Smith, Rau and Stefanowicz in Greco finals, Louive and Francis to wrestle for medals in women's freestyle at Pan Am Championships

Photo of Joe Rau by Justin Hoch, jhoch.com.

OTTAWA, Canada – Three Greco-Roman athletes landed spots in the gold-medal bouts, while two women’s freestylers will wrap up round-robin competition at the 2020 Pan American Championships in Ottawa, Canada.

Heading to the finals in Greco-Roman for the USA are Pat Smith at 77 kg, John Stefanowicz at 82 kg and Joe Rau at 87 kg. Smith seeks his third Pan Am Championships gold, and Rau goes for his second.

Wrestling in a Nordic system bracket, 2019 Pan American Games champion Smith had an impressive morning, opening with a 3-1 decision over 2019 Pan Am Championships gold medalist Yosvanys Pena Flores from Cuba.

In his second bout, he dominated two-time Pan Am bronze medalist Angelo Marques Moreira from Brazil, 13-2. Because he was one of the top-two athletes in his pool, Smith moved onto the semis, where he edged out six-time Pan Am medalist Jair Cuero Munoz from Colombia, 4-4 on criteria, to claim a spot in the finals.

For gold, he will face Pena Flores of Cuba once again, who emerged victorious from his semifinal.

2015 Pan Am champion Rau started off with a great win over 2019 Pan Am Games champion Luis Avendano Rojas of Venezuela, 8-0, to start his day at 87 kg.

In the semis, Rau put up another dominant tech fall, defeating 2020 Granma Cup silver medalist Lesyan Cousin Otomura of Jamaica to secure his spot in the finals.

Tonight, Rau will take on Carlos Munoz Jaramillo of Colombia, who earlier in the day knocked off two-time U23 World medalist Daniel Gregorich Hechavarria of Cuba.

At 82 kg, Stefanowicz won his first bout of a three-man round-robin with a quick 10-1 technical fall over Jose Vargas Rueda from Mexico. Tonight, Stefanowicz will battle Maricano Ali of Puerto Rico in the third round.

Opening Pan American Championships for women’s freestyle today were Lauren Louive at 59 kg and Victoria Francis at 72 kg.

A 2019 National Team member, Louive went 1-1 in her morning session of round-robin action.

She began the day with a dominant 12-3 technical fall against 2019 Pan American bronze medalist Karoline Silva de Santana of Brazil before losing to 2018 U23 World champion Alexandria Town from Canada.

To wrap up her tournament, Louive will face 2019 Pan Am Games bronze medalist Nes Marie Rodriguez Tirado of Puerto Rico to determine what medal she will earn.

Similarly, Francis went 1-1 at 72 kg on Saturday.

She dropped her first bout to two-time Pan Am silver medalist Yanet Sovero Nino of Peru, but bounced back in her second round with a dominant 13-2 technical fall against Shauna Kuebeck from Canada.

Tonight, Francis will take on Brenda Aguiar Dos Santos from Brazil.

The medal matches begin at 5 p.m. ET live on Trackwrestling.com

2020 PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

at Ottawa, Canada (March 6-9)

U.S. women’s freestyle results

59 kg: Lauren Louive (New York AC/USOPTC)
WIN Karoline Silva de Santana (Brazil), 12-3
LOSS Alexandria Town (Canada), 14-4
vs. Nes Marie Rodriguez Tirado (Puerto Rico)

72 kg: Victoria Francis (Titan Mercury WC)
LOSS Yanet Sovero Nino (Peru), fall
WIN Shauna Kuebeck (Canada), 13-2
vs. Brenda Aguiar Dos Santos (Brazil)

U.S. Greco-Roman results

77 kg: Pat Smith (Minnesota Storm)
WIN Yosvanys Pena Flores (Cuba), 3-1
WIN Angelo Marques Moreira (Brazil), 12-3
WIN Jair Cuero Munoz (Colombia), 4-4
vs. Yosvanys Pena Flores (Cuba)

82 kg: John Stefanowicz (Marines)
WIN Jose Vargas Rueda (Mexico), 10-1
vs. Marciano Ali (Puerto Rico)

87 kg: Joe Rau (Titan Mercury WC/Chicago RTC)
WIN Luis Avendano Rojas (Venezuela), 8-0
WIN Lesyan Cousin Otomuro (Jamaica), 11-2
vs. Carlos Munoz Jaramillo (Colombia)