#WrestleGuatemala

#WrestleGuatemala Pan-Am C'ship Entries

By Eric Olanowski

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (May 16) --- The "Teodoro Palacios Flores" National Gymnasium will host over 180 athletes from 16 different nations for the Pan-American Championships (May 27-30).

*These entries were update on Thursday morning (05/20) and are subject to change.

Freestyle 
57kg
Bryan Lucas DE OLIVEIRA PEREIRA (BRA)
Diego Armando ZULUAGA CUEVAS (COL)
Alexander FERNANDEZ PENA (DOM)
Guesseppe Ricardo REA VILLARROEL (ECU) 
Edwin Alexi SEGURA GUERRA (GUA)
Samuel Edhinson ALVA PEDRAGAS (PER)
Roberto ALEJANDRO BLANCO (MEX)
Vitali ARUJAU (USA)

61kg
Juan Rubelin RAMIREZ BELTRE (DOM)
Victor Alfonso LOPEZ MIRANDA (ESA)
Esteban David PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)
Jose David BENITES VASQUEZ (PER)
Shelton Anthony MACK (USA)

65kg
Agustin Alejandro DESTRIBATS (ARG)
Marcos Wesley DE BRITO SIQUEIRA  (BRA)
Dillon Emmanuel WILLIAMS (CAN)
Jose Esteban GONZALEZ RAMIREZ  (COL)
Albaro RUDECINDO CAMACHO (DOM)
Mauricio Javier SANCHEZ SALTOS (ECU)
Juan Antonio RODRIGUEZ JOVEL  (ESA)
Esteban David PEREZ CASTELLANOS  (GUA)
David Renee PINILLA RODRIGUEZ  (PAN)
Sebastian C RIVERA (PUR)
Joseph Christopher MC KENNA (USA)

70kg
Joao Victor DOS SANTOS SILVA (BRA)
Vincent DE MARINIS (CAN)
Wber Euclides CUERO MUNOZ  (COL)
Eduardo Alexander AYALA PENA  (ESA)
Enrique Josue PEREZ CASTELLANOS  (GUA)
Francisco Ivan GONZALEZ TORRES  (MEX)
Sixto Miguel AUCCAPINA PEDRAGAS (PER)
Jonathan PARRILLA RAMOS (PUR)
Alec William PANTALEO (USA)

74kg
Renato Patricio DA SILVA (BRA)
Jasmit Singh PHULKA  (CAN)
Hossman Eduardo CARVAJAL ROJAS  (COL)
Malhcon Alizon PINEDA CUNIL (GUA)
Victor Eduardo HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX)
Antony Gaston IPARRAGUIRRE PEREYRA (PER)
Kyle Douglas DAKE (USA)


79kg
Jorge Ivan LLANO (ARG)
Samuel Jacob BARMISH (CAN)
Nestor Joaquin TAFUR BARRIOS  (COL)
David Elias CHOC HUOC  (GUA)
Javier SALAZAR BECERRA (MEX)
David Vincent MC FADDEN (USA)

86kg
Emanuel Alexis CHAMORRO   (ARG)
Thales REIS ALVES (BRA)
Clayton Steven PYE (CAN)
Juan Sebastian RIVERA GARCIA (COL)
Jorge Klever ANDY TIWI (ECU)
Juan Sebastian RIVERA GARCIA (COL)
Sergio Leonel MENDOZA LOPEZ  (GUA)
David Morris TAYLOR III (USA)

92kg
Jeremy Adam POIRIER (CAN)
Gino Tanislado AVILA DILBERT (HON)
Nathan Dyamin JACKSON (USA)

97kg
Ricardo Adrian BAEZ (ARG)
Marcos CARROZZINO  (BRA)
Richard Phillip Junior DESCHATELETS (CAN)
Kenett Andrey MARTINEZ VILORIA (COL)
Maxwell Lemar LACEY GARITA (CRC)
Luis Miguel PEREZ SOSA (DOM)
Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA)

125kg
Catriel Pehuen MURIEL (ARG)
Juan Felippe IZIDORO BITTENCOURT (BRA)
Aly Medhat Abde BARGHOUT (CAN)
Santiago RESTREPO HERNANDEZ  (COL)
Elison ADAMES GARCIA (DOM)
Christian Rafael CHAJON GARCIA  (GUA)
Eduardo Maximiliano GARCIA BETANZOS (MEX)
Gable Dan STEVESON (USA)



Colombia's Dicther Hans TORO CASTANEDA  (COL) will look to defend his Pan-American title from a year ago. He'll wrestle at 60kg. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

