#WrestleBuenosAires

USA wins GR title; Elor secures Pan-Am gold on debut

By Taylor GREGORIO

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (May 5) -- USA and Cuba swept the nine Greco-Roman weights contested over two days as Greco action came to a close on Thursday, while three past World medalists emerged victorious in women’s weights.

On Friday, the USA won titles at 77kg and 82kg, while Cuba claimed the crown at 87kg.

Past U20 world champion Kamal BEY (USA) edged out Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB) in a 2-1 battle. The pair traded passivity points with Pena Flores getting on the board first. Halfway through the second frame, Pena Flores and his corner challenged a call in par terre that failed, resulting in a point and ultimately the win for Bey.

Spencer WOODS (USA) won a four-man round-robin at 82kg. Two of his three wins were tech falls and his third came in the form of an injury default.

Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB)Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB), red, won his third Pan-Am title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Representing Cuba, Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB) earned his third-career Pan Am gold, winning at 87kg. The final was a win by injury default for Gregorio Hechavarria over Luis AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN). The Cuban also won titles in 2018 and 2022.

Women’s freestyle began with 55kg, 59kg, 65kg and 72kg. All four weights were round-robin contests. Of the four women’s freestyle winners, three own World Championships medals.

Amit ELOR (USA)World champion Amit ELOR (USA) won gold on Pan-Am debut. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan) 

Reigning senior, U23 and U20 world champion Amit ELOR (USA) made her Pan Am debut with four dominant wins without giving up a single point. She opened with a pin before rattling off three technical-fall wins. The longest match for Elor lasted 2:26.

Two-time World bronze medalist Mallory VELTE (USA) won her second Pan-Am Championships with back-to-back technical falls at 65kg, outscoring her opponents 22-2 on the day. Velte’s first title came in 2020.

Diana WEICKER (CAN)Diana WEICKER (CAN) defeated Alisha HOWK (USA) to win the 55kg gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Diana WEICKER (CAN), a 2018 World bronze medalist, won the 55kg class with a 5-0 win to start the day and a 12-2 technical fall to wrap up her tournament. This marks Weicker’s first Pan Am gold. She has a bronze from 2019.

The US women secured a third title on the night from international newcomer Xochitl MOTA PETTIS (USA), who topped the podium at 59kg. Mota Pettis’ most notable win came over U23 World champion Alexandria TOWN (CAN), 10-0.

Greco-Roman

77kg
GOLD: Kamal BEY (USA) df. Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB), 2-1

BRONZE: Jair CUERO MUNOZ (COL) df. Emmanuel BENITEZ CASTRO (MEX), 6-3
BRONZE: Wuilexis RIVAS (VEN) df. Luis CENTENO (PUR), win by injury default

82kg
GOLD: Spencer WOODS (USA)
SILVER: Jose MOSQUERA MURILLO (COL)
BRONZE: John YEATS (CAN)

87kg
GOLD: Daniel HECHAVARRIA (CUB) df. Luis ROJAS (VEN), win by injury default

BRONZE: Alan VERA (USA) df. Ronisson BRANDAO (BRA), 4-1
BRONZE: Carlos MUNOZ (COL) df. Ariel ALFONSO (HON), 9-0

Women’s freestyle

55kg
GOLD: Diana WEICKER (CAN)
SILVER: Alisha HOWK (USA)
BRONZE: Adrianny CASTILLO (ARG)

59kg
GOLD: Xochitl MOTA PETTIS (USA)
SILVER: Alexandria TOWN (CAN)
BRONZE: Jessica DERRELL (BAR)

65kg
GOLD: Mallory VELTE (USA)
SILVER: Paula MONTOYA GARCIA (COL)
BRONZE: Aleah NICKEL (CAN)

72kg
GOLD: Amit ELOR (USA)
SILVER: Luisa MOSQUERA PARRA (COL)
BRONZE: Katie MULKAY (CAN)

2026 U17 World Championships

Iran, Russia in Tight Team Title Race After Omarov, Ibragimov Golds

By Vinay Siwach

BAKU, Azerbaijan (August 1) -- Among the three nations that had two finalists each in Saturday's gold-medal bouts at the U17 World Championships in Baku, only Russia was able to win two golds with Iran winning one and Uzbekistan suffering losses in both finals.

The two golds put Russia in the race for the team title in Freestyle along with Iran with defending champion the United States not in contention.

Russia and Iran went head-to-head in the 110kg final between U17 European champion Magomed OMAROV (RUS) and U17 Asian silver medalist Amirhossein ESMALI (IRI), the last match on Saturday.

The first period of the final saw little action on the mat as both Omarov and Esmali were warned by the mat chairman of open-hand wrestling. Omarov was put on the 30-second activity clock and Esmali led 1-0 at the break.

