Top Stories of the Decade

Wrestling Introduces New Weight Categories, Gender Equity, and Ranking Series

Sunday, December 29, 2019 - 14:09 By Eric Olanowski

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CORSIER-SUR -VEVEY, Switzerland (December 29) -- The growth of international wrestling since 2010 has required a number of changes, but few have seemed to impact as many wrestlers and fans as the addition of weight categories, expansion of women's opportunities, and the introduction of a yearlong competition calendar, knowns as the Ranking Series.

 Heading into the 2017 World Championships in Paris, Wrestling enjoyed eight weight categories in each style, with six aimed at Olympic participation. During a bureau meeting at the event, it was decided to increase that total allotment to 10 weight categories and slightly shift a number of weight categories across the styles to better match anticipated participation. The additional weights also prompted a two-day format with same-day weigh-ins.

"These improvements made are incredible for the sport of wrestling," UWW President Nenad Lalović said at the time. "Our sport has never been stronger, and I believe that with the new categories and the improved competition format we will see continued growth in participation, support and viewership. I also believe these new rules will also encourage healthier wrestlers."

Another significant shift in the sport came with the launch of the Ranking Series in 2018, which uses four previously independent events, plus the world and continental championships to determine a points champion for the season. The rankings also determine the top seeds at the world championships and Olympic Games. 

“The Ranking Series makes it easier for fans, athletes, and coaches to understand the impact of each tournament and match," said Lalovic.

The Ranking Series was tweaked heading into the 2019 season with more weight placed on the number of participants to help determine the ultimate allocation of points per event. The shift proved prescient as participation in the events more than doubled in 2019.

As of 2019, the points earned from the World Championships, Continental Championships and Ranking Series events are as follows:

Wrestling’s growth hasn’t been contained to competition formats. In an effort to ensure better governance and compliance with IOC norms, wrestling has reached out to female leaders around the world to ensure their participation in the sport’s growth. Wrestling has utilized national federations, IOC-backed initiatives, and created an annual Women in Wrestling Global Forum to ensure increased outreach and education of women in the wrestling community.

“The past few years has seen wrestling provide more opportunities to female leaders and competitors than ever before,” said UWW Development Director Deqa Niamkey. “I’m pleased with our growth and looking forward to the next ten years!”

In addition to professional opportunities for women in wrestling, there has also been a much-increased focus on their mat achievements. From photos to stories to documentaries the women of wrestling are covered equally to men and have enjoyed several breakout moments, including many listed in the Top Ten Stories of the Decade.

#WrestleAcapulco

Pan-American Championships 2024 Entries

Thursday, January 25, 2024 - 03:00 By United World Wrestling Press

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ACAPULCO, Mexico (January 25) -- United World Wrestling has released the entry list for the Pan-American Championships which will be held in Acapulco, Mexico from February 21 to 24.

The tournament precedes the Pan-American Olympic Qualifiers which can have only those countries which participated in the Pam-American Championships.

Note: The entries are subject to change till three days before the official draw of the wrestling style.

Freestyle

57kg
Davi SILVA (BRA)
Garette SAUNDERS (CAN)
Oscar TIGREROS URBANO (COL)
Peter HAMMER CUDE (CRC)
Osmany DIVERSENT MARTINEZ (CUB)
Guesseppe REA VILLARROEL (ECU)
Jaime PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)
Jorge OLVERA RODRIGUEZ (MEX)
Enrique HERRERA (PER)
Jacob MORAN (PUR)
Spencer LEE (USA)
Pedro MEJIAS (VEN)

61kg 
Edwin TERAN MENDOZA (COL)
Edwin SEGURA GUERRA (GUA)
Juan LAVAT CORTEZ (MEX)
Jose BENITES VASQUEZ (PER)
Joseph SILVA (PUR)
Nicholas SURIANO (USA)

65kg
Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG)
Shannon HANNA (BAH)
Matheus DA LUZ BARRETO (BRA)
Jacob ALEXANDER TORRES (CAN)
Matias MUNOZ RAMIREZ (CHI)
Elkin ESPANA SANTA (COL)
Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (CUB)
Albaro RUDECINDO CAMACHO (DOM)
Joshua Alexander KRAMER (ECU)
Esteban David PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)
Jordan Alexander MITCHELL (JAM)
Hector GONZALEZ (MEX)
Sixto AUCCAPINA (PER)
Rafael GARCIA (PUR)
Nicholas LEE (USA)

70kg
Mauricio LOVERA (ARG)
Peiman BIABANI (CAN)
Yean SUAREZ RIVAS (COL)
Austin GOMEZ (MEX)
Victor SOTO RIVERA (PUR)
Alec PANTALEO (USA) 

