UPDATED: Mocco wins gold as USA takes second in freestyle at Pan American Championships
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by Gary Abbott
MARACAIBO, Venezuela - 2008 Olympian Steve Mocco (Coralville, Iowa/New York AC) won a gold medal at 120 kg/264.5 lbs., the top U.S. performance in men's freestyle at the Pan American Championships on Saturday.
Mocco was among seven U.S. medalists in the tournament. Cuba, with six champions, won the team title with 68 points, followed by the USA with 62 pts. and Canada with 53 pts.
Mocco won three bouts, including two pins. He opened with a 2-0, 1-0 win over Elier Romero of Cuba. In the championship bout, he pinned Michael Neufeld of Canada. Mocco won his first U.S. Nationals title in early April in Las Vegas.
"Steve wrestled really well," said USA Wrestling Assistant National Freestyle Coach Bill Zadick. "He went out there to dominate. He had a strong young Cuban right away and he controlled the match. He wrestled how he has to in order to win consistently."
The U.S had four silver medalists, all who were defeated by Cuban opponents in the finals:
* Obe Blanc (Naples, Fla./Gator WC) at 55 kg/121 lbs.
* Jon Reader (Davison, Mich./Cyclone WC) at 74 kg/163 lbs.
* Eric Luedke (Iowa City, Iowa/Gator WC) at 84 kg/185 lbs.
* Kyle Cerminara (Lewiston, Pa./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Blanc lost in the finals to Luis Ibanez, 0-2, 2-3. Reader fell to 2004 Olympic medalist Ivan Fundora by pin. Luedke lost to Reineris Salas, 0-2, 0-6. Cerminara was beaten by 2006 World bronze medalist Michel Batista, 0-1, 0-3.
Blanc, Luedke and Cerminara were 2009 U.S. Nationals runners-up at their weight classes.
The U.S. added a pair of bronze medals: Brent Metcalf (Davison, Mich./Gator WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Matt Valenti (New York, N.Y./New York AC) at 60 kg/132 lbs. Both lost matches to Canadian opponents, but wrestled back in the repechage rounds for the bronze medal.
"Our guys all wrestled well," said Zadick. "We have to get better in some positions. We need to score more points. Everybody competed hard. We all need more experience and to put more points on the scoreboard."
PAN AMERICAN FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Maracaibo, Venezuela, April 25
55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold - Luis Ibanez (Cuba)
Silver - Obe Blanc (USA)
Bronze - Aso Palani (Canada)
Bronze - Enrique Vasquez Castro (Ecuador)
5th - Jose Edgardo Ramos (El Salvador)
5th - Arturo De Jesus Chavez Ramirez (Mexico)
7th - Manuel Ramirez (Puerto Rico)
8th - Angel Batista (Panama)
9th - Hector Camacho (Venezuela)
60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold - Maikel Antonio Perez(Cuba)
Silver - James Mancini (Canada)
Bronze - Abel Gerald Herrera Pastor (Peru)
Bronze - Matt Valenti (USA)
5th - Guillermo Torres Cervantes (Mexico)
5th - Nelson Garcia (Colombia)
7th - Fernando Iglesias (Argentina)
8th - Gabriel Garcia Sanchez (Dominican Republic)
9th - Jefferson Nunes Araujo (Brazil)
10th - Tomas Solorzano (Venezuela)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold - Geandry Garzon (Cuba)
Silver - Haislan Garcia (Canada)
Bronze - Edison Hurtado (Colombia)
Bronze - Brent Metcalf (USA)
5th - Ghandi Marquez Leon (Mexico)
5th - Elvis Fuentes Blanco (Venezuela)
7th - Mauricio Atamain (Ecuador)
8th - Fernando Alex Mendoza (Panama)
9th - Jose Alvarado (Peru)
10th - Barcelos Raoni (Brazil)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - Ivan Fundora (Cuba)
