Fix advances to finals in Pan Am Games debut

LIMA, Peru – 2019 Senior World Team member Daton Fix opened the men’s freestyle portion of the 2019 Pan American Games, securing a spot in the 57 kg finals on Friday in Lima, Peru.

Fix, a 2017 Junior World champion, went 2-0 on the day to earn a spot in the gold-medal match.

In his opening bout, Fix outworked 2017 Junior Pan American bronze medalist Daniel Alves Do Nascimento with a 10-0 tech fall in 1:15 seconds to move onto the semifinals.

There, he edged out 2017 U23 World champion and 2018 Pan Am champion Reineri Andreu Ortega from Cuba. Fix went up 2-0, drawing passivity points from Andreu. With less than a minute left in the match, Andreu scored on a step out, but shortly after, Fix iced the match with a takedown for a 4-1 win.

In the finals, Fix will face Juan Ramirez Beltre of Dominican Republic, who won the 2011 Pan American Games.

At 65 kg, Jaydin Eierman, a late addition to the squad, will wrestle for a bronze medal tonight.

He drew two-time Senior World bronze medalist Alejandro Valdes Tobier of Cuba in the first round. Valdes won the match 10-0 and went on to advance to the finals, pulling Eierman into the bronze match.

For bronze, Eierman will face three-time Junior Pan American champion Augustin Destribats of Argentina.

The finals will begin Friday at 4:30 p.m. CT. Click here to find out where to watch live.

2019 PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

at Lima, Peru, Aug. 7-11

U.S. men’s freestyle results
57 kg: Daton Fix (Sand Springs, Okla./Titan Mercury WC/Cowboy RTC)
WIN Daniel Alves Do Nascimento (Brazil), 10-0
WIN Reineri Andreu Ortega (Cuba), 4-1

65 kg: Jaydin Eierman (Columbia, Mo./Titan Mercury WC)
LOSS Alejandro Valdes Tobier (Cuba), 10-0
vs. Augustin Destribats (Argentina)