74kg
Cesar BORDEAUX REGO ALVAN (BRA)
Adam THOMSON (CAN)
Hernan GUZMAN (COL)
Jeandry GARZON (CUB)
Julio RODRIGUEZ ROMERO (DOM)
Enrique PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)
Luis BARRIOS ROCHEZ (HON)
Diego SANDOVAL ZARCO (MEX)
Angel CORTES BONILLA (PAN)
Shane JONES (PUR)
Kyle DAKE (USA)
Anthony MONTERO CHIRINOS (VEN)

79kg 
Jasmit PHULKA (CAN)
Jose CANO LOPEZ (MEX)
Dylan PALACIO PINTADO (URU)
Alexander FACUNDO (USA)

86kg
Jorge LLANO (ARG)
Pedro GONCALVES DA SILVA (BRA)
Ahmed SHAMIYA (CAN)
Eduardo GAJARDO MENESES (CHI)
Carlos IZQUIERDO MENDEZ (COL)
Yurieski TORREBLANCA QUERALTA (CUB)
Kevin DE LEON TREVINO (MEX)
Pool AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER)
Jose SANCHEZ (PUR)
Chandler MARSTELLER (USA)
Pedro CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN)

92kg
Tejvir Singh BOAL (CAN)
Luis VILLAGOMEZ PAREDES (ECU)
Cesar UBICO ESTRADA (GUA)
Erwin VARGAS MARTINEZ (MEX)
Jose BETANCOURT KOCK (PUR)
Nathan JACKSON (USA)

97kg
Ricardo Adrian BAEZ (ARG)
Ailton BRITO ROCHA (BRA)
Riley OTTO (CAN)
Matias URIBE SEPULVEDA (CHI)
Maxwell LACEY GARITA (CRC)
Arturo SILOT TORRES (CUB)
Luis PEREZ SOSA (DOM)
Cristian SANCHEZ HERNANDEZ (MEX)
Marcos SANTOS BONNET (PUR)
Kyle SNYDER (USA)
Cristian SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN)

125kg
Catriel MURIEL (ARG)
Gabriel DE SOUSA SILVA (BRA)
Richard DESCHATELETS (CAN)
Jhoan OCORO PALOMINO (COL)
Maxwell LACEY GARITA (CRC)
Ibrain TORRES ESPINOSA (CUB)
Elison ADAMES GARCIA (DOM)
Gino AVILA DILBERT (HON)
Aaron JOHNSON (JAM)
Josue CAMPOS ARIZPE (MEX)
Jonovan SMITH (PUR)
Mason PARRIS (USA)
Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN)

Oscar PINO (CUB)Oscar PINO (CUB) will look to defend his Greco-Roman 130kg title. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Mario CHOC CHOC (GUA)
Marco GARCIA ALVAREZ (MEX)
Camden RUSSELL (USA)

60kg
Erivan CONSTANTINO ROCHA (BRA)
Keeyan TROTMAN (CAN)
Cristobal TORRES NUNEZ (CHI)
Dicther TORO CASTANEDA (COL)
Yerony LIRIA CARRERAS (DOM)
Jeremy PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU)
Angel SEGURA TELLEZ (MEX)
Randon MIRANDA (USA)
Raiber RODRIGUEZ OROZCO (VEN)

63kg
Carlos GONZALEZ VAHOS (COL)
Kevin DE ARMAS RODRIGUEZ (CUB)
Hector SANCHEZ ZAPATA (MEX)
Hayden TUMA (USA)

67kg
Mauricio LOVERA (ARG)
Gavin ELDRIDGE (CAN)
Nestor ALMANZA TRUYOL (CHI)
Julian HORTA ACEVEDO (COL)
Luis ORTA (CUB)
Starlin LAGUERRE LAUREUS (DOM)
Andres MONTANO ARROYO (ECU)
Cristian MEJIA TEPEN (GUA)
Edsson OLMOS GUTIERREZ (MEX)
Nilton SOTO GARCIA (PER)
Lee A MAURAS (PUR)
Alejandro SANCHO (USA)

72kg
Calebe CORREA FERREIRA (BRA)
Jose VARELA GARCIA (GUA)
Alexis VARGAS RAMIREZ (MEX)
Noah WACHSMUTH (USA) 

77kg
Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARG)
Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA)
John YEATS (CAN)
Eduardo BERNAL MOLINA (CHI)
Jair CUERO MUNOZ (COL)
Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB)
David CHOC HUOC (GUA)
Raul UNZUETA TORRES (MEX)
Alvis ALMENDRA JIMENEZ (PAN)
Jonathan VIRUET (PUR)
Kamal BEY (USA)
Wuileixis RIVAS ESPINOZA (VEN)

