High-level American team set for Junior Pan American Championships in Lima, Peru
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by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
Photo: Junior Pan American Team member Haydn Maley goes for a throw in the UWW Junior World Team Trials Greco-Roman finals in Las Vegas, Nev. Photo by John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com.
The U.S. is sending a talented group of emerging athletes to compete in all three international styles at the 2017 Junior Pan American Championships set for Lima, Peru, June 9-11.
The competition kicks off on Friday with the Greco-Roman tournament, followed by women’s freestyle on Saturday and men’s freestyle on Sunday. The action will begin at 11 a.m. (ET) on all three days of wrestling.
The eight American men making trek to Peru will compete in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. All eight competitors placed in the top three at the UWW Junior Greco-Roman World Team Trials held in Las Vegas, Nev. in April. Several have already seen success on the NCAA Division I level as well.
NCAA qualifier Gabriel Townsell (Chicago, Ill.) headlines the impressive U.S. men’s lineup and will compete at 55 kg/121 lbs. this weekend. In 2016, Townsell earned double All-America honors at the USA Wrestling Junior Nationals, finishing second in Greco-Roman and fourth in freestyle. He qualified to compete at the NCAA Championships this year as a freshman for Stanford University.
Also boasting a Stanford tie is 96 kg/211 lbs. representative Haydn Maley (Roseburg, Ore.) who is committed to wrestle for the Cardinal next year. Maley was runner-up at the Junior World Team Trials and is a past Junior Nationals champion in Greco-Roman.
Leonard Merkin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Mason McDaniel (Kirkland, Wash.) join Townsell as members of the Junior Pan American Team already owning valuable college experience. Merkin just finished up his freshman year as a starter for Princeton, while McDaniel did the same at SIU-Edwardsville.
Junior World Team Trials champion Dalton Young (Nine Mile Falls, Wash.) will take the mat at 60 kg/132 lbs. in Peru. He is the only Trials champion that will compete this weekend.
Northwestern commit Anthony Cassioppi (Roscoe, Ill.) will test his mettle in the 120 kg/264 lbs. weight class. Cassioppi boast many impressive credentials including a runner-up finish at the Junior World Team Trials, a USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals crown and several All-American honors at the USA Wrestling Cadet and Junior Nationals held in Fargo, N.D.
Rounding out the list of U.S. men is Junior Nationals All-American in both styles Brandon Kaylor (Puyallup, Wash.) at 50 kg/110 lbs. and Junior Nationals champion in Greco-Roman Thomas Brackett (Eads, Tenn.) at 84 kg/185 lbs.
The eight U.S. women making the journey to Peru all placed at least top four at the UWW Junior Women’s Nationals held in Irving, Texas last month.
Leading the charge is two-time Cadet World Team member Vayle-Rae Baker (Benton, Pa.) who slots in at 51 kg/112 lbs. Baker competed at the 2015 Cadet World Championships and will make a return trip this summer. She finished in second place at the UWW Junior Women’s Nationals.
Looking to add a Junior Pan American title to an already impressive year is 72 kg/158 lbs. representative Andrea Sennett (Wheeling, Ill.). Sennett has finished in third place at the University Nationals, fifth place at the U.S. Senior Nationals and eighth place at the Senior World Team Trials in 2017. She just completed her freshman year for McKendree University.
2016 USA Wrestling Cadet Freestyle Nationals champion Jayden Laurent (Denmark, Wis.) is set to compete at 67 kg/147 lbs. this weekend. She earned top-three status at both the UWW Junior and UWW Cadet Women’s Nationals, and is a USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals champion this year.
Wayland Baptist All-American Jathiya Isaac (Plainview, Texas) will represent the U.S. at 55 kg/121 lbs. Isaac was a fourth-place finisher at the UWW Junior Women’s Nationals. She picked up a third-place finish at the University Nationals and took fifth at the WCWA Women’s College Nationals last season.
The remaining women’s team members include Charlie Hamer (The Colony, Texas) at 44 kg/97 lbs., Kateri Rowell (Aberdeen, Wash.) at 48 kg/105 lbs., Emma Bruntil (Acme, Wash.) at 59 kg/130 lbs. and Gladdys Palma (Ashland, Ore.) at 63 kg/138 lbs.
The Junior Pan American Championships will be broadcast live to U.S. residents through Trackwrestling.com. Complete brackets from the event can also be found on Trackwrestling.
2017 JUNIOR PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
June 9-11 at Lima, Peru
Event Schedule (All times local)
Friday, June 9
10 a.m. – Greco-Roman Qualification Rounds and Repechage
5 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
5:30 p.m. – Greco-Roman Medal Matches
Saturday, June 10
10 a.m. – Women’s Freestyle Qualification Rounds and Repechage
5 p.m. – Women’s Freestyle Medal Matches
Sunday, June 11
10 a.m. – Men’s Freestyle Qualification Rounds and Repechage
5 p.m. – Men’s Freestyle Medal Matches
U.S. Men’s Freestyle/Greco-Roman Roster
50 kg/110 lbs. – Brandon Kaylor, Puyallup, Wash. (Team Washington)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Gabriel Townsell, Chicago, Ill. (Stanford-California RTC)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Dalton Young, Nine Mile Falls, Wash. (Team Washington)
66 kg/145 lbs. – Leonard Merkin, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Princeton WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Mason McDaniel, Kirkland, Wash. (Southern Illinois Training Center)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Thomas Brackett, Eads, Tenn. (West Tennessee Takedown Club)
96 kg/211 lbs. – Haydn Maley, Roseburg, Ore. (Roseburg Mat Club)
120 kg/264 lbs. – Anthony Cassioppi, Roscoe, Ill. (Hononegah WC)
Coach – Kerry McCoy, University Park, Md.
Coach – Cornell Robinson, O’Fallon, Mo.
U.S. Women’s Freestyle Roster
44 kg/97 lbs. – Charlie Hamer, The Colony, Texas (Warrior WC)
48 kg/105 lbs. – Kateri Rowell, Aberdeen, Wash. (Choker WC)
51 kg/112 lbs. – Vayle-Rae Baker, Benton, Pa. (Team Pennsylvania)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Jathiya Isaac, Plainview, Texas (Wayland Baptist)
59 kg/130 lbs. – Emma Bruntil, Acme, Wash. (Choker WC)
63 kg/138 lbs. – Gladdys Palma, Ashland, Ore. (Southern Oregon)
67 kg/147 lbs. – Jayden Laurent, Denmark, Wis. (Team Wisconsin)
72 kg/158 lbs. – Andrea Sennett, Wheeling, Ill. (McKendree Bearcat WC)
Coach – Matt Oney, Salina, Kan.
Coach – Melissa Simmons, Raleigh, N.C.
Coach – Andy Cook, Aberdeen, Wash.
U.S. Delegation
Medical – Dr. Jonathan Gelber, New York, N.Y.
Official – William Grant, Inverness, Fla.
Official – Na Humma, Tempe, Ariz.
The U.S. is sending a talented group of emerging athletes to compete in all three international styles at the 2017 Junior Pan American Championships set for Lima, Peru, June 9-11.
The competition kicks off on Friday with the Greco-Roman tournament, followed by women’s freestyle on Saturday and men’s freestyle on Sunday. The action will begin at 11 a.m. (ET) on all three days of wrestling.
The eight American men making trek to Peru will compete in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. All eight competitors placed in the top three at the UWW Junior Greco-Roman World Team Trials held in Las Vegas, Nev. in April. Several have already seen success on the NCAA Division I level as well.
NCAA qualifier Gabriel Townsell (Chicago, Ill.) headlines the impressive U.S. men’s lineup and will compete at 55 kg/121 lbs. this weekend. In 2016, Townsell earned double All-America honors at the USA Wrestling Junior Nationals, finishing second in Greco-Roman and fourth in freestyle. He qualified to compete at the NCAA Championships this year as a freshman for Stanford University.
Also boasting a Stanford tie is 96 kg/211 lbs. representative Haydn Maley (Roseburg, Ore.) who is committed to wrestle for the Cardinal next year. Maley was runner-up at the Junior World Team Trials and is a past Junior Nationals champion in Greco-Roman.
Leonard Merkin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Mason McDaniel (Kirkland, Wash.) join Townsell as members of the Junior Pan American Team already owning valuable college experience. Merkin just finished up his freshman year as a starter for Princeton, while McDaniel did the same at SIU-Edwardsville.
Junior World Team Trials champion Dalton Young (Nine Mile Falls, Wash.) will take the mat at 60 kg/132 lbs. in Peru. He is the only Trials champion that will compete this weekend.
Northwestern commit Anthony Cassioppi (Roscoe, Ill.) will test his mettle in the 120 kg/264 lbs. weight class. Cassioppi boast many impressive credentials including a runner-up finish at the Junior World Team Trials, a USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals crown and several All-American honors at the USA Wrestling Cadet and Junior Nationals held in Fargo, N.D.
Rounding out the list of U.S. men is Junior Nationals All-American in both styles Brandon Kaylor (Puyallup, Wash.) at 50 kg/110 lbs. and Junior Nationals champion in Greco-Roman Thomas Brackett (Eads, Tenn.) at 84 kg/185 lbs.
The eight U.S. women making the journey to Peru all placed at least top four at the UWW Junior Women’s Nationals held in Irving, Texas last month.
Leading the charge is two-time Cadet World Team member Vayle-Rae Baker (Benton, Pa.) who slots in at 51 kg/112 lbs. Baker competed at the 2015 Cadet World Championships and will make a return trip this summer. She finished in second place at the UWW Junior Women’s Nationals.
Looking to add a Junior Pan American title to an already impressive year is 72 kg/158 lbs. representative Andrea Sennett (Wheeling, Ill.). Sennett has finished in third place at the University Nationals, fifth place at the U.S. Senior Nationals and eighth place at the Senior World Team Trials in 2017. She just completed her freshman year for McKendree University.
2016 USA Wrestling Cadet Freestyle Nationals champion Jayden Laurent (Denmark, Wis.) is set to compete at 67 kg/147 lbs. this weekend. She earned top-three status at both the UWW Junior and UWW Cadet Women’s Nationals, and is a USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals champion this year.
Wayland Baptist All-American Jathiya Isaac (Plainview, Texas) will represent the U.S. at 55 kg/121 lbs. Isaac was a fourth-place finisher at the UWW Junior Women’s Nationals. She picked up a third-place finish at the University Nationals and took fifth at the WCWA Women’s College Nationals last season.
The remaining women’s team members include Charlie Hamer (The Colony, Texas) at 44 kg/97 lbs., Kateri Rowell (Aberdeen, Wash.) at 48 kg/105 lbs., Emma Bruntil (Acme, Wash.) at 59 kg/130 lbs. and Gladdys Palma (Ashland, Ore.) at 63 kg/138 lbs.
The Junior Pan American Championships will be broadcast live to U.S. residents through Trackwrestling.com. Complete brackets from the event can also be found on Trackwrestling.
2017 JUNIOR PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
June 9-11 at Lima, Peru
Event Schedule (All times local)
Friday, June 9
10 a.m. – Greco-Roman Qualification Rounds and Repechage
5 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
5:30 p.m. – Greco-Roman Medal Matches
Saturday, June 10
10 a.m. – Women’s Freestyle Qualification Rounds and Repechage
5 p.m. – Women’s Freestyle Medal Matches
Sunday, June 11
10 a.m. – Men’s Freestyle Qualification Rounds and Repechage
5 p.m. – Men’s Freestyle Medal Matches
U.S. Men’s Freestyle/Greco-Roman Roster
50 kg/110 lbs. – Brandon Kaylor, Puyallup, Wash. (Team Washington)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Gabriel Townsell, Chicago, Ill. (Stanford-California RTC)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Dalton Young, Nine Mile Falls, Wash. (Team Washington)
66 kg/145 lbs. – Leonard Merkin, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Princeton WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Mason McDaniel, Kirkland, Wash. (Southern Illinois Training Center)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Thomas Brackett, Eads, Tenn. (West Tennessee Takedown Club)
96 kg/211 lbs. – Haydn Maley, Roseburg, Ore. (Roseburg Mat Club)
120 kg/264 lbs. – Anthony Cassioppi, Roscoe, Ill. (Hononegah WC)
Coach – Kerry McCoy, University Park, Md.
Coach – Cornell Robinson, O’Fallon, Mo.
U.S. Women’s Freestyle Roster
44 kg/97 lbs. – Charlie Hamer, The Colony, Texas (Warrior WC)
48 kg/105 lbs. – Kateri Rowell, Aberdeen, Wash. (Choker WC)
51 kg/112 lbs. – Vayle-Rae Baker, Benton, Pa. (Team Pennsylvania)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Jathiya Isaac, Plainview, Texas (Wayland Baptist)
59 kg/130 lbs. – Emma Bruntil, Acme, Wash. (Choker WC)
63 kg/138 lbs. – Gladdys Palma, Ashland, Ore. (Southern Oregon)
67 kg/147 lbs. – Jayden Laurent, Denmark, Wis. (Team Wisconsin)
72 kg/158 lbs. – Andrea Sennett, Wheeling, Ill. (McKendree Bearcat WC)
Coach – Matt Oney, Salina, Kan.
Coach – Melissa Simmons, Raleigh, N.C.
Coach – Andy Cook, Aberdeen, Wash.
U.S. Delegation
Medical – Dr. Jonathan Gelber, New York, N.Y.
Official – William Grant, Inverness, Fla.
Official – Na Humma, Tempe, Ariz.
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