American Whitney Conder storms into finals at Pan American Games
Share:
by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
American Whitney Conder advanced to the Pan American Games finals on Thursday in Toronto. Robbert Wijtman photo.
TORONTO, Canada – It was worth the wait for Whitney Conder.
Conder shook off a slow start before recording a second-period fall over Cuba’s Yamila Alvarez to advance to the Pan American Games wrestling finals on Thursday at the Hershey Centre.
“She definitely caught me off guard in the beginning,” Conder said. “I had to reset myself and go after her. I had to focus and wrestle like I know I can.”
Conder gave up an early takedown to Alvarez before coming right back to lead 4-2 after the first period. Conder then turned Alvarez to her back for a fall early in the second period.
Conder had a long wait before she wrestled Thursday since she had a bye into the semifinal round in her seven-wrestler bracket.
“It was definitely challenging having to wait for so long,” Conder said. “I started off a little slow, but I started to pick it up. It’s not exactly how I wanted to wrestle, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do with what you have.”
Conder will face Mexico’s Alma Valencia in the women’s freestyle finals at 53 kg/116.5 lbs. Valencia placed seventh at the 2014 World Championships. This will be their first meeting.
Conder was asked what will be the key in the finals.
“Being ready to go and staying in good position, and keeping my mind focused on the match,” Conder said. “And setting my stuff up instead of letting her get to her ties and her stuff.”
Conder’s teammate, Alyssa Lampe, and American Greco-Roman heavyweight Robby Smith will wrestle in bronze-medal matches on Thursday night.
The medal matches are set for 8 p.m. Eastern Time in Toronto and will be shown on a live webcast on ESPN3.
The U.S. has clinched first place in the Greco-Roman wrestling medal count at the Pan Am Games for the first time since 1975.
Smith fell to Cuban Greco-Roman legend Mijain Lopez 8-0 in the semifinal round at 130 kg/286 lbs. The massive 6-foot-5 Lopez took charge with a takedown and pair of gut wrenches to build a 6-0 lead at the break.
Lopez, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time World champion, is seeking a record-tying fourth Pan Am Games title.
Smith opened by powering in on a body lock that resulted in a 40-second fall over Edgardo Lopez of Puerto Rico.
Smith will meet Venezuela’s Moises Perez in the bronze-medal bout.
Lampe dropped a 12-8 decision to Canada’s Genevieve Morrison in the women’s freestyle quarterfinals at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. Lampe trailed 12-4 midway through the second period. She scored two takedowns in the final minute but was unable to turn Morrison in the closing stages.
Lampe will battle Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman in the bronze-medal bout.
American Caylor Williams fell short of a medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at 98 kg/216 lbs.
Williams opened by dropping an 11-4 quarterfinal decision to Venezuela’s Luilys Perez at 98 kg/216 lbs. Williams fell behind 7-0 before scoring on a four-point move. Perez then pulled away for the win.
Williams was eliminated when Perez fell short of the finals.
Day 3 of the four-day tournament is set for Friday in Toronto. Americans Erin Clodgo and Adeline Gray are scheduled to compete in women’s freestyle with men’s freestyle wrestlers Angel Escobedo and Brent Metcalf also taking the mat for Team USA.
Pan American Games, July 15-18
Hershey Centre, Toronto, Canada
Gold-medal matchups
Greco-Roman
98 kg/216 lbs.
Yasmany Lugo (Cuba) vs. Kevin Mejia (Honduras)
130 kg/286 lbs.
Mijain Lopez (Cuba) vs. Andres Ayub (Chile)
Women’s freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Genevieve Morrison (Canada) vs. Thalia Mallou (Peru)
53 kg/116.5 lbs.
Whitney Conder (USA) vs. Alma Valencia (Mexico)
58 kg/128 lbs.
Yaquelin Estornell (Cuba) vs. Joice Souza (Brazil)
U.S. results
Greco-Roman
98 kg/216 lbs. – Caylor Williams, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
LOSS Luilys Perez (Venezuela), 11-4
130 kg/286.6 lbs. – Robby Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
WIN Edgardo Lopez (Puerto Rico), 0:40
LOSS Mijain Lopez (Cuba), tech fall 8-0
vs. Moises Perez (Venezuela) in bronze-medal match
U.S. women’s freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
LOSS Genevieve Morrison (Canada), 12-8
vs. Yusneylis Guzman (Cuba) in bronze-medal match
53 kg/116.5 lbs. – Whitney Conder, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
WIN Yamilka Alvarez (Cuba), fall 3:22
vs. Alma Valencia (Mexico) in gold-medal match
TORONTO, Canada – It was worth the wait for Whitney Conder.
Conder shook off a slow start before recording a second-period fall over Cuba’s Yamila Alvarez to advance to the Pan American Games wrestling finals on Thursday at the Hershey Centre.
“She definitely caught me off guard in the beginning,” Conder said. “I had to reset myself and go after her. I had to focus and wrestle like I know I can.”
Conder gave up an early takedown to Alvarez before coming right back to lead 4-2 after the first period. Conder then turned Alvarez to her back for a fall early in the second period.
Conder had a long wait before she wrestled Thursday since she had a bye into the semifinal round in her seven-wrestler bracket.
“It was definitely challenging having to wait for so long,” Conder said. “I started off a little slow, but I started to pick it up. It’s not exactly how I wanted to wrestle, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do with what you have.”
Conder will face Mexico’s Alma Valencia in the women’s freestyle finals at 53 kg/116.5 lbs. Valencia placed seventh at the 2014 World Championships. This will be their first meeting.
Conder was asked what will be the key in the finals.
“Being ready to go and staying in good position, and keeping my mind focused on the match,” Conder said. “And setting my stuff up instead of letting her get to her ties and her stuff.”
Conder’s teammate, Alyssa Lampe, and American Greco-Roman heavyweight Robby Smith will wrestle in bronze-medal matches on Thursday night.
The medal matches are set for 8 p.m. Eastern Time in Toronto and will be shown on a live webcast on ESPN3.
The U.S. has clinched first place in the Greco-Roman wrestling medal count at the Pan Am Games for the first time since 1975.
Smith fell to Cuban Greco-Roman legend Mijain Lopez 8-0 in the semifinal round at 130 kg/286 lbs. The massive 6-foot-5 Lopez took charge with a takedown and pair of gut wrenches to build a 6-0 lead at the break.
Lopez, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time World champion, is seeking a record-tying fourth Pan Am Games title.
Smith opened by powering in on a body lock that resulted in a 40-second fall over Edgardo Lopez of Puerto Rico.
Smith will meet Venezuela’s Moises Perez in the bronze-medal bout.
Lampe dropped a 12-8 decision to Canada’s Genevieve Morrison in the women’s freestyle quarterfinals at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. Lampe trailed 12-4 midway through the second period. She scored two takedowns in the final minute but was unable to turn Morrison in the closing stages.
Lampe will battle Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman in the bronze-medal bout.
American Caylor Williams fell short of a medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at 98 kg/216 lbs.
Williams opened by dropping an 11-4 quarterfinal decision to Venezuela’s Luilys Perez at 98 kg/216 lbs. Williams fell behind 7-0 before scoring on a four-point move. Perez then pulled away for the win.
Williams was eliminated when Perez fell short of the finals.
Day 3 of the four-day tournament is set for Friday in Toronto. Americans Erin Clodgo and Adeline Gray are scheduled to compete in women’s freestyle with men’s freestyle wrestlers Angel Escobedo and Brent Metcalf also taking the mat for Team USA.
Pan American Games, July 15-18
Hershey Centre, Toronto, Canada
Gold-medal matchups
Greco-Roman
98 kg/216 lbs.
Yasmany Lugo (Cuba) vs. Kevin Mejia (Honduras)
130 kg/286 lbs.
Mijain Lopez (Cuba) vs. Andres Ayub (Chile)
Women’s freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Genevieve Morrison (Canada) vs. Thalia Mallou (Peru)
53 kg/116.5 lbs.
Whitney Conder (USA) vs. Alma Valencia (Mexico)
58 kg/128 lbs.
Yaquelin Estornell (Cuba) vs. Joice Souza (Brazil)
U.S. results
Greco-Roman
98 kg/216 lbs. – Caylor Williams, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
LOSS Luilys Perez (Venezuela), 11-4
130 kg/286.6 lbs. – Robby Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
WIN Edgardo Lopez (Puerto Rico), 0:40
LOSS Mijain Lopez (Cuba), tech fall 8-0
vs. Moises Perez (Venezuela) in bronze-medal match
U.S. women’s freestyle
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
LOSS Genevieve Morrison (Canada), 12-8
vs. Yusneylis Guzman (Cuba) in bronze-medal match
53 kg/116.5 lbs. – Whitney Conder, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
WIN Yamilka Alvarez (Cuba), fall 3:22
vs. Alma Valencia (Mexico) in gold-medal match
Read More#
USA wins women’s freestyle team title at U20 Pan American Championships, led by seven champions
Five World medalists lead U.S. team at U20 Pan-American Championships in Santiago, Chile
FINAL DAY: Elections to be held for USA Wrestling Standing Committees Positions; Nomination...
U.S. draws in all three disciplines released for U17 Pan American Championships in Mexico City, Mexico
