U.S. Cadet teams ready for Pan American Championships this weekend in Guatemala

The Greco-Roman portion of competition is set for Friday, followed by women’s freestyle action on Saturday and men’s freestyle competition on Saturday.

The U.S. men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman teams consist of the same 10 wrestlers, competing in both styles.

The 2018 Cadet Pan American Championships is a qualifier for the 2019 Youth Olympic Games. All 10 UWW weights will be competed in each style this weekend, however, only five in each style are Youth Olympic Games weights.

The YOG weights in women’s freestyle are 43 kg, 49 kg, 57 kg, 65 kg and 73 kg. In order to qualify the women’s weights for the Games, athletes must finish in the top-two.

In Greco-Roman, the YOG weights are 45 kg, 51 kg, 60 kg, 71 kg and 92 kg, while the freestyle weights are 48 kg, 55 kg, 65 kg, 80 kg and 110 kg. In both Greco and men’s freestyle, athletes must win their bracket in order to qualify their country for the Youth Olympic Games.

Below is a breakdown of the teams:

Greco-Roman/men’s freestyle

45 kg: Stevo Poulin (Schuylerville, N.Y.)

• 2018 Cadet Pan Am Trials freestyle champion
• 2018 Cadet Pan Am Trials Greco runner-up
• 2017 Fargo All-American

48 kg: Sheldon Seymour (Troy, Pa.)

• 2018 Cadet Pan Am Trials champion in freestyle and Greco
• Two-time Fargo All-American

51 kg: Paxton Creese (Shakopee, Minn.)

• 2018 Cadet Pan Am Trials champion in freestyle and Greco
• Four-time Fargo All-American

55 kg: Hunter Lewis (Stoughton, Wisc.)

• 2018 Cadet Pan Am Trials Greco champion
• Third in freestyle at 2018 Cadet Pan Am Trials
• Third at 2018 UWW Junior Nationals
• Bronze in 2017 Cadet Malar Cup
• 2017 Cadet Fargo champion in Greco
• Silver at 2017 Cadet Pan Ams in Greco and freestyle
• Bronze in 2016 Cadet Malar Cup

60 kg: Beau Bartlett (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.)

• 2018 Cadet Pan Am Trials champion in freestyle and Greco
• 2017 Cadet Folkstyle Nationals runer-up
• 2016 Cadet Folkstyle Nationals champion

65 kg: Carson Manville (Lorton, Virginia)

• 2018 Cadet Pan Am Trials champion in freestyle and Greco
• Two-time Fargo champion
• Gold at 2018 Pan Am Championships in freestyle and Greco

71 kg: Aaron Gandara (Somerton, Ariz.)

• 2018 Cadet Pan Am Trials champion in Greco
• Third at 2018 Cadet Pan Am Trials in freestyle
• Two-time Fargo runner-up
• 2017 Cadet Folkstyle Nationals champion

80 kg: Gerrit Nijenhuis (Eighty Four, Pa.)

• 2018 Cadet Pan Am Trials champion in freestyle
• 2018 Cadet Pan Am Trials runner-up in Greco
• 2017 Fargo All-American

92 kg: Santos Cantu (Salem, Oregon)

• 2018 Cadet Pan Am Trials runner-up in freestyle and Greco
• Three-time Fargo All-American

110 kg: Chase Thompson (Boca Raton, Fla.)

• 2017 Kids Greco national champion

Coach – Pat Popolizio
Coach – Shawn  Sheldon

Women’s freestyle

40 kg: Melissa Lee (Sunnyvale, Calif.)

• 2018 Cadet World Team Trials runner-up
• 2017 Fargo All-American

43 kg: Emily Shilson (Osseo, Minn.)

• 2017 Cadet World silver medalist
• Two-time Cadet World Team member
• Four-time Fargo champion

46 kg: Taryn Martin (Grove City, Ohio)

• 2018 Cadet World Team Trials runner-up
• 2017 Cadet Fargo runner-up

49 kg: Tiare Ikei (Honolulu, Hawaii)

• 2018 Cadet World Team Trials champion
• Two-time Fargo All-American

53 kg: Kierstien Bush (Ogden, Utah)

• 2018 Cadet World Team Trials runner-up
• Two-time Fargo All-American

57 kg: Cheyenne Bowman (La Habra, Calif.)

• 2018 Cadet World Team Trials champion
• 2018 Cadet Folkstyle champion

61 kg: Ashton Cadman (Waterford, Wisc.)

• 2018 Cadet World Team Trials runner-up
• 2017 Cadet Fargo runner-up

65 kg: Kiana Pugh (Mosinee, Wisc.)

• 2018 Cadet World Team Trials champion
• 2017 Cadet Fargo runner-up
• Three-time Fargo All-American

69 kg: Kennedy Blades (Broadview, Ill.)

• 2018 Cadet World Team Trials runner-up
• 2017 Women’s Nationals Schoolgirl champion

73 kg: Tristan Kelly (Erie, Colo.)

• 2018 Cadet World Team Trials champion
• Two-time Fargo All-American
• 2018 Cadet Folkstyle Nationals champion

Coach – Jessica Medina
Coach – Chad Shilson

Team leader – Gene Davis

Referee – Josh Grube
Referee – Cindy Mosconi
Referee – Rick Tucci

Medical – Curtis Simondet