#WrestleOttawa

USA Wins Six Gold Medals, Cuba Claims Two in Last Day of #WrestleOttawa C'ships

Tuesday, March 10, 2020 - 01:07 By Taylor GREGORIO

Share this article

Photo of Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) by Tony Rotundo. 

OTTAWA, Canada – The United States claimed six gold medals on Monday night, and Cuba collected two in the final session of the Pan American Championships in Ottawa, Canada.

Among those winning gold for USA were Olympic champions Jordan BURROUGHS (74 kg) and Kyle SNYDER (97 kg).

Burroughs went toe-to-toe with 2011 World silver medalist Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR) in the finals bout at 74 kg. Burroughs led 2-0 at break and kicked up his offense in the second period with a pair of takedowns and a leg lace for an eventual 8-1 victory.

The win marks Burroughs’ fourth Pan Am Championships title. He is also a three-time Pan Am Games champion.

For gold at 97 kg, Snyder looked solid against three-time World medalist Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB), using a series of takedowns and gut wrenches for a dominant 11-1 win.

The United States produced back-to-back falls in the finals at 65 kg and 70 kg.

John Michael DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) pinned Mauricio SANCHEZ SALTOS (ECU), locking up a cradle from a snap-down to end the bout in 49 seconds.

Reigning Pan American champion at 70 kg Anthony ASHNAULT (USA) barely spent any longer on the mat, when he faced Hugo DE LIMA VIANA DE SOUZA (BRA) in round five of round-robin action.

Ashnault scored on a takedown, then from a gut wrench, pinned de Lima in 51 seconds for his second Pan Am title. It was Ashnault’s third pin of the day and he was named the Outstanding Wrestler.

Tyler GRAFF (USA), who was fifth at the 2019 World Championships, secured the crown at 61 kg, beating Scott SCHILLER (CAN) in the finals with a decisive 11-0 tech fall. It was the only bout of the day contested at 61 kg.

At 125 kg, Anthony NELSON (USA) won the title with an injury forfeit from Amarveer DHESI (CAN). It is his first Pan Am gold.

Photo of Yurieski TORREBLANCA QUERALTA (CUB) by Tony Rotundo. 

Two-time U23 World champion Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB) claimed his second Pan American Championships title, emerging from the 57 kg bracket.

In the finals, Andreu trailed Pedro MEJIAS RODRIGUEZ (VEN) at the break, but broke away in the second period with a pair of takedowns for an eventual 4-2 victory.

Also winning a gold medal for Cuba was Yurieski TORREBLANCA QUERALTA at 86 kg.

Taking on Pool AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER) in the gold medal match, Torreblanca went up 6-0 before Ambrocio suffered an injury that kept him from completing the match.

The Pan American Olympic Qualifier will take place March 13-15 in Ottawa, Canada.

Freestyle team results
1. USA – 205
2. Canada – 120
3. Cuba – 100
4. Venezuela – 66
5. Mexico – 59
6. Puerto Rico – 57
7. Dominican Republic – 44
8. Peru – 35
9. Argentina – 35
10. Brazil – 30

Final men’s freestyle results
57 kg
GOLD – Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB) df. Pedro MEJIAS RODRIGUEZ (VEN), 4-2
BRONZE – Darian CRUZ (USA) df. Edwin SEGURA GUERRA (GUA), 10-0
BRONZE - Juan Rubelin RAMIREZ BELTRE (DOM) df. Ligrit SADIKU (CAN), injury default

61 kg
GOLD – Tyler GRAFF (USA)
SILVER – Scott SCHILLER (CAN)

70 kg
GOLD – Yianni DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) df. Mauricio Javier SANCHEZ SALTOS (ECU), fall
BRONZE – Sixto AUCCAPINA PEDRAGAS (PER) df. David DOS SANTOS MOREIRA (BRA), 9-0
BRONZE - Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) df. Jose Javier RODRIGUEZ COLON (PUR), 10-0

74 kg
GOLD – Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) df. Franklin GOMEZ (PUR), 8-1
BRONZE – Anthony MONTERO CHIRINOS (VEN) df. Enrique PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA), 12-2
BRONZE - Jeandry GARZON CABALLERO (CUB) df. Jorge Ivan LLANO (ARG), 11-0

86 kg
GOLD – Yurieski TORREBLANCA QUERALTA (CUB) df. Pool AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER), injury default
BRONZE – Alex DIERINGER (USA) df. Carlos Arturo IZQUIERDO MENDEZ (COL), 11-1
BRONZE – Clayton PYE (CAN) df. Ricardo Adrian BAEZ (ARG), 11-0

97 kg
GOLD – Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB), 11-1
BRONZE – Luis Miguel PEREZ SOSA (DOM) df. Jose Daniel DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN), 5-3

125 kg
GOLD – Anthony NELSON (USA) df. Amarveer DHESI (CAN), injury default
BRONZE – Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) df. Brandon AGUIANO FLORES (MEX), 10-0

Pan-American Championships Day 3 Highlights

Saturday, May 9, 2026 - 15:13 By Eric Olanowski

Share this article

CORALVILLE, United States (May 9) -- The third day of wrestling at the Pan-American Championships will welcome in freestyle, while also closing out the final four weights in women's wrestling. The freestyle weights that'll take the mat today are 61kg, 74kg and 86kg, with the final women's weight being 53kg, 59kg, 65kg and 76kg.

12:28: We're going to start 30 minutes earlier than expected. The updated start time is 12:30 (local time)

12:13: That does it for the quarterfinals. We're expected to start at 13:00 but I imagine that'll change. I'll quickly run to see what they plan on doing then post an update shorty.

12:07: Welker just nearly took the roof off this place, scoring three takedowns, two turns and a stepout against Renteria to move into the semifinals. She'll wrestle another Paris 2024 bronze medalist in Marin in the semifinals as the Cuban picked up a 12-2 win in her quarterfinals.

11:53: A lot going on right now. Yepez Guzman just picked up a dominant 11-0 win over Cristelle Noelle RODRIGUEZ DOBLER (USA) and moved into the semifinals at 53kg. Also, Welkeer and Renteria are wrestling now on Mat A. The American is up 5-0 with a stepout and two counter-offenseive go behinds.

11:29: Paris 2024 Olympian Ethan Adrian RAMOS (PUR) is up now on Mat A. He's wrestling Angel Eduardo CORTES BONILLA (PAN).

11:23:  Zahid VALENCIA (USA) just made quick work of Nestor Joaquin TAFUR BARRIOS (COL), picking up the 10-0 first-period tech fall. The reigning world champion awaits the winner of Pedro Samuel GONCALVES DA SILVA (BRA) and Jorge Ivan LLANO (ARG).

11:08: Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN) was just down 4-4 on criteria against Alexis GOMEZ (MEX) but stole the match with a double leg with 2.2 seconds left. Since 65kg is a smaller bracket, that win will give the Canadian at least a silver medal.

11:06: Iowa's own Austin James DESANTO (USA) is coming up next on Mat A. He'll take on Irie Alexander JACKSON (JAM).

10:56: On a side note, we're following the 76kg weight class for a mini documentary so make sure you stayed tuned into UWW+ over the next few weeks to watch the behind the scenes doc on the premier weight class of these Continental Championships.

10:50: Nestor TAFUR BARRIOS (COL) just picked up a win over on Mat A, which means he'll take on reigning world champion Valencia in seven matches on Mat A.

10:45: It's funny how things work. The two women's wrestlers who attended the opening press conference were world bronze medalist Kylie Renee WELKER (USA) and Tatiana RENTERIA (COL). Those two will will wrestle in the first round, 13 matches away (bout 180) on Mat A.

10:25: Today's action will feature two reinging world champions in Zahid VALENCIA (USA) and Genesis REASCO (COL), and three Paris 2024 Olympic medalists in Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU), Milaimy MARIN (CUB) and Tatiana RENTERIA RENTERIA (COL).