Greco-Roman
60kg
Marat GARIPOV (BRA)
Adam Takahashi MACFADYEN (CAN)
Dicther Hans TORO CASTANEDA  (COL)
Maikol JOSEFA (DOM)
Jeremy Renzo PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU)
Victor Alfonso LOPEZ MIRANDA  (ESA)
Joshua Xavier MEDINA (PUR)
Ildar HAFIZOV (USA)

63kg
Ivan Atila Jose REPETTO (ARG)
Andres Roberto MONTANO ARROYOECU
Juan Antonio RODRIGUEZ JOVEL  (ESA)
Emerson Isaias FELIPE ORDONEZ (GUA)
Joao Marco BENAVIDES ROCHABRUN (PER)
Randon Drew MIRANDA (USA)

67kg
Calebe CORREA FERREIRA (BRA)
Daniel Troy COLES  (CAN)
Victor Manuel MENA VERGEL (COL)
Enyer Manuel FELICIANO (DOM)
Jose Alejandro VARELA GARCIA (GUA)
Diego Alberto MARTINEZ DE LEIJA (MEX)
Nilton Gonzalo Marcos SOTO GARCIA (PER)
Xavier Tramain JOHNSON (USA)

72kg
Carlos Valerio FUENTES PERALTA (GUA)
Juan Roberto RUIZ LUGO (MEX)
Gerardo Francisco OLIVA MONTES (PER)
Jamel Rasheed JOHNSON (USA)

77kg
Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA)
Brandon CALLE PEREZ (COL)
Enrique Javier CUERO ORTIZ (ECU)
Reinier JIMENEZ TERRY (GUA)
Ryan CUBAS CASTILLO (PER)
Marciano George ALI  (PUR)
Jesse Alexander PORTER (USA)

82kg
David Elias CHOC HUOC (GUA)
Alexis Armando MARTINEZ SANCHEZ (MEX)
Alvis Albino ALMENDRA JIMENEZ (PAN)
Benjamin Errol PROVISOR (USA)

87kg
Ronisson BRANDAO SANTIAGO (BRA)
Jose Esteban MOSQUERA MURILLO (COL)
Ariel Andres ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ (HON)
Juan Ignacio PALMA FRANCIS (ECU)
Daniel VICENTE GOMEZ (MEX)
John Walter STEFANOWICZ JR (USA)

97kg
Igor Fernando ALVES DE QUEIROZ (BRA)
Santiago ECHEVERRI OSORIO (COL)
Rafael Daniel ESCAMILLA SANCHEZ (ESA)
Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON)
Ricardo Naviel MANCILLA GALINDO (MEX)
Braxton James AMOS (USA)
Gilberto Segundo AYALA RODRIGUEZ (VEN)

130kg
Catriel Pehuen MURIEL (ARG)
Isaque Victor MEDEIROS CONSERVA  (BRA)
Steven RIANO CATANO (COL)
Leo Dalis SANTANA HEREDIA (DOM)
Luis Alberto ROMAN BARRIOS (MEX)
Donald Robert LONGENDYKE (USA)

Linda MORAIS (CAN), a '19 world champion, is one of headlining women's wrestling entries. She'll compete at 59kg. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg
Patricia Alejandra BERMUDEZ (ARG)
Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA)
Madison Bianca PARKS (CAN)
Yusmy Juliet CHAPARRO URREGO (COL)
Jacqueline Del Rocio MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU)
Daniela Aidee HERNANDEZ CEPEDA  (MEX)
Thalia Jihann MALLQUI PECHE (PER)
Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA)

53kg
Sabrina GAMA TAPAJOS (BRA)
Jayd DAVIS  (CAN)
Yineth Catalina ROMERO GUATAQUIRA (COL)
Luisa Elizabeth VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU)
Laura Gabriela PEREDO TORRES (MEX)
Ronna Marie HEATON (USA)

55kg
Amanda LIMA LEAL (BRA)
Virginie KAZE GASCON (CAN)
Anny Guillermina RAMIREZ PEREZ (DOM)
Neidy Lizeth VASQUEZ GOMEZ (GUA)
Jacarra Gwenisha WINCHESTER (USA)

57kg
Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Alexandria Rebekkah TOWN  (CAN)
Leydi Lucia ALMEYDA FONCE (COL)
Carolina Maria OCHOA MELENDEZ (ESA)
Cameron Jaylynn GUERIN (USA)

59kg
Karoline SILVA DE SANTANA (BRA)
Linda MORAIS (CAN)
Maya Gabriella NELSON (USA)

62kg
Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA)
Jessica Lise BROUILLETTE (CAN)
Jessica Vanessa TORRES RODRIGUEZ (COL)
Leonela Aleyda AYOVI PARRAGA (ECU)
Alejandra ROMERO BONILLA (MEX)
Kayla Colleen Kiyoko MIRACLE (USA)

