Metcalf, Gray earn championships at Pan American Games
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by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
Brent Metcalf captured a Pan American Games gold medal on Friday night in Toronto. Tony Rotundo photo.
TORONTO, Canada – There was plenty of drama and electricity during an exciting night of medal matches at the Pan American Games.
Americans Adeline Gray and Brent Metcalf turned in impressive performances to capture Pan Am gold on Friday night at the Hershey Centre.
The U.S. captured four wrestling medals Friday with Angel Escobedo earning a silver medal and Erin Clodgo collecting a bronze medal.
Gray delivered the most dramatic win, scoring with one second left to earn a thrilling 9-6 win over Canada’s Justina DiStasio in the women’s freestyle finals at 75 kg/165 lbs.
Tied 6-6 late in the bout and needing points to win, Gray lifted DiStasio off the mat and exposed her opponent’s back to the mat for two points to earn the victory. Canada challenged the call, but it was upheld.
“There were a lot of points flying all around in that match, so the fact that we came down to that last couple of seconds wasn’t very surprising,” Gray said. “She shot in deep and I was able to get my foot hooked on her leg and not give up the takedown. I was able to get around top and get that crotch throw that I’ve had a couple times.
“I thought I had gotten it initially before I saw the replay. It took a second effort to get that, but I was able to come through.”
A smiling Gray ran around the mat with an American flag raised above her head in celebration. Gray was very close to recording a pin midway through the second period before the wrestlers went out of bounds.
Gray led 6-4 at that point before DiStasio scored a double-leg takedown with under a minute left to tie it 6-6.
“You got to go out there and wrestle,” Gray said. “We are in Canada and I was wrestling a Canadian. I knew no points were going to come easy. I thought I had that fall, but she came out of it and ended up fighting back.”
Even thought the score was tied, Gray needed to score to win at that point since DiStasio had the advantage by virtue of scoring on a four-point move early in the second period.
Gray now takes aim at her third World title in September in Las Vegas. She won by technical fall over 2014 World runner-up Aline da Silva of Brazil in her first match Friday.
“I still put a lot of points on the board,” Gray said. “I still have some hard work to put in before the World Championships. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to represent my country again. It’s going to be in Vegas and it’s going to be awesome. I’m excited about it.”
Metcalf, a four-time World Team member, turned in a dominating 8-2 win over Cuba’s Franklin Maren in the men’s freestyle finals at 65 kg/143 lbs.
Metcalf eventually took control with a physical, punishing attack that is typical of how he wrestles.
“I had to be patient,” he said. “He really wanted to stay away. I just had to wrestle a smart match. It was good. It was just a matter of getting my offense going and I did. It was probably my best performance of the three matches in the tournament, which is good because you want to get better and progress.”
Metcalf ran around the mat with an American flag over his head in celebration of his win before later watching the U.S. flag being raised during the medal ceremony.
“That’s the first time I’ve stood on the podium and had that flag raised,” Metcalf said. “It may not be the World Championships or the Olympic Games, which is what I’m looking forward to, but it is a big event and it is a big deal. The competition was here. These guys were top notch and it was a pretty good performance.”
Metcalf also had a small but very vocal group of about 25 wrestlers from Denver, Iowa who were cheering him on Friday night. Those athletes were in Toronto for a camp and competition.
Instead of U-S-A chants for Metcalf, they chanted I-O-W-A for the former Hawkeye standout.
“I don’t know what point in the match it was, but I heard I-O-W-A,” Metcalf said. “It was great support. There was a good contingent here. It was good to see.”
Esobedo, fifth at the 2013 Worlds, fell by a 10-0 technical fall to 2014 World bronze medalist Yowlys Bonne of Cuba
57 kg/125.5 lbs. Escobedo trailed just 2-0 after the first period before the explosive Cuban hit a pair of four-point moves to prevail.
“I had a good game plan coming into the match,” Escobedo said. “We knew he liked the fireman’s carry, but I was pretty much controlling the ties and staying away from his best positions. I was down 2-0 and he took a shot, and I was running behind to my counter offense.
“I kind of rushed the situation and tried to go for a big move when I really didn’t need it. Just a little mistake like that cost me the match. The opportunities are there. I need to get my offense going.”
Escobedo was brought in as a late replacement for World Team member Tony Ramos for the Pan Ams.
“An opportunity like this, I will take it any time,” Escobedo said. “I’m always ready and always willing to compete for the United States. I love my country. It’s just great to bring a medal back to the USA.
“I have more motivation and I have more fire to go back and get better now. I’m excited to elevate myself to the next level.”
Clodgo won by medical forfeit over Dennisse Antes of Ecuador in the bronze-medal match at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. in women’s freestyle.
“My whole experience at the Pan Am Games was actually pretty awesome,” Clodgo said. “I’ve never been to a Games before and I was actually very fortunate to get to come here and compete. It helps you realize what the Games are about, which is a good eye opener going into 2016.”
The U.S. women finished with four medals at the Pan Ams. Gray and Whitney Conder won gold with Clodgo and Alyssa Lampe earning bronze.
The fourth and final day of the tournament is set for Saturday in Toronto. Americans Jordan Burroughs, Jake Herbert, Kyle Snyder and Zach Rey will take the mat in men’s freestyle for Team USA.
Burroughs and Herbert are returning Pan American Games champions.
Pan American Games, July 15-18
Hershey Centre, Toronto, Canada
Medal winners
Women’s freestyle
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold – Braxton Stone (Canada)
Silver – Katerina Vidiaux (Cuba)
Bronze – Erin Clodgo (USA)
Bronze – Jackeline Renteria (Columbia)
69 kg/152 lbs.
Gold – Dori Yeats (Canada)
Silver – Maria Acosta (Venezuela)
Bronze – Diana Miranda (Mexico)
Bronze – Luz Vazquez (Argentina)
75 kg/165 lbs.
Gold – Adeline Gray (USA)
Silver – Justina DiStasio (Canada)
Bronze – Lisset Hechevarria (Cuba)
Bronze – Aline da Silva (Brazil)
Men’s freestyle
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Gold – Yowlys Bonne (Cuba)
Silver – Angel Escobedo (USA)
Bronze – Emir Hernandez (Colombia)
Bronze – Pedro Mejias (Venezuela)
65 kg/143 lbs.
Gold – Brent Metcalf (USA)
Silver – Franklin Maren (Cuba)
Bronze – Franklin Gomez (Puerto Rico)
Bronze – Haislan Garcia (Canada)
Gold-medal matchups
Women’s freestyle
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Braxton Stone (Canada) dec. Katerina Vidiaux (Cuba), 7-3
69 kg/152 lbs.
Dori Yeats (Canada) won by tech. fall over Maria Acosta (Venezuela), 13-2
75 kg/165 lbs.
Adeline Gray (USA) dec. Justina DiStasio (Canada), 9-6
Men’s freestyle
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Yowlys Bonne (Cuba) won by tech. fall over Angel Escobedo (USA), 10-0
65 kg/143 lbs.
Brent Metcalf (USA) dec. Franklin Maren (Cuba), 8-2
U.S. results
Women’s freestyle
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) – BRONZE MEDAL
LOSS Katerina Vidiaux (Cuba), 11-7
WIN Dennisse Antes (Ecuador), medical forfeit
75 kg/165 lbs. – Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) – GOLD MEDAL
WIN Aline da Silva (Brazil), tech fall 10-0
WIN Ana Gonzalez (Puerto Rico)
WIN Justina DiStasio (Canada), 9-6
Men’s freestyle
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Angel Escobedo, Ames, Iowa (New York AC) – SILVER MEDAL
WIN Emir Hernandez (Colombia), tech fall 10-0
WIN Pablo Benites (Peru), fall 2:01
LOSS Yowlys Bonne (Cuba),
65 kg/143 lbs. – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC) – GOLD MEDAL
WIN Marbin Miranda Casasola (Guatemala), 10-0
WIN Franklin Gomez (Puerto Rico), 10-8
WIN Franklin Maren (Cuba), 8-2
TORONTO, Canada – There was plenty of drama and electricity during an exciting night of medal matches at the Pan American Games.
Americans Adeline Gray and Brent Metcalf turned in impressive performances to capture Pan Am gold on Friday night at the Hershey Centre.
The U.S. captured four wrestling medals Friday with Angel Escobedo earning a silver medal and Erin Clodgo collecting a bronze medal.
Gray delivered the most dramatic win, scoring with one second left to earn a thrilling 9-6 win over Canada’s Justina DiStasio in the women’s freestyle finals at 75 kg/165 lbs.
Tied 6-6 late in the bout and needing points to win, Gray lifted DiStasio off the mat and exposed her opponent’s back to the mat for two points to earn the victory. Canada challenged the call, but it was upheld.
“There were a lot of points flying all around in that match, so the fact that we came down to that last couple of seconds wasn’t very surprising,” Gray said. “She shot in deep and I was able to get my foot hooked on her leg and not give up the takedown. I was able to get around top and get that crotch throw that I’ve had a couple times.
“I thought I had gotten it initially before I saw the replay. It took a second effort to get that, but I was able to come through.”
A smiling Gray ran around the mat with an American flag raised above her head in celebration. Gray was very close to recording a pin midway through the second period before the wrestlers went out of bounds.
Gray led 6-4 at that point before DiStasio scored a double-leg takedown with under a minute left to tie it 6-6.
“You got to go out there and wrestle,” Gray said. “We are in Canada and I was wrestling a Canadian. I knew no points were going to come easy. I thought I had that fall, but she came out of it and ended up fighting back.”
Even thought the score was tied, Gray needed to score to win at that point since DiStasio had the advantage by virtue of scoring on a four-point move early in the second period.
Gray now takes aim at her third World title in September in Las Vegas. She won by technical fall over 2014 World runner-up Aline da Silva of Brazil in her first match Friday.
“I still put a lot of points on the board,” Gray said. “I still have some hard work to put in before the World Championships. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to represent my country again. It’s going to be in Vegas and it’s going to be awesome. I’m excited about it.”
Metcalf, a four-time World Team member, turned in a dominating 8-2 win over Cuba’s Franklin Maren in the men’s freestyle finals at 65 kg/143 lbs.
Metcalf eventually took control with a physical, punishing attack that is typical of how he wrestles.
“I had to be patient,” he said. “He really wanted to stay away. I just had to wrestle a smart match. It was good. It was just a matter of getting my offense going and I did. It was probably my best performance of the three matches in the tournament, which is good because you want to get better and progress.”
Metcalf ran around the mat with an American flag over his head in celebration of his win before later watching the U.S. flag being raised during the medal ceremony.
“That’s the first time I’ve stood on the podium and had that flag raised,” Metcalf said. “It may not be the World Championships or the Olympic Games, which is what I’m looking forward to, but it is a big event and it is a big deal. The competition was here. These guys were top notch and it was a pretty good performance.”
Metcalf also had a small but very vocal group of about 25 wrestlers from Denver, Iowa who were cheering him on Friday night. Those athletes were in Toronto for a camp and competition.
Instead of U-S-A chants for Metcalf, they chanted I-O-W-A for the former Hawkeye standout.
“I don’t know what point in the match it was, but I heard I-O-W-A,” Metcalf said. “It was great support. There was a good contingent here. It was good to see.”
Esobedo, fifth at the 2013 Worlds, fell by a 10-0 technical fall to 2014 World bronze medalist Yowlys Bonne of Cuba
57 kg/125.5 lbs. Escobedo trailed just 2-0 after the first period before the explosive Cuban hit a pair of four-point moves to prevail.
“I had a good game plan coming into the match,” Escobedo said. “We knew he liked the fireman’s carry, but I was pretty much controlling the ties and staying away from his best positions. I was down 2-0 and he took a shot, and I was running behind to my counter offense.
“I kind of rushed the situation and tried to go for a big move when I really didn’t need it. Just a little mistake like that cost me the match. The opportunities are there. I need to get my offense going.”
Escobedo was brought in as a late replacement for World Team member Tony Ramos for the Pan Ams.
“An opportunity like this, I will take it any time,” Escobedo said. “I’m always ready and always willing to compete for the United States. I love my country. It’s just great to bring a medal back to the USA.
“I have more motivation and I have more fire to go back and get better now. I’m excited to elevate myself to the next level.”
Clodgo won by medical forfeit over Dennisse Antes of Ecuador in the bronze-medal match at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. in women’s freestyle.
“My whole experience at the Pan Am Games was actually pretty awesome,” Clodgo said. “I’ve never been to a Games before and I was actually very fortunate to get to come here and compete. It helps you realize what the Games are about, which is a good eye opener going into 2016.”
The U.S. women finished with four medals at the Pan Ams. Gray and Whitney Conder won gold with Clodgo and Alyssa Lampe earning bronze.
The fourth and final day of the tournament is set for Saturday in Toronto. Americans Jordan Burroughs, Jake Herbert, Kyle Snyder and Zach Rey will take the mat in men’s freestyle for Team USA.
Burroughs and Herbert are returning Pan American Games champions.
Pan American Games, July 15-18
Hershey Centre, Toronto, Canada
Medal winners
Women’s freestyle
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold – Braxton Stone (Canada)
Silver – Katerina Vidiaux (Cuba)
Bronze – Erin Clodgo (USA)
Bronze – Jackeline Renteria (Columbia)
69 kg/152 lbs.
Gold – Dori Yeats (Canada)
Silver – Maria Acosta (Venezuela)
Bronze – Diana Miranda (Mexico)
Bronze – Luz Vazquez (Argentina)
75 kg/165 lbs.
Gold – Adeline Gray (USA)
Silver – Justina DiStasio (Canada)
Bronze – Lisset Hechevarria (Cuba)
Bronze – Aline da Silva (Brazil)
Men’s freestyle
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Gold – Yowlys Bonne (Cuba)
Silver – Angel Escobedo (USA)
Bronze – Emir Hernandez (Colombia)
Bronze – Pedro Mejias (Venezuela)
65 kg/143 lbs.
Gold – Brent Metcalf (USA)
Silver – Franklin Maren (Cuba)
Bronze – Franklin Gomez (Puerto Rico)
Bronze – Haislan Garcia (Canada)
Gold-medal matchups
Women’s freestyle
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Braxton Stone (Canada) dec. Katerina Vidiaux (Cuba), 7-3
69 kg/152 lbs.
Dori Yeats (Canada) won by tech. fall over Maria Acosta (Venezuela), 13-2
75 kg/165 lbs.
Adeline Gray (USA) dec. Justina DiStasio (Canada), 9-6
Men’s freestyle
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Yowlys Bonne (Cuba) won by tech. fall over Angel Escobedo (USA), 10-0
65 kg/143 lbs.
Brent Metcalf (USA) dec. Franklin Maren (Cuba), 8-2
U.S. results
Women’s freestyle
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) – BRONZE MEDAL
LOSS Katerina Vidiaux (Cuba), 11-7
WIN Dennisse Antes (Ecuador), medical forfeit
75 kg/165 lbs. – Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) – GOLD MEDAL
WIN Aline da Silva (Brazil), tech fall 10-0
WIN Ana Gonzalez (Puerto Rico)
WIN Justina DiStasio (Canada), 9-6
Men’s freestyle
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Angel Escobedo, Ames, Iowa (New York AC) – SILVER MEDAL
WIN Emir Hernandez (Colombia), tech fall 10-0
WIN Pablo Benites (Peru), fall 2:01
LOSS Yowlys Bonne (Cuba),
65 kg/143 lbs. – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC) – GOLD MEDAL
WIN Marbin Miranda Casasola (Guatemala), 10-0
WIN Franklin Gomez (Puerto Rico), 10-8
WIN Franklin Maren (Cuba), 8-2
