world medalist Kayla MIRACLE (USA) got the better of Jennifer PAGE (USA) in two matches, 7-2 and 5-1.

At 59kg, Abigail NETTE (USA) dominated Alexis JANIAK (USA) in both matches, beating her via fall in first and 10-0 in the second. Former U20 world champion Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) also dominant in her bouts at 53kg, beating Elena IVALDI (USA), 10-0 and 9-0.

The 62kg series went back-and-forth as Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) defeated Macey KILTY (USA). She pinned Kilty in the first bout before losing the second 4-0. In a thrilling third bout, Nwachukwu held on to a 4-3 win.

In Freestyle, Olympic silver medalist Spencer LEE (USA) will being once again look to win his first world medal after making the team at 57kg. He won 7-1 and 8-4 over Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) who had defeated Lee at the U.S. Open.

World silver medalist Levi HAINES (USA) went 6-1 and 6-3 against Chance MARSTELLER (USA) at 79kg to secure his spot. He will look to change the colour of his medal that he won in his debut World Championships last year.

Veteran James GREEN (USA) will represent the U.S. at 74kg after he defeated David CARR (USA), two bouts to one. James won the first bout 6-3 before Carr levelled it with a 6-5 win. But Green defeated Carr 4-1 to secure his spot.

At 70kg, former world champion Zain RETHERFORD (USA) will also return to the mega event after blanking Ridge LOVETT (USA), 2-1 and 8-2.

Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) will wrestle at 125kg after he defeated former world medalist Mason PARRIS (USA), 9-5 and 7-1.

World champion Trent HIDLAY (USA) had already secured his spot at 92kg spot last week with a series win over Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA) as the series was rescheduled earlier due to Hidlay's wedding.

The 65kg selection between 2025 world bronze medalist Real WOODS (USA) and Bowen BASSETT (USA) has been delayed and will be contested at a date and location to be determined.

In a similar case, 2025 world bronze medalists Kennedy BLADES (USA) and Kylie WELKER (USA) requested and received medical delays for their match-ups against Isabella MIR (USA) at 68kg and Dymond GUILFORD (USA) at 76kg, respectively.