65kg
Meiriele CHARAMBA SANTOS HORA  (BRA)
Amanda SAVARD (CAN)
Silvia Esperanza HERNANDEZ GONZALES (GUA)
Ashley Chantelle ZARATE CAMPBELL (PAN)
Diana Luisa Victoria CRUZ ARROYO (PER)
Mallory Maxine VELTE (USA)

68kg
Luz Clara VAZQUEZ (ARG)
Grabriela PEDRO DA ROCHA (BRA)
Alexia Rose SHERLAND (CAN)
Nicoll Dayanna PARRADO  OSORIO (COL)
Yessica Coraima OVIEDO PEREZ (DOM)
Tamyra Mariama STOCK MENSAH (USA)

72kg
Brenda AGUIAR DOS SANTOS (BRA)
Yanet Ursula SOVERO NINO (PER)
Alexandria Junis GLAUDE (USA)

76kg
Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA)
Luisa Fernanda MOSQUERA PARRA (COL)
Josselyn Tatiana PORTILLO MEJIA (ESA)
Adeline Maria GRAY (USA)

2026 World Championships

Yazdani Returns to World Championships After Beating Azarpira

By Vinay Siwach

KEMRAN, Iran (July 19) -- Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) made his World Championships debut at 70kg in 2015. The Olympic champion will be at 97kg for his eighth World Championships, 11 years later.

Yazdani, a three-time world champion, booked his spot on Iran's team for the 2026 World Championships after beating world silver medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) in two straight matches in Kemran on Friday.

Azarpira needed to win only one bout to earn his spot as he was a returning world medalist but Yazdani secured two wins, 4-2 and 5-3, to end Azarpira's hopes. 

According to selection criteria set by Iran, a returning world medalist needed to win only one bout while the opponent needed two straight wins to claim the spot.

Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), blue, shakes hands with Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) after beating him in the second bout. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

In the first bout, Yazdani scored three stepouts and a point for passivity while Azarpira managed a takedown to the lead but he could not find another takedown or two one-point scoring actions needed to win.

An hour later, the two wrestlers returned for their second bout. Azapira, needed just a win to secure his place, led 3-3 on criteria in the second period. After Yazdani led 3-0, Azarpira fired back a takedown and stepout to earn the criteria.

In the final minute, Azarpira pressured Yazdani towards the zone and just went it seemed that he has scored a stepout, Yazdani circled back and scored a takedown to take a 5-3 lead. A shocked Azarpira protested the decision but he had no challenge left as he had used and lost the challenge in the first period.

Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI)Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) tries to score on Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) during the 97kg bout. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Yazdani, with all his experience, managed to hold on to his two point lead and confirm that he will return to the World Championships three years later. The Iranian will be chasing his eighth medal as he already has medals from every edition he has participated in.

The 31-year-old began with a silver medal at 70kg in 2015, won gold at 86kg in 2017, 2019 and 2021, and won bronze in 2018. At the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, he finished silver medals, losing those finals to David TAYLOR (USA).

This, however, won't be Yazdani's debut at 97kg. He wrestled at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series in February and reached the final before Stephen BUCHANAN (USA) defeated him, 13-3.

Yazdani's next challenge will be to win a medal at the October 24-November 1 World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. The 97kg weight class will most likely have returning world champion Kyle SNYDER (USA), Paris Olympic champion and world bronze medalist Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) and world bronze medalist Arash YOSHIDA (JPN).

Former Olympic and world champion Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) will also be in the mix if he makes the Russian team. Olympic silver medalist Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO), former world champion Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ), will also be challenging for the three-time Olympic medalist Iranian.

Yazdani, Firouzpour Win

Two other weight classes, 74kg and 97kg, were also contested to confirm the Iran Freestyle team for the World Championships.

Former world silver medalist Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) defeated Yones EMAMI (IRI) in two straight bouts to clinch the spot at 74kg, a weight class that Emami has ruled in Iran for quite a few years now.

In two high-scoring bouts, Yazdani won 10-6 and 11-7, mostly using his counters in the zone to book his spot.

At 92kg, world bronze medalist Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) defeated Mobin AZIMI (IRI), 2-1, in the second bout of the series to claim the spot. As he was the returning world medalist, Firouzpour needed only one win to qualify.

Azimi won the first bout 2-2 on criteria, scoring a late stepout after three points were awarded for passivity. However, there was no such comeback in the second bout as Firouzpour kept his lead.

On Tuesday, a wrestle-off was held in Greco-Roman in which Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) defeated world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI), 5-1, at 130kg to secure his spot for the World Championships.

Iran's Freestyle Team for 2026 World Championships

57kg: Milad VALIZADEH (IRI)
61kg: Ahmad JAVAN (IRI)
65kg: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI)
70kg: Sina KHALILI (IRI)
74kg: Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI)
79kg: Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI)
86kg: Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI)
92kg: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI)
97kg: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)
125kg: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI)