#WrestleMorelia

USA Gana Ocho Medallas de Oro Para Comenzar #WrestleMorelia

By Taylor Miller

MORELIA, México – El Campeonato Panamericano de Cadete empezó ayer en Morelia, México, con la acción en grecoromana.

Luchadores de los Estados Unidos ganaron ocho de las diez categorías, incluyendo 45 kg, 48 kg, 60 kg, 65 kg, 71 kg, 80 kg, 92 kg and 110 kg.

Dos otro países ganaron una medalla de oro. Enrique HERRERA HUACRE (PER) clamó el título en 51 kg, y Antonio RUIZ MORA (ECU) fue el campeón en 55 kg.

A principios de este mes, Ruiz Mora termino con una medalla de plata en el Campeonato Panamericano Juvenil en Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Joseph FISCHER (USA) recibió la bota de oro por ser el luchador más destacado del torneo. Ganó todos de sus cuatro combates con superioridades técnicas en 48 kg.

45 kg
GOLD – Daniel SHEEN (USA)
SILVER - Fernando PEREZ VAZQUEZ (MEX)
BRONZE - Esteban MORALES MAYANCHA (ECU)

48 kg
GOLD – Joseph FISCHER (USA)
SILVER - Jeremy PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU)
BRONZE – Diego RODRIGUEZ VIELMA (MEX)

51 kg
GOLD - Enrique HERRERA HUACRE (PER)
SILVER - Angel SEGURA TELLEZ (MEX)
BRONZE - Nico PROVO (USA)

55 kg
GOLD - Antonio RUIZ MORA (ECU)
SILVER - Hector GARZA YEDRA (MEX)
BRONZE - Hernan ALMENDRA (ARG)
BRONZE - Cristian GOMEZ FIGUEROA (COL)

60 kg
GOLD – Jesse MENDEZ (USA)
SILVER - Uvaldo CAMACHO DIAZ (MEX)
BRONZE - Guilherme PIRES NEGREIROS (BRA)

65 kg
GOLD – Robert PEREZ III (USA)
SILVER - Fernando FERRER CIPRIAN (DOM)
BRONZE - Guilheme BARROS DE ARRUDA PORTO (BRA)

71 kg
GOLD – John BEST (USA)
SILVER - Lautaro SEGHESSO (ARG)
BRONZE - Diego MACIAS TORRES (MEX)
BRONZE - Carlos SEVILLANO GONGORA (ECU)

80 kg
GOLD – Jack DARRAH (USA)
SILVER - Juan MONTEMAYOR PEREZ (MEX)
BRONZE - Nicolas ARAYA TAPIA (CHI)

92 kg
GOLD – Michael MISITA (USA)
SILVER - Alexander PEREZ MAYORGA (MEX)
BRONZE - Jhon SANCHEZ SOLIS (ECU)

110 kg
GOLD - Braxton MIKESELL (USA)
SILVER - Diego NOLE AZABACHE (PER)
BRONZE - Angel SANCHEZ FLORES (MEX)

 

#UWWAwards

UWW Breakout Wrestlers of 2025: Hidlay, Farokhi, Onishi

By Eric Olanowski

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.