The match picked up pace in the second period and Omarov found and opening to hit a double-leg attack that resulted in four points, giving him a 4-1 lead. Iran, surprisingly, challenged the call and lost it which made Omarov's lead 5-1.

Esmali had 1:30 left in the match to make it count and he began with a stepout to cut the lead to 5-2. He then scored a takedown to make the score 5-4 but still needed two points to win with 31 seconds left. That's when Omarov called for a medical help.

When he returned to centre, Omarov had a spring in his step and defended the attacks of Esmali, who pushed him towards the zone. Esmali tried reaching the legs of Omarov who threw them behind and scored an easy go-behind and lead 7-4, his winning score.

The second gold medalist for Russia was Magomed IBRAGIMOV (RUS) at 65kg after an electric final against Shokhiddin ALIEV (UZB). Both Ibragimov and Aliev were at the 2025 event as well and finished 10th and 13th respectively.

Ibragimov stunned Aliev with a double-arm lock throw for four points to open the scoring in the final. But Aliev blocked Ibragimov from turning and tried to pin him for the remaining minute in the first period. Unable to complete the fall, Aliev went into the break down 4-2 and a lost opportunity.

The two continued their high-paced wrestling and Aliev pushed Ibragimov towards the zone but the Russian circled and scored a go-behind to lead 6-2. Aliev then tried to inside trip Ibragimov who countered it with a throw for four points. Aliev got two points for exposure but Ibragimov led 10-4 at this point.

Aliev managed to use the inside-trip to throw for two points with six seconds left and then he tried front headlock that was blocked by Ibragimov, who planted Aliev on the mat for a fall and win the gold medal.

Ferasati Wins 80kg

Iran's victory came at 80kg as Amirali FERASATI (IR) completed his dominant run with a gold medal, beating Zeteny TUGYI (HUN), 10-0, in the final.

The U17 Asian champion outscored his opponents 35-2 in four bouts in Baku and never looked in any sort of trouble in the tournament.

Against Tugyi, Ferasati built a 4-0 lead in the first period, thanks to three stepout and a point for passivity from Tugyi. Ferasati scored his first takedown in the second period after tiring out Tugyi and rolled him for two more ponits to lead 8-0.

Tugyi went for a deep shot without much conviction and Ferasati countered with a takedown to complete a technical superiority win with 23 seconds remaining.

At 48kg, Bakdaulet AGABEK (KAZ) used a deadly leg-lace to end high-flying AARYAN's (IND) run at the tournament, winning the gold medal 10-0. He became Kazakhstan first U17 world champion in Freestyle after four years.

Agabek scored a stepout, which India challenged and lost, to open the scoring in the final and lead 2-0. As both wrestlers were fight for position, Agabek did a snap which disbalanced Aaryan and the Kazakhstan wrestler scored a takedown.

He then transitioned into wrapping Aaryan's legs around his head and scored three turns, enough for the victory and the gold medal. With the 10-0 win, Agabek outscored his opponents 47-3 in the tournament with four technical superiority wins.

Tovar Ends Drought: Click to read

RESULTS

48kg
GOLD: Bakdaulet AGABEK (KAZ) df. AARYAN (IND), 10-0

BRONZE: Farrukh MAKHMUDOV (UZB) df. Muslikhiddin KHODZHIEV (TJK), via fall (6-1)
BRONZE: Volodymyr BOIKO (UKR) df. Kooper DEPUTY (USA), 11-0

55kg
GOLD: Jovanni TOVAR (COL) df. Jakhongir TULKUNOV (UZB), 11-0

BRONZE: Arman ELAHI (IRI) df. Davit BALEYAN (ARM), 5-2
BRONZE: Prathmesh PATIL (IND) df. Chase KARENBAUER (USA), 8-0

65kg
GOLD: Magomed IBRAGIMOV (RUS) df. Shokhiddin ALIEV (UZB), via fall (12-6)

BRONZE: Jovani SOLIS (PUR) df. KRISHAN (IND), via fall (6-6)
BRONZE: Sam ARSHAD (IRI) df. Zamir DANIYAR (KAZ), 9-0

80kg
GOLD: Amirali FERASATI (IRI) df. Zeteny TUGYI (HUN), 10-0

BRONZE: Volkan BILGIN (TUR) df. Yassin EZZAT (EGY), 11-1
BRONZE: Kantemir ELMESOV (RUS) df. Takahiro HAGINO (JPN), 9-7

110kg
GOLD: Magomed OMAROV (RUS) df. Amirhossein ESMALI (IRI), 7-4

BRONZE: Behruz ASHIROV (UZB) df. Murtaz BAGDAVADZE (GEO), 3-2
BRONZE: Arush RANA (IND) df. Sagyndyk TEMIRGALY (KAZ), 9-1