Conder, Hildebrandt and Burkert go for gold at Pan Am Games

LIMA, Peru – The USA women’s freestyle team was absolutely dominant this morning, putting all three of its Thursday competitors into the finals of the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.

Whitney Conder at 50 kg, Sarah Hildebrandt at 53 kg and Jenna Burkert at 57 kg were the only USA women’s wrestlers to compete today as the other three weights scheduled for tomorrow.

Between Conder, Hildebrandt and Burkert, they outscored their competitors 59-0 in six matches.

At 50 kg, Conder, a 2015 Pan Am Games champion, registered a pair of 10-0 technical falls, defeating two-time Pan Am Games bronze medalist Carolina Castillo Hidalgo of Colombia in the first round, before defeating Kamila Barbosa from Brazil to advance to the finals.

In pursuit of her second Pan Am Games title, Conder will face off against 2019 Pan American Championships gold medalist Yusneylis Guzman Lopez from Cuba.

2018 Senior World silver medalist Hildebrandt cruised the finals at 53 kg, shutting down 2011 Junior World bronze medalist Luisa Valverde Melendres of Ecuador with a decisive 8-0 decision. In her semifinals, Hildebrandt rattled off takedown after takedown to defeat two-time Junior Pan American champ Jade Parsons of Canada, 10-0.

In the finals, she will take on 2015 Pan Am Games bronze winner Betzabeth Arguello Villegas from Venezuela.

Wrestling at 57 kg, three-time World Team member Jenna Burkert was relentless in her first session of action.

To open her tournament, Burkert overwhelmed Nicaragua’s Paula Ramirez with a 10-0 tech fall in 24 seconds. The American showed no signs of slowing down in the semis, using her top game to help her to an 11-0 victory.

For gold, Burkert will go against 2019 Pan Am champion and 2015 Pan Am Games bronze medalist Lissette Antes Castillo of Ecuador.

The finals are set for 4:30 p.m. CT live on one of the ESPN platforms. Check ESPN.com for more details.

2019 PAN AMERICAN GAMES

at Lima, Peru, Aug. 7-10

U.S. women’s freestyle results
50 kg: Whitney Conder (Colorado Springs, Colo./Army WCAP)
WIN Carolina Castillo Hidalgo (Colombia), 10-0
WIN Kamila Barbosa (Brazil), 10-0
vs. Yusneylis Guzman Lopez (Cuba)

53 kg: Sarah Hildebrandt (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
WIN Luisa Valverde Melendres (Ecuador), 8-0
WIN Jade Parsons (Canada), 10-0
vs. Betzabeth Arguello Villegas (Venezuela)

57 kg: Jenna Burkert (Colorado Springs, Colo./Army WCAP)
WIN Paula Ramirez (Nicaragua), 10-0
WIN Giullia Rodrigues Penalber de Oliveira (Brazil), 11-0
vs. Lissette Antes Castillo (Ecuador)