Burroughs seeks third Pan Am Games title, Snyder and Gwiazdowski also go for gold

LIMA, Peru – The USA sent three of its four men’s freestylers to the finals of the 2019 Pan American Games on Saturday in Lima, Peru.

Leading the way is Jordan Burroughs at 74 kg, who seeks his third Pan Am Games title.

In his first bout, Burroughs faced home-crowd favorite Abel Herrera Pastor of Peru, who is a three-time Pan Am Championships medalist.

To put his first points on the board, Burroughs executed his famous double for four points. Shortly after, the five-time World and Olympic champion scored a takedown and two leg laces for a 10-0 victory.

Again, using his double as his weapon of choice, Burroughs downed four-time Senior World medalist Geandry Garzon of Cuba in an eventful 15-4 technical fall to move onto the finals.

For gold, Burroughs will take on 2011 World silver medalist Franklin Gomez Matos of Puerto Rico. They last met in the 2019 Pan American Championships semifinals in April, with Burroughs scoring a takedown with 0.2 seconds left on the clock to defeat Gomez, 5-2. (The fifth point came from a failed challenge from Puerto Rico after time ran out.)

Three-time World and Olympic champion Kyle Snyder will chase his second-consecutive Pan American Games title at 97 kg.

Snyder began his tournament with a quick 10-0 technical fall against Evan Ramos of Puerto Rico, who won bronze at the continental championships earlier this year. He also beat Ramos in the first round in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 11-1, in April.

This time, Snyder did not surrender a point, registering three gut wrenches for the shutout.

In the semifinals, Captain America outlasted three-time Senior World medalist Reineris Salas Perez of Cuba in a 2-1 battle. Drawing a passivity from Salas in the first period and scoring a step out in the second period gave Snyder the edge.

In the finals, Snyder will take on 2016 Pan American Championships gold medalist Jose Diaz Roberti of Venezuela, who was also a 2011 Pan Am Games bronze winner.

At 125 kg, two-time Senior World bronze medalist Nick Gwiazdowski went unscored upon to earn a spot in the finals.

In his first bout, Gwiazdowski used three turns on a leg lace to close out a 10-0 win over 2018 Junior Pan Am bronze medalist Andrew Gunning of Peru.

To advance to the title match, Gwiazdowski overpowered nine-time Pan Am Championships medalist and 2015 Pan Am Games silver medalist Korey Jarvis of Canada, finding his leg lace successful, once again, and executing four turns for another 10-0 win.

For gold, Gwiazdowski will face Oscar Pino Hinds of Cuba, who is a two-time Senior World bronze medalist in Greco-Roman, placing in 2017 and 2018. The two last met in the 2019 Pan Am Championships semifinals, where Gwiazdowski tallied an 11-1 win.

Making his Pan American debut on Saturday was 2012 Junior World silver medalist Pat Downey at 86 kg.

Downey jumped out to a hot start with a 14-4 technical fall over Angus Arthur of Jamaica. However, in the semifinals, Downey dropped a 7-2 bout to two-time Pan American champion Yurieski Torreblanca Queralta of Cuba.

Tonight, Downey will wrestle for bronze, facing 2018 University World silver medalist Alexander Rowe of Canada.

Medal matches begin Saturday at 4:30 p.m. CT. Click here to find out where to watch.

2019 PAN AMERICAN GAMES

at Lima, Peru, Aug. 7-11

U.S. men’s freestyle results
74 kg: Jordan Burroughs (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids/Nebraska WTC)
WIN Abel Herrera Pastor (Peru), 10-0
WIN Geandry Garzon (Cuba), 15-4
vs. Franklin Gomez (Puerto Rico)

86 kg: Pat Downey (Princeton, N.J./Titan Mercury WC/NJRTC)
WIN Angus Arthur (Jamaica), 14-4
LOSS Yurieski Torreblanca Queralta (Cuba), 7-2
vs. Alexander Moore (Canada)

97 kg: Kyle Snyder (Columbus, Ohio/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC)
WIN Evan Ramos (Puerto Rico), 10-0
WIN Reineris Salas Perez (Cuba), 3-1
vs. Jose Diaz Roberti (Venezuela)

125 kg: Nick Gwiazdowski (Raleigh, N.C./Titan Mercury WC/Wolfpack RTC)
WIN Andrew Gunning (Peru), 10-0
WIN Korey Jarvis (Canada), 10-0
vs. Oscar Pino Hinds (Cuba)