#WrestleBuenosAires

USA wins Greco-Roman team title with nine medals at #WrestleBuenosAires

By Taylor Miller

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – The Greco-Roman competition of the 2019 Pan American Championships wrapped up on Friday with USA winning the team title after collecting nine medals.

The USA picked up medals in all three weight classes on Friday night with a gold from Cheney HAIGHT, silver form Kamal BEY and bronze from Patrick MARTINEZ.

Haight won his third Pan Am title, besting the competition at 82 kg. In the finals, Haight won a 3-1 bout against 2018 Pan Am bronze medalist Carlos ESPINOZA CASTRO (PER).

Cuba and Venezuela picked up the other gold medals.

Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB) outlasted 2017 Junior World champion Bey in a 3-1 war at 77 kg to earn Cuba its fourth gold medal of the tournament.

At 87 kg, Luis AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN) became only the seventh Greco wrestler in Venezuela’s history to win a Pan Am title, defeating Antonio DURAN ROBLES (CUB) in the finals.

Duran scored the first two points, but Avendano put up six unanswered points, two of which came from a caution and two when Duran committed a defensive leg foul in par terre. Shortly after, Duran was penalized for another defensive leg foul, which resulted in a disqualification for the Cuban and a win for Avendano. The Venezuelan led 8-2 at the time of the DQ.

In women’s freestyle, USA and Canada split the gold medals, each winning two.

USA’s Alex HEDRICK and Julia SALATA clinched their gold medals in the morning session, each going 2-0 in their respective round robins at 55 kg and 65 kg.

On Friday night, Canadians Laurence BEAUREGARD and Dejah SLATER came out on top of their round-robins.

Beauregard went 3-0 on the day, ending her tournament with a quick 10-0 tech fall over Karoline SILVA DE SANTANA (BRA) to win the 59 kg bracket.

At 72 kg, Slater topped Rachel WATTERS (USA) in a 12-1 tech fall, thanks to a takedown and six leg laces in the first period.

Competition continues tomorrow with women’s and men’s freestyle at 10 a.m. local time (9 a.m. EST) live on unitedworldwrestling.org.                                                                                                                                              

Greco-Roman final team standings
1. USA – 205
2. Cuba – 135
3. Brazil – 98
4. Venezuela – 84
5. Mexico – 64
6. Peru – 61
7. Colombia – 48
8. Argentina – 47
9. Dominican Republic – 46
10. Ecuador – 43

Final results in Greco-Roman
77 kg
GOLD - Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB) dec. Kamal BEY (USA), 3-1
BRONZE - Juan ESCOBAR (MEX) tech fall David CHOC HUOC (GUA), 10-0
BRONZE - Jair CUERO MUNOZ (COL) dec. Johan BATISTA (DOM), 6-5

82 kg
GOLD - Cheney HAIGHT (USA)
SILVER - Carlos ESPINOZA CASTRO (PER)
BRONZE - Adil BARROS MACHADO (BRA)

87 kg
GOLD - Luis AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN) win by disqualification Antonio DURAN ROBLES (CUB)
BRONZE - Alfonso LEYVA YEPEZ (MEX) tech fall Carlos ADAMES PALMER (DOM), 8-0
BRONZE - Patrick MARTINEZ (USA) tech. fall Phillip BARREIRO (CAN), 9-0

55 kg
GOLD - Alex HEDRICK (USA)
SILVER - Jayd DAVIS (USA)
BRONZE - Elis AZERRAD PARODI (ARG)

59 kg
GOLD - Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN)
SILVER - Andribeth RIVERA BELLIARD (PUR)
BRONZE - Karoline SILVA DE SANTANA (BRA)

65 kg
GOLD - Julia SALATA (USA)
SILVER - Jessica BROUILLETTE (CAN)
BRONZE - Grabriela PEDRO DA ROCHA (BRA)

72 kg
GOLD - Dejah SLATER (CAN)
SILVER - Rachel WATTERS (USA)
BRONZE - Linda MACHUCA (ARG)

 

 

#UnitedWorldWrestling

UWW President Lalovic conferred Order of Dostyk by Kazakhstan

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 26) -- United World Wrestling President Nenad LALOVIC was conferred the Order of Dostyk of the second degree by Kazakhstan President Kassaym Jomart TOKAYEV for his contribution to the development of wrestling in Kazakhstan.

The Order of Dostyk of second degree is one of the state awards of Kazakhstan which it confers foreign nationals for their efforts in peace, friendship and cooperation between people.

Lalovic was in the country in second week of February and visited various sports facilities including the under-construction National Sports University in Astana.

"I am glad to visit Astana again," Lalovic was quoted as saying by Kazakhstan media. "Your city is becoming more beautiful and modern. Today, I got acquainted with the new sports infrastructure, surveyed several facilities that have made sports an integral part of the urban environment. Sports complexes are built at a high level, providing comfort for both athletes and fans. Each of them is capable of hosting international competitions."

Highlighting the key role wrestling plays in enhancing the country’s stance on the international arena, Tokayev hailed the achievements of Kazakhstan wrestlers following their successful performance at major world competitions.

Kazakhstan won its first-ever Freestyle gold medal at senior World Championships in 2023 when Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) won at 92kg. Last year, Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) won gold at 70kg in Tirana to become the second world champion from the country.

In Greco-Roman, it has five gold medals from three wrestlers while in Women's Wrestling, it has no gold but multiple silver medalists.