82kg
Sosruko KODZOKOV (BRA)
Diego MACIAS TORRES (MEX)
Mahmoud SEBIE (USA)

87kg
Jorge LLANO (ARG)
Ronisson BRANDAO SANTIAGO (BRA)
Ioannis NARLIDIS (CAN)
Jose MORENO BUSTOS (CHI)
Carlos MUNOZ JARAMILLO (COL)
Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB)
Ariel ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ (HON)
Daniel VICENTE GOMEZ (MEX)
Spencer WOODS (USA)
Luis AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN)

97kg
Ricardo GOMEZ (ARG)
Kauan FERREIRA GOMES (BRA)
Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB)
Carlos ADAMES PALMER (DOM)
Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON)
Pedro BELLO SOTO (MEX)
Max MADRID DE LEON (PAN)
Alan VERA GARCIA (USA)
Luillys PEREZ MORA (VEN)

130kg
Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA)
Jorawar Singh DHINSA (CAN)
Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI)
Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB)
Beder CANTU MARTINEZ (MEX)
Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA)
Moises PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN)

Adeline GRAY (USA)Adeline GRAY (USA) will return to the Pan-Am Championships after two years. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Women’s Wrestling 

50kg
Maia CABRERA (ARG)
Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA)
Katie DUTCHAK (CAN)
Javiera ORTEGA FERNANDEZ (CHI)
Dannia FIGUEROA DUQUE (COL)
Alisson CARDOZO REY (COL)
Yusneylis GUZMAN LOPEZ (CUB)
Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU)
Karla HERNANDEZ GONZALEZ (ESA)
Linda CASTANEDA GAONA (MEX)
Yorlenis MORAN SANCHEZ (PAN)
Antuaneth CASUSOL CASAS (PER)
Audrey JIMENEZ (USA)
Mariana ROJAS DIAZ (VEN)

53kg
Sabrina GAMA TAPAJOS (BRA)
Samantha STEWART (CAN)
Antonia VALDES ARRIAGADA (CHI)
Eva GONZALEZ LANDAZURY (COL)
Laura HERIN AVILA (CUB)
Maria GONZALEZ DE LA ROSA (DOM)
Lucia YEPEZ (ECU)
Karla ACOSTA MARTINEZ (MEX)
Yusneiry AGRAZAL WEST (PAN)
Nathaly HERRERA HUACRE (PER)
Katie GOMEZ (USA)
Betzabeth ARGUELLO (VEN)

55kg
Diana WEICKER (CAN)
Zeltzin HERNANDEZ (MEX)
Alisha HOWK (USA)

57kg
Camila AMARILLA (ARG)
Giullia PENALBER (BRA)
Hannah TAYLOR (CAN)
Andrea GONZALEZ (COL)
Angela ALVAREZ (CUB)
Yocleidy RAMIREZ (DOM)
Luisa VALVERDE (ECU)
Jacqueline HERNANDEZ (ESA)
Bertha ROJAS CHAVEZ (MEX)
Karoline ORTIZ ROSADO (PUR)
Helen MAROULIS (USA)
Betzabeth SARCO (VEN)

59kg
Jessica DERRELL (BAR)
Ana PEREIRA (BRA)
Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN)
Susana LOZANO VEYTIA (MEX)
Michaela BECK (USA)

62kg
Lais NUNES (BRA)
Ana GODINEZ (CAN)
Virginia JIMENEZ (CHI)
Katherine RENTERIA (COL)
Maria SANTANA (CUB)
Eldarah BROWN (JAM)
Arely NOVELO GOMEZ (MEX)
Carina GIANGERUSO (PUR)
Kayla MIRACLE (USA)
Astrid MONTERO (VEN)

65kg
Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN)
Andrea LOPEZ MARTINEZ (MEX)
Macey KILTY (USA)

68kg
Thamires MARTINS (BRA)
Olivia DI BACCO (CAN)
Nicoll PARRADO (COL)
Brenda STERLING MARTINEZ (CUB)
Leonela AYOVI PARRAGA (ECU)
Alejandra RIVERA ARRIAGA (MEX)
Alexandria GLAUDE (USA)
Soleymi CARABALLO (VEN)

72kg
Katie MULKAY (CAN)
Edna JIMENEZ VILLALBA (MEX)
Brooklyn HAYS (USA)

76kg
Linda MACHUCA (ARG)
Meiriele CHARAMBA (BRA)
Shauna KUEBECK (CAN)
Tatiana RENTERIA (COL)
Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB)
Emelyn BAUTISTA CORCINO (DOM)
Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU)
Saidy CHAVEZ FIGUEROA (HON)
Atzimba LANDAVERDE MORENO (MEX)
Adeline GRAY (USA)
Maria ACOSTA (VEN)