Silver - Jonathan Reader (USA)
Bronze - Wilson Medina (Colombia)
Bronze - Evan MacDonald (Canada)
5th - Daniel Uthurburu (Uruguay)
5th - Ricardo Robertty Moreno (Venezuela)
7th - David Cubas (Peru)
8th - Leonardo Enrique Gonzalez (Panama)
9th - Pedro Soto Cordero (Puerto Rico)
10th - Daniel Malvino (Brazil)
84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold - Reineris Salas (Cuba)
Silver - Eric Luedke (USA)
Bronze - Ronnier Reyes (Venezuela)
Bronze - Jaime Yusept Espinal (Puerto Rico)
5th - Yuri Maier (Argentina)
5th - Jarlis Mosquera (Colombia)
7th - Adrian Jaoude (Brazil)
8th - Segundo Hipolito Jimenez Hurtado (Ecuador)
9th - Donald Brown (Canada)
10th - Rodolfo White (Panama)
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Gold - Michel Antonio Batista (Cuba)
Silver - Kyle Cerminara (USA)
Bronze - Korey Jarvis (Canada)
Bronze - Israel Enrique Silva Rios (Mexico)
5th - William Francisco Serrano (El Salvador)
5th - Luis Vivenez (Venezuela)
7th - Diego Rodrigues (Brazil)
8th - Juan Esteban Martinez Ibaguen (Colombia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Gold - Steven Mocco (USA)
Silver - Michael Neufeld (Canada)
Bronze - Yonsi Sanchez
Bronze - Elier Romero (Cuba)
5th - Antoine Jaoude (Brazil)
5th - FELIX GARCIA Carlos Felix Garcia (Dominican Republic)
7th - Larry Langowski (Mexico)
Team Standings
1 CUBA, 68
2 UNITED STATES, 62
3 CANADA, 53
4 VENEZUELA, 37
5 COLOMBIA, 31
6 MEXICO, 30
7 BRAZIL, 18
8 ECUADOR, 15
9 PERU, 14
9 PUERTO RICO, 14
11 EL SALVADOR, 12
12 ARGENTINA, 10
12 PANAM, 10
14 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, 9
15 URUGUAY, 6
U.S. men's freestyle performance
55 kg/121 lbs. - Obe Blanc, Naples, Fla. (Gator WC), 2nd
WIN Jose Edgardo Ramos (El Salvador), 1-0, 3-0
WIN Aso Palani (Canada), 3-0, 5-1
LOSS Luis Ibanez Rojas (Cuba), 0-2, 2-3
60 kg/132 lbs. - Matt Valenti, New York, N.Y. (New York AC), 3rd
WIN Luis Portillo (El Salvador), 3-0, 7-0
WIN Fernando Iglesias (Argentina), 3-1, 2-3, 5-1
LOSS James Mancini (Canada), 1-0, 1-1, 0-1
WIN Nelson Garcia (Columbia), 2-0, 0-2, 1-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Brent Metcalf, Davison, Mich. (Gator WC), 3rd
WIN Angel Ramirez (Dominican Republic), 6-0, 3-0
LOSS Haislan Garcia (Canada), 0-1, 3-1, 0-1
WIN Alexander Eduardo Dubon (El Salvador), 7-0, 7-0
WIN Elvis Fuentes Blanco (Venezuela), pin 1st period
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jon Reader, Davison, Mich. (Cyclone WC), 2nd
WIN Ricardo Robertty Moreno (Venezuela), 1-0, 4-1
WIN Evan MacDonald (Canada), 3-0, 0-1, 3-1
LOSS Ivan Fundora (Cuba), pin
84 kg/185 lbs. - Eric Luedke, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC), 2nd
WIN Donald Brown (Canada), 2-0, 1-0
WIN Jaime Yusept Espinal (Puerto Rico), 0-4, 3-0, 6-0
WIN Jarlis Mosquera (Colombia), 1-0, 1-0
LOSS Reineris Salas(Cuba), 0-2, 0-6
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Kyle Cerminara, Lewiston, Pa. (New York AC), 2nd
WIN William Francisco Serrano (El Salvador), 7-0, 8-0
WIN Korey Jarvis (Canada), 2-0, 1-0
LOSS Michel Antonio Batista (Cuba), 0-1, 0-3
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Steve Mocco, Coralville, Iowa (New York AC), 1st
WIN Elier Romero (Cuba), 2-0, 1-0
WIN Carlos Felix Garcia (Dominican Republic), pin 1st period
WIN Michael Neufeld (Canada), pin 1st period
Mocco was among seven U.S. medalists in the tournament. Cuba, with six champions, won the team title with 68 points, followed by the USA with 62 pts. and Canada with 53 pts.
Mocco won three bouts, including two pins. He opened with a 2-0, 1-0 win over Elier Romero of Cuba. In the championship bout, he pinned Michael Neufeld of Canada. Mocco won his first U.S. Nationals title in early April in Las Vegas.
"Steve wrestled really well," said USA Wrestling Assistant National Freestyle Coach Bill Zadick. "He went out there to dominate. He had a strong young Cuban right away and he controlled the match. He wrestled how he has to in order to win consistently."
The U.S had four silver medalists, all who were defeated by Cuban opponents in the finals:
* Obe Blanc (Naples, Fla./Gator WC) at 55 kg/121 lbs.
* Jon Reader (Davison, Mich./Cyclone WC) at 74 kg/163 lbs.
* Eric Luedke (Iowa City, Iowa/Gator WC) at 84 kg/185 lbs.
* Kyle Cerminara (Lewiston, Pa./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Blanc lost in the finals to Luis Ibanez, 0-2, 2-3. Reader fell to 2004 Olympic medalist Ivan Fundora by pin. Luedke lost to Reineris Salas, 0-2, 0-6. Cerminara was beaten by 2006 World bronze medalist Michel Batista, 0-1, 0-3.
Blanc, Luedke and Cerminara were 2009 U.S. Nationals runners-up at their weight classes.
The U.S. added a pair of bronze medals: Brent Metcalf (Davison, Mich./Gator WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Matt Valenti (New York, N.Y./New York AC) at 60 kg/132 lbs. Both lost matches to Canadian opponents, but wrestled back in the repechage rounds for the bronze medal.
"Our guys all wrestled well," said Zadick. "We have to get better in some positions. We need to score more points. Everybody competed hard. We all need more experience and to put more points on the scoreboard."
PAN AMERICAN FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Maracaibo, Venezuela, April 25
55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold - Luis Ibanez (Cuba)
Silver - Obe Blanc (USA)
Bronze - Aso Palani (Canada)
Bronze - Enrique Vasquez Castro (Ecuador)
5th - Jose Edgardo Ramos (El Salvador)
5th - Arturo De Jesus Chavez Ramirez (Mexico)
7th - Manuel Ramirez (Puerto Rico)
8th - Angel Batista (Panama)
9th - Hector Camacho (Venezuela)
60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold - Maikel Antonio Perez(Cuba)
Silver - James Mancini (Canada)
Bronze - Abel Gerald Herrera Pastor (Peru)
Bronze - Matt Valenti (USA)
5th - Guillermo Torres Cervantes (Mexico)
5th - Nelson Garcia (Colombia)
7th - Fernando Iglesias (Argentina)
8th - Gabriel Garcia Sanchez (Dominican Republic)
9th - Jefferson Nunes Araujo (Brazil)
10th - Tomas Solorzano (Venezuela)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold - Geandry Garzon (Cuba)
Silver - Haislan Garcia (Canada)
Bronze - Edison Hurtado (Colombia)
Bronze - Brent Metcalf (USA)
5th - Ghandi Marquez Leon (Mexico)
5th - Elvis Fuentes Blanco (Venezuela)
7th - Mauricio Atamain (Ecuador)
8th - Fernando Alex Mendoza (Panama)
9th - Jose Alvarado (Peru)
10th - Barcelos Raoni (Brazil)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - Ivan Fundora (Cuba)
Silver - Jonathan Reader (USA)
Bronze - Wilson Medina (Colombia)
Bronze - Evan MacDonald (Canada)
5th - Daniel Uthurburu (Uruguay)
5th - Ricardo Robertty Moreno (Venezuela)
7th - David Cubas (Peru)
