U.S. teams named for Pan American Championships in Maracaibo, Venezuela, April 23-25
Share:
by Gary Abbott
The United States will send a team mixed with veteran stars and talented young wrestlers to the Pan American Championships, set for Maracaibo, Venezuela, April 23-25.
The team will feature three members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, one in each style: Spenser Mango (St. Louis, Mo./New York AC) at 60 kg/132 lbs. in Greco-Roman, Steve Mocco (Coralville, Iowa/New York AC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. in men's freestyle and Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. in women's freestyle.
Chun also won a gold medal at the 2008 Women's World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
The U.S. teams were selected based upon results from the ASICS U.S. National Championships in Las Vegas, Nev., April 9-11. The national champion had first opportunity to compete, with the following placewinners invited until the position was filled.
The Greco-Roman team will feature 2009 U.S. Nationals champions Faruk Sahin (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Brad Ahearn (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Four of the seven team members are members of the Army World Class Athlete Program: Sahin, Ahearn, Jess Hargrave at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Aaron Sieracki at 84 kg/185 lbs.
Mocco is the only 2009 U.S. Nationals champion on the men's freestyle team. However, three U.S. Nationals runners-up will be featured on the team: Brent Metcalf (Davison, Mich./Gator WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Eric Luedke (Iowa City, Iowa/Gator WC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Kyle Cerminara (Lewiston, Pa./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Chun is one of four 2009 U.S. Nationals champions on the U.S. women's freestyle roster, joined by Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md./New York AC) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Kelsey Campbell (Milwaukie, Ore./Sunkist Kids) at 59 kg/130 lbs. and Elena Pirozkhova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Returning Pan American champions from the United States that will compete in Maracaibo are Chun and Pirozkhova in women's freestyle.
The Pan American Championships features the nations of North America, Central American and South America. The United States is a power within Pan American wrestling and will challenge for team titles in all three styles.
PAN AMERICAN WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Maracaibo, Venezuela, April 23-25
U.S. Greco-Roman team
55 kg/121 lbs. - Nate Engel, St. Helena, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Spenser Mango, St. Louis, Mo. (New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Faruk Sahin, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jess Hargrave, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Aaron Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Brad Ahearn, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Brandon Rupp, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
Coach - Jay Antonelli (Chesapeake, Va.), Rob Hermann (Pensacola, Fla.)
U.S. men's freestyle team
55 kg/121 lbs. - Obe Blanc, Naples, Fla. (Gator WC)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Matt Valenti, New York, N.Y. (New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Brent Metcalf, Davison, Mich. (Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jon Reader, Davison, Mich. (Cyclone WC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Eric Luedke, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Kyle Cerminara, Lewiston, Pa. (New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Steve Mocco, Coralville, Iowa (New York AC)
Coaches - Bill Zadick (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Lou Rosselli (Columbus, Ohio)
U.S. women's freestyle team
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Alyssa Lampe, Tomahawk, Wis. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York AC)
59 kg/130 lbs. - Kelsey Campbell, Milwaukie, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Elena Pirozkhova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Sheila McCabe, San Diego, Calif. (OCU Stars)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Jenna Pavlik, Colorado Springs, Colo. (USOTC)
Coaches - Terry Steiner (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Izzy Izboinikov (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Pan American Championships schedule
Thursday, April 23
9:00 a.m. - Greco-Roman qualification rounds
5:00 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies
6:00 p.m. - Repechage and Medal Matches in Greco-Roman
Friday, April 24
9:00 a.m. - Women's freestyle qualification rounds
5:00 p.m. - Repechage and Medal Matches in Women's freestyle
Saturday, April 25
9:00 a.m. - Men's freestyle qualification rounds
5:00 p.m. - Repechage and Medal Matches in Men's freestyle
The team will feature three members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, one in each style: Spenser Mango (St. Louis, Mo./New York AC) at 60 kg/132 lbs. in Greco-Roman, Steve Mocco (Coralville, Iowa/New York AC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. in men's freestyle and Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. in women's freestyle.
Chun also won a gold medal at the 2008 Women's World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
The U.S. teams were selected based upon results from the ASICS U.S. National Championships in Las Vegas, Nev., April 9-11. The national champion had first opportunity to compete, with the following placewinners invited until the position was filled.
The Greco-Roman team will feature 2009 U.S. Nationals champions Faruk Sahin (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Brad Ahearn (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Four of the seven team members are members of the Army World Class Athlete Program: Sahin, Ahearn, Jess Hargrave at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Aaron Sieracki at 84 kg/185 lbs.
Mocco is the only 2009 U.S. Nationals champion on the men's freestyle team. However, three U.S. Nationals runners-up will be featured on the team: Brent Metcalf (Davison, Mich./Gator WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Eric Luedke (Iowa City, Iowa/Gator WC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Kyle Cerminara (Lewiston, Pa./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Chun is one of four 2009 U.S. Nationals champions on the U.S. women's freestyle roster, joined by Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md./New York AC) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Kelsey Campbell (Milwaukie, Ore./Sunkist Kids) at 59 kg/130 lbs. and Elena Pirozkhova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Returning Pan American champions from the United States that will compete in Maracaibo are Chun and Pirozkhova in women's freestyle.
The Pan American Championships features the nations of North America, Central American and South America. The United States is a power within Pan American wrestling and will challenge for team titles in all three styles.
PAN AMERICAN WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Maracaibo, Venezuela, April 23-25
U.S. Greco-Roman team
55 kg/121 lbs. - Nate Engel, St. Helena, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Spenser Mango, St. Louis, Mo. (New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Faruk Sahin, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jess Hargrave, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Aaron Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Brad Ahearn, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Brandon Rupp, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
Coach - Jay Antonelli (Chesapeake, Va.), Rob Hermann (Pensacola, Fla.)
U.S. men's freestyle team
55 kg/121 lbs. - Obe Blanc, Naples, Fla. (Gator WC)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Matt Valenti, New York, N.Y. (New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Brent Metcalf, Davison, Mich. (Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jon Reader, Davison, Mich. (Cyclone WC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Eric Luedke, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Kyle Cerminara, Lewiston, Pa. (New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Steve Mocco, Coralville, Iowa (New York AC)
Coaches - Bill Zadick (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Lou Rosselli (Columbus, Ohio)
U.S. women's freestyle team
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Alyssa Lampe, Tomahawk, Wis. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York AC)
59 kg/130 lbs. - Kelsey Campbell, Milwaukie, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Elena Pirozkhova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Sheila McCabe, San Diego, Calif. (OCU Stars)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Jenna Pavlik, Colorado Springs, Colo. (USOTC)
Coaches - Terry Steiner (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Izzy Izboinikov (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Pan American Championships schedule
Thursday, April 23
9:00 a.m. - Greco-Roman qualification rounds
5:00 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies
6:00 p.m. - Repechage and Medal Matches in Greco-Roman
Friday, April 24
9:00 a.m. - Women's freestyle qualification rounds
5:00 p.m. - Repechage and Medal Matches in Women's freestyle
Saturday, April 25
9:00 a.m. - Men's freestyle qualification rounds
5:00 p.m. - Repechage and Medal Matches in Men's freestyle
Read More#
Jimenez, Blades, Schwab, Baublitz to go for gold, Martinez, Cosme for bronze in Pan American women’s freestyle
Kilty, Drury to meet at 65 kg in women’s freestyle at 2025 Final X in Newark, N.J.
Olympic medalists Snyder, Blades among 20 U.S. Open champions qualified for 2025 Final X in Newark, N.J.
Senior Greco-Roman seeds released for 2025 CLAW U.S. Open Championships
