Talented international stars expected at Pan American wrestling events in Frisco, Texas the next two weekends
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Cuba’s freestyle star Reineris Salas, in red singlet shown battling Ed Ruth of the USA at the 2015 World Cup, is among the World medalists competing in the Pan American events in Frisco, Texas the next two weeks. Photo by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors
USA Wrestling is hosting two major international wrestling events at Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas, the final weekend of February and the first weekend of March. In addition to a strong U.S. team in both events, there will be many outstanding competitors from the other Pan American nations on display in Frisco.
The first event is the Pan American Wrestling Championships, the annual continental championships, set for Feb. 26-28. . Next up is the Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier, March 4-6, a major qualifier for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The United States will field different lineups for each event, featuring many athletes with great success on the Olympic, World and Continental levels. Many of the nations will feature athletes who will compete in both tournaments. We will review some of the top international wrestlers from the visiting nations, based upon thstyle they compete in.
Women’s freestyle competitions
Pan American Championships on Friday, Feb. 26
Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier on Friday, March 4
The United States and Canada have been among the top Pan American women’s freestyle programs, while Cuba has been rapidly improving and most of the other teams have some very talented contenders.
Canada has qualified two athletes for the Olympics, and both could see action in the Pan American Championships, Jasmine Mian at 48 kg and Danielle Lappage at 63 kg. Lappage is a past Junior World champion. In the Pan Am Olympic Qualifier, Junior World champion Dorothy Yeats at 69 kg and University World champion Erica Wiebe at 75 kg. Jillian Gallays, a 2014 World bronze medalist, could see action at 53 kg. Michelle Fazzari at 58 kg has been highly ranked on the World level.
Cuba is led by 2012 Olympian Katherina Videaux Lopez at 63 kg, who has a closet full of Pan American medals. Lisset Hechevarria Medina is a star at 75 kg, boasting gold medals at both the Pan American Games and the Pan American Championships. Yaquelin Estornel Elizastgue has won a Pan Am gold at 58 kg.
2014 World silver medalist Aline da Silva of Brazil is listed for the Pan American Championships at 75 kg. A past Junior World medalist, she won’t be in the Olympic Qualifier as that weight is already qualified for Brazil. Joice Silva was a 2015 Pan American Games champion at 58 kg.
Luisa Valverde of Ecuador was a 2011 Junior World bronze medalist and a title hopeful at 53 kg. Lisset Antes of Ecuador is a past Olympian at 55 kg and a Pan American champion at 58 kg. Thalia Mallqi of Peru was a 2015 Pan American Games silver medalist at 48 kg. Alma Valencia of Mexico was also second at the 2015 Pan American Games and has placed as high as seventh at the World Championships.
Men’s freestyle competitions
Pan American Championships on Saturday, Feb. 27
Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier on Saturday, March 5
The United States and Cuba have been the top nations in Pan American men’s freestyle competition, with a number of strong individuals from other nations including Canada, Puerto Rico and others.
American wrestling fans will recognize two of the top stars from Puerto Rico, 2012 Olympic silver medalist Jaime Espinal at 86 kg and 2011 World silver medalist Franklin Gomez at 65 kg. Gomez went to school in New Jersey and Florida, and was an NCAA champion for Michigan State. Both of these athletes train with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, which is affiliated with Penn State. Another challenger will be multiple Pan American medalist Pedro Soto at 74 kg.
Cuba has one of the top talents in the field in three-time World medalist Livan Lopez at 74 kg. Lopez boasts a World silver medal and two World gold medals, and was also a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist. Reineris Salas is a two-time World silver medalist at 86 kg. 2014 World bronze medalist Javier Cortina at 97 kg was also a 2012 Olympian. 2014 World bronze medalist Yowlys Bonne has dropped down in weight to 57 kg, where he is a very strong opponent.
Canada’s lineup is bolstered by 2012 Olympian Haislan Garcia at 65 kg, who has placed as high as fifth at the World Championships. Experienced wrestlers including John Pineda at 57 kg, Cleo Ncube at 74 kg and Korey Jarvis at 125 kg give the team some extra punch.
Venezuela features past Olympians Jose Diaz Robertti at 97 kg and Luis Vivenes at 125 kg. Robertti boasts a number of medals on the Pan American level. Veteran Yuri Maier of Argentina has numerous Pan American medals at 97 kg. Antoine Jaoude of Brazil has many Pan American medals at 125 kg. Mexico has a veteran star in Brandon Diaz Ramirez at 65 kg.
Greco-Roman competitions
Pan American Championships on Sunday, Feb. 28
Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier on Sunday, March 6
Cuba and the United States have been the dominant Greco-Roman powers in this continent, with many other teams improving rapidly.
Cuba qualified two weight classes for Rio in Greco-Roman, so will attempt to get their other four weights. 2009 Junior World champion Yasmany Lugo was also the 2015 Pan American Games champion at 98 kg. Miguel Martinez has won a pair of Pan American Championships golds at 66 kg.
Greco-Roman competitors who wrestled in the 2012 Olympics include Venezuela wrestlers Wuileixis Espinosa at 66 kg and Edwin Carballo at 130 kg, as well as Chile’s Andres Ayub at 130 kg. Espinoza is a past Pan American Championships gold medalist. Andres Montano of Ecuador won a 2015 Pan American Games gold medal at 59 kg.
Kevin Mejia of Honduras was a Cadet World bronze medalist, a 2015 Pan American Games silver medalist, and competitive at 98 kg in many major events. Juan Escobar of Mexico has numerous Pan American medals to his credit at 75 kg. Christian Mosquera of Colombia has been a consistent medalist at 85 kg in recent seasons.Edgardo Lopez of Puerto Rico has won Pan Am medals at 130 kg in both Greco-Roman and freestyle. Davi Albino of Brazil has won numerous Pan American medals at 98 kg
The preliminary list of nations participating include Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Puerto Rico, United States, Venezuela.
Tickets for both events can be ordered at the same time. All-Session General Admission prices are $14.50 for a single day pass, $39.50 for a three-day pass and $59.50 for a six-day pass. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.
Please note that the three-day pass will be good for either the three days of the Pan American Championships or for the Pan American Olympic Qualifier, but cannot be used partially for one event and then the rest on the other.
Click here for direct link for tickets through Ticketmaster.
http://www.ticketmaster.com/venue/99156?tm_link=edp_Venue_See_All_Events
PAN-AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Frisco, Texas, Feb. 26-28
Friday, February 26
Women’s Freestyle Wrestling (48kg, 53kg, 55kg, 58kg, 60kg, 63kg, 69kg and 75kg)
10:00 am - 3:00 pm - Qualification Rounds and Repechage
5:30 pm - 6:00 pm - Opening Ceremony
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm – Medal Match Finals
Saturday, February 27
Men’s Freestyle Wrestling (57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg, 86kg, 97kg, 125kg)
10:00 am - 3:00 pm - Qualification Rounds and Repechage
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm – Medal Match Finals
Sunday, February 28
Greco-Roman Wrestling (59kg, 66kg, 71kg, 75kg, 80kg, 85kg, 98kg, 130kg)
10:00 am - 3:00 pm - Qualification Rounds and Repechage
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm – Medal Match Finals
PAN-AMERICAN OLYMPIC GAMES QUALIFIER
At Frisco, Texas, March 4-6
Friday March 4
Women’s Freestyle Wrestling (48kg, 53kg, 58kg, 63kg, 69kg and 75kg)
10:00 am - 2:00 pm - Qualification Rounds and Repechage
5:00 pm - 5:15 pm - Opening Ceremonies
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm – Medal Match Finals
Saturday, March 5
Men’s Freestyle Wrestling (57kg, 65kg, 74kg, 86kg, 97kg, 125kg)
10:00 am - 2:00 pm - Qualification Rounds and Repechage
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm – Medal Match Finals
Sunday March 6
Greco-Roman Wrestling (59kg, 66kg, 75kg, 85kg, 98kg, 130kg)
10:00 am - 2:00 pm - Qualification Rounds and Repechage
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm – Medal Match Finals
USA Wrestling is hosting two major international wrestling events at Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas, the final weekend of February and the first weekend of March. In addition to a strong U.S. team in both events, there will be many outstanding competitors from the other Pan American nations on display in Frisco.
The first event is the Pan American Wrestling Championships, the annual continental championships, set for Feb. 26-28. . Next up is the Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier, March 4-6, a major qualifier for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The United States will field different lineups for each event, featuring many athletes with great success on the Olympic, World and Continental levels. Many of the nations will feature athletes who will compete in both tournaments. We will review some of the top international wrestlers from the visiting nations, based upon thstyle they compete in.
Women’s freestyle competitions
Pan American Championships on Friday, Feb. 26
Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier on Friday, March 4
The United States and Canada have been among the top Pan American women’s freestyle programs, while Cuba has been rapidly improving and most of the other teams have some very talented contenders.
Canada has qualified two athletes for the Olympics, and both could see action in the Pan American Championships, Jasmine Mian at 48 kg and Danielle Lappage at 63 kg. Lappage is a past Junior World champion. In the Pan Am Olympic Qualifier, Junior World champion Dorothy Yeats at 69 kg and University World champion Erica Wiebe at 75 kg. Jillian Gallays, a 2014 World bronze medalist, could see action at 53 kg. Michelle Fazzari at 58 kg has been highly ranked on the World level.
Cuba is led by 2012 Olympian Katherina Videaux Lopez at 63 kg, who has a closet full of Pan American medals. Lisset Hechevarria Medina is a star at 75 kg, boasting gold medals at both the Pan American Games and the Pan American Championships. Yaquelin Estornel Elizastgue has won a Pan Am gold at 58 kg.
2014 World silver medalist Aline da Silva of Brazil is listed for the Pan American Championships at 75 kg. A past Junior World medalist, she won’t be in the Olympic Qualifier as that weight is already qualified for Brazil. Joice Silva was a 2015 Pan American Games champion at 58 kg.
Luisa Valverde of Ecuador was a 2011 Junior World bronze medalist and a title hopeful at 53 kg. Lisset Antes of Ecuador is a past Olympian at 55 kg and a Pan American champion at 58 kg. Thalia Mallqi of Peru was a 2015 Pan American Games silver medalist at 48 kg. Alma Valencia of Mexico was also second at the 2015 Pan American Games and has placed as high as seventh at the World Championships.
Men’s freestyle competitions
Pan American Championships on Saturday, Feb. 27
Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier on Saturday, March 5
The United States and Cuba have been the top nations in Pan American men’s freestyle competition, with a number of strong individuals from other nations including Canada, Puerto Rico and others.
American wrestling fans will recognize two of the top stars from Puerto Rico, 2012 Olympic silver medalist Jaime Espinal at 86 kg and 2011 World silver medalist Franklin Gomez at 65 kg. Gomez went to school in New Jersey and Florida, and was an NCAA champion for Michigan State. Both of these athletes train with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, which is affiliated with Penn State. Another challenger will be multiple Pan American medalist Pedro Soto at 74 kg.
Cuba has one of the top talents in the field in three-time World medalist Livan Lopez at 74 kg. Lopez boasts a World silver medal and two World gold medals, and was also a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist. Reineris Salas is a two-time World silver medalist at 86 kg. 2014 World bronze medalist Javier Cortina at 97 kg was also a 2012 Olympian. 2014 World bronze medalist Yowlys Bonne has dropped down in weight to 57 kg, where he is a very strong opponent.
Canada’s lineup is bolstered by 2012 Olympian Haislan Garcia at 65 kg, who has placed as high as fifth at the World Championships. Experienced wrestlers including John Pineda at 57 kg, Cleo Ncube at 74 kg and Korey Jarvis at 125 kg give the team some extra punch.
Venezuela features past Olympians Jose Diaz Robertti at 97 kg and Luis Vivenes at 125 kg. Robertti boasts a number of medals on the Pan American level. Veteran Yuri Maier of Argentina has numerous Pan American medals at 97 kg. Antoine Jaoude of Brazil has many Pan American medals at 125 kg. Mexico has a veteran star in Brandon Diaz Ramirez at 65 kg.
Greco-Roman competitions
Pan American Championships on Sunday, Feb. 28
Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier on Sunday, March 6
Cuba and the United States have been the dominant Greco-Roman powers in this continent, with many other teams improving rapidly.
Cuba qualified two weight classes for Rio in Greco-Roman, so will attempt to get their other four weights. 2009 Junior World champion Yasmany Lugo was also the 2015 Pan American Games champion at 98 kg. Miguel Martinez has won a pair of Pan American Championships golds at 66 kg.
Greco-Roman competitors who wrestled in the 2012 Olympics include Venezuela wrestlers Wuileixis Espinosa at 66 kg and Edwin Carballo at 130 kg, as well as Chile’s Andres Ayub at 130 kg. Espinoza is a past Pan American Championships gold medalist. Andres Montano of Ecuador won a 2015 Pan American Games gold medal at 59 kg.
Kevin Mejia of Honduras was a Cadet World bronze medalist, a 2015 Pan American Games silver medalist, and competitive at 98 kg in many major events. Juan Escobar of Mexico has numerous Pan American medals to his credit at 75 kg. Christian Mosquera of Colombia has been a consistent medalist at 85 kg in recent seasons.Edgardo Lopez of Puerto Rico has won Pan Am medals at 130 kg in both Greco-Roman and freestyle. Davi Albino of Brazil has won numerous Pan American medals at 98 kg
The preliminary list of nations participating include Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Puerto Rico, United States, Venezuela.
Tickets for both events can be ordered at the same time. All-Session General Admission prices are $14.50 for a single day pass, $39.50 for a three-day pass and $59.50 for a six-day pass. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.
Please note that the three-day pass will be good for either the three days of the Pan American Championships or for the Pan American Olympic Qualifier, but cannot be used partially for one event and then the rest on the other.
Click here for direct link for tickets through Ticketmaster.
http://www.ticketmaster.com/venue/99156?tm_link=edp_Venue_See_All_Events
PAN-AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Frisco, Texas, Feb. 26-28
Friday, February 26
Women’s Freestyle Wrestling (48kg, 53kg, 55kg, 58kg, 60kg, 63kg, 69kg and 75kg)
10:00 am - 3:00 pm - Qualification Rounds and Repechage
5:30 pm - 6:00 pm - Opening Ceremony
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm – Medal Match Finals
Saturday, February 27
Men’s Freestyle Wrestling (57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg, 86kg, 97kg, 125kg)
10:00 am - 3:00 pm - Qualification Rounds and Repechage
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm – Medal Match Finals
Sunday, February 28
Greco-Roman Wrestling (59kg, 66kg, 71kg, 75kg, 80kg, 85kg, 98kg, 130kg)
10:00 am - 3:00 pm - Qualification Rounds and Repechage
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm – Medal Match Finals
PAN-AMERICAN OLYMPIC GAMES QUALIFIER
At Frisco, Texas, March 4-6
Friday March 4
Women’s Freestyle Wrestling (48kg, 53kg, 58kg, 63kg, 69kg and 75kg)
10:00 am - 2:00 pm - Qualification Rounds and Repechage
5:00 pm - 5:15 pm - Opening Ceremonies
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm – Medal Match Finals
Saturday, March 5
Men’s Freestyle Wrestling (57kg, 65kg, 74kg, 86kg, 97kg, 125kg)
10:00 am - 2:00 pm - Qualification Rounds and Repechage
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm – Medal Match Finals
Sunday March 6
Greco-Roman Wrestling (59kg, 66kg, 75kg, 85kg, 98kg, 130kg)
10:00 am - 2:00 pm - Qualification Rounds and Repechage
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm – Medal Match Finals
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