8th - Leonardo Enrique Gonzalez (Panama)
9th - Pedro Soto Cordero (Puerto Rico)
10th - Daniel Malvino (Brazil)
84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold - Reineris Salas (Cuba)
Silver - Eric Luedke (USA)
Bronze - Ronnier Reyes (Venezuela)
Bronze - Jaime Yusept Espinal (Puerto Rico)
5th - Yuri Maier (Argentina)
5th - Jarlis Mosquera (Colombia)
7th - Adrian Jaoude (Brazil)
8th - Segundo Hipolito Jimenez Hurtado (Ecuador)
9th - Donald Brown (Canada)
10th - Rodolfo White (Panama)
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Gold - Michel Antonio Batista (Cuba)
Silver - Kyle Cerminara (USA)
Bronze - Korey Jarvis (Canada)
Bronze - Israel Enrique Silva Rios (Mexico)
5th - William Francisco Serrano (El Salvador)
5th - Luis Vivenez (Venezuela)
7th - Diego Rodrigues (Brazil)
8th - Juan Esteban Martinez Ibaguen (Colombia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Gold - Steven Mocco (USA)
Silver - Michael Neufeld (Canada)
Bronze - Yonsi Sanchez
Bronze - Elier Romero (Cuba)
5th - Antoine Jaoude (Brazil)
5th - FELIX GARCIA Carlos Felix Garcia (Dominican Republic)
7th - Larry Langowski (Mexico)
Team Standings
1 CUBA, 68
2 UNITED STATES, 62
3 CANADA, 53
4 VENEZUELA, 37
5 COLOMBIA, 31
6 MEXICO, 30
7 BRAZIL, 18
8 ECUADOR, 15
9 PERU, 14
9 PUERTO RICO, 14
11 EL SALVADOR, 12
12 ARGENTINA, 10
12 PANAM, 10
14 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, 9
15 URUGUAY, 6
U.S. men's freestyle performance
55 kg/121 lbs. - Obe Blanc, Naples, Fla. (Gator WC), 2nd
WIN Jose Edgardo Ramos (El Salvador), 1-0, 3-0
WIN Aso Palani (Canada), 3-0, 5-1
LOSS Luis Ibanez Rojas (Cuba), 0-2, 2-3
60 kg/132 lbs. - Matt Valenti, New York, N.Y. (New York AC), 3rd
WIN Luis Portillo (El Salvador), 3-0, 7-0
WIN Fernando Iglesias (Argentina), 3-1, 2-3, 5-1
LOSS James Mancini (Canada), 1-0, 1-1, 0-1
WIN Nelson Garcia (Columbia), 2-0, 0-2, 1-0
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Brent Metcalf, Davison, Mich. (Gator WC), 3rd
WIN Angel Ramirez (Dominican Republic), 6-0, 3-0
LOSS Haislan Garcia (Canada), 0-1, 3-1, 0-1
WIN Alexander Eduardo Dubon (El Salvador), 7-0, 7-0
WIN Elvis Fuentes Blanco (Venezuela), pin 1st period
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jon Reader, Davison, Mich. (Cyclone WC), 2nd
WIN Ricardo Robertty Moreno (Venezuela), 1-0, 4-1
WIN Evan MacDonald (Canada), 3-0, 0-1, 3-1
LOSS Ivan Fundora (Cuba), pin
84 kg/185 lbs. - Eric Luedke, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC), 2nd
WIN Donald Brown (Canada), 2-0, 1-0
WIN Jaime Yusept Espinal (Puerto Rico), 0-4, 3-0, 6-0
WIN Jarlis Mosquera (Colombia), 1-0, 1-0
LOSS Reineris Salas(Cuba), 0-2, 0-6
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Kyle Cerminara, Lewiston, Pa. (New York AC), 2nd
WIN William Francisco Serrano (El Salvador), 7-0, 8-0
WIN Korey Jarvis (Canada), 2-0, 1-0
LOSS Michel Antonio Batista (Cuba), 0-1, 0-3
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Steve Mocco, Coralville, Iowa (New York AC), 1st
WIN Elier Romero (Cuba), 2-0, 1-0
WIN Carlos Felix Garcia (Dominican Republic), pin 1st period
WIN Michael Neufeld (Canada), pin 1st period
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