USA sends experienced women's freestyle team to Junior Pan Ams in Guatemala

The United States is sending a talented women’s freestyle team to the 2019 Junior Pan American Championships, which will take place June 5-7 in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Leading the pack is 2018 Cadet World and Youth Olympic Games champion Emily Shilson at 50 kg as well as 2018 Cadet World bronze medalist and 2019 Senior U.S. Open champion Tiare Ikei at 53 kg.

There are multiple others who have had international experience, including Alisha Howk (55 kg), Mia Macaluso (59 kg), Alex Liles (62 kg), Cara Broadus (65 kg) and Dymond Guilford (72 kg).

The women’s freestyle team will be led by two USA Wrestling assigned coaches, including Augsburg University head coach Max Mejia and University of Jamestown head coach Shauna Kemp.

The 2019 Junior Pan American Championships begin with Greco-Roman action on June 5, followed by women’s freestyle on June 6 and closing with men’s freestyle on June 7.

Fans can watch all the action live on Trackwrestling.com.

Below is a breakdown of the team and a list of individual accomplishments.

50 kg: Emily Shilson (Maple Grove, Minn./Titan Mercury) – 2018 Cadet World champion, 2018 Youth Olympic Games champion, 2017 Cadet World silver medalist, 2019 U23 World Team member, 2nd at 2019 Junior World Team Trials, two-time Cadet Pan American champion (2016, 2018), three-time Junior Fargo champion, two-time Cadet Fargo champion, freshman at Augsburg

53 kg: Tiare Ikei (Colorado Springs, Colo./EAP) – 2018 Cadet World bronze medalist, 2019 Senior U.S. Open champion, 2018 Cadet Pan American champion, 2018 Youth Olympic Games representative, 2nd at 2019 Junior World Team Trials

55 kg: Alisha Howk (River Falls, Wisc./Sunkist Kids) – 5th at 2018 Junior World Championships, 2017 Cadet World Team member, 2nd at 2019 Junior World Team Trials, 3rd at 2019 U23 World Team Trials, 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial International champion

57 kg: Gabrielle Skidmore (Spooner, Wisc.) – 2nd at 2019 Junior World Team Trials, 2018 Junior Fargo All-American

59 kg: Mia Macaluso (Minisink, N.Y./Venom WC) – 3rd at 2019 Junior World Team Trials, 2nd at 2019 Cadet World Team Trials, 2019 Cadet Flatz Open silver, 2019 Cadet Fargo champion

62 kg: Alex Liles (Colorado Springs, Colo./Army WCAP) – 2018 Junior World Team member, two-time Cadet World Team member (2015, 2017), 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial silver medalist, 2018 Bill Farrell International silver medalist, 3rd at 2019 Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, 3rd at 2019 Junior World Team Trials, 4th at 2019 U23 World Team Trials, two-time Junior Fargo champion, 2016 Cadet Fargo champion

65 kg: Cara Broadus (Plymouth, Conn./KT Kidz) – 2018 Bill Farrell International bronze medalist, 2nd at 2019 Junior World Team Trials, 4th at 2019 U23 World Team Trials, 2016 Cadet Fargo champion

68 kg: Alma Mendoza (Sequim, Wash./Colorado Mesa) – 2nd at 2019 Junior World Team Trials, 7th at 2019 U23 World Team Trials, sophomore at Colorado Mesa

72 kg: Dymond Guilford (Lancaster, Calif./Missouri Baptist) – 2018 Junior World Team member, 2019 WCWA National champion, 2019 Grand Prix of Germany champion, 2nd at 2019 Junior World Team Trials, 3rd at U23 World Team Trials, junior at Missouri Baptist

76 kg: Kenya-Lee Sloan (Knoxville, Tenn./Campbellsville) – 2nd at 2019 Junior World Team Trials, 4th at 2019 U23 World Team Trials, sophomore at Campbellsville

Coach – Max Mejia, Minneapolis, Minn.
Coach – Shauna Kemp, Jamestown, N.D.

2019 JUNIOR PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

at Guatemala City, Guatemala (June 5-7)

Schedule

Wednesday, June 5
11 a.m. – Qualification rounds (Greco-Roman)
5:30 p.m. – Opening ceremonies
6 p.m. – Finals

Thursday, June 6
11 a.m. – Qualification rounds (Women’s Freestyle)
6 p.m. – Finals

Friday, June 7
11 a.m. – Qualification rounds (Men’s Freestyle)
6 p.m. – Finals