Mota-Pettis, Golston, Garrett added to U.S. roster for Pan American Games

Three fresh faces are set to enter the U.S. wrestling lineup for the upcoming Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, two in women’s freestyle and one in men’s freestyle.

U23 World Team member Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Humble, Texas/Rise RTC) will take over the 57 kg spot in women’s freestyle, replacing nine-time Olympic and World medalist Helen Maroulis on the American roster.

Mota-Pettis, who is No. 2 on the U.S. National Team behind Maroulis, is currently competing at the U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania, where she is in the running for a bronze medal. She will travel directly from Albania to Chile to represent the U.S. at the prestigious event. Earlier this year, Mota-Pettis won gold at the Pan American Championships at 59 kg, making her a top contender for the Pan American Games title next week.

Veteran competitor Erin Golston (Lake In The Hills, Illinois/New York AC) will enter the U.S. women’s freestyle lineup at 50 kg, taking over for four-time age-group World medalist Audrey Jimenez, who is fresh off a silver medal outing at the U23 World Championships.

Golston is No. 3 on the U.S. National Team depth chart at 50 kg behind the young talent Jimenez and Olympic medalist Sarah Hildebrandt. She is a three-time U20 World medalist and was a Pan American Championships silver medalist in 2019.

On the men’s freestyle front, Nahshon Garrett (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania/Titan Mercury WC/Lehigh Valley WC) will take over for U.S. World Team member Nick Lee at 65 kg.

Garrett is currently No. 2 on the U.S. National Team at 61 kg after finishing in second place at Final X to eventual World champion Vito Arujau. He owns two bronze medals from stout international competitions this year and was a Final X champion in 2018. Santiago will mark Garrett’s first Pan American event, in which he will be among the favorites for gold.

The Pan American Games is the largest multi