U.S. women claim four medals on Friday at Pan Am Championships in Peru

LIMA - All four U.S. women ended their first day of the 2018 Pan American Championships with medals around their necks, including gold from Becka Leathers and Forrest Molinari and bronzes from Kelsey Campbell and Hannah Gladden.

2017 World bronze medalist Leathers did not have a match on Friday night as she completed her round robin action in the morning session. Her day saw her defeat Lady Valenzuela of Ecuador, who took fifth at the 2017 Junior Worlds, with a fall in 40 seconds before defeating 2014 Junior Pan Am champion Cara Nania of Canada, 4-2. It was her second-straight Pan Am gold.

Molinari, a two-time U23 World Team member, claimed her first Pan Am title, taking out two-time University World medalist and 2016 Pan Am bronze winner Breanne Graham of Canada, 5-2, to claim gold at 65 kg. She improved upon a third-place finish from last year.

In the evening session, both Campbell and Gladden picked up wins to earn their way onto the podium.

2012 Olympian and two-time World Team member Campbell defeated Karoline Silva of Brazil with a 10-0 technical fall to pick up the fourth Pan Am medal of her career.

Gladden, who finished third at the U.S. Open, also earned a 10-0 win in her final bout of the tournament, dominating El Salvador’s Josselyn Portillo Mejia.

After the first day of competition, the U.S. is in second place in the team race with 80 points. Canada is in first with 85 points.

Women’s freestyle action resumes tomorrow with the remaining weights represented by Whitney Conder at 50 kg, Sarah Hildebrandt at 53 kg, Michaela Beck at 57 kg, Kayla Miracle at 62 kg, Randi Beltz at 68 kg and Adeline Gray at 76 kg.

The first round begins at 10 a.m. CT with finals set for 6 p.m. Fans can watch live on Trackwrestling.com.

SENIOR PAN-AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Lima, Peru, May 3-6 

Team standings (top five)
1. Canada – 85
2. USA – 80
3. Puerto Rico – 25
4. Peru – 20
5. Ecuador – 15

Women’s freestyle results

55 kg
GOLD – Becka LEATHERS (GOLD)
SILVER – Cara Gail NANIA (CAN)
BRONZE - Lady Raysa MORAN VALENZUELA (ECU)

59 kg
GOLD - Andribeth RIVERA BELLIARD (PUR)
SILVER - Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN)
BRONZE - Kelsey Rene CAMPBELL (USA)

65 kg
GOLD - Forrest Ann MOLINARI (USA)
SILVER - Breanne Leigh GRAHAM (CAN)

72 kg
GOLD - Veronica Helen Frances KEEFE (CAN)
SILVER - Diana Luisa Victoria CRUZ ARROYO (PER)
BRONZE - Hannah La Shae GLADDEN (USA)

U.S. women’s freestyle results

55 kg/121 lbs. – Becka Leathers (Choctaw, Okla./Titan Mercury WC) - GOLD
WIN Lady Valenzuela (Ecuador), fall 0:40
WIN Cara Nania (Canada), 4-2

59 kg/130 lbs. – Kelsey Campbell (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) - BRONZE
LOSS Laurence Beauregard (Canada), 3-0
LOSS Andribeth Rivera (Puerto Rico), 10-2
WIN Karoline Silva (Brazil), 10-0

65 kg/143 lbs. – Forrest Molinari, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury) - GOLD
WIN Breanne Graham (Canada), 5-2

72 kg/158 lbs. – Hannah Gladden (Gadsden, Ala./Lions WC) - BRONZE
LOSS Diana Cruz Arroyo (Peru), 3-1
LOSS Veronica Keefe (Canada), 12-4
WIN Josselyn Portillo Mejia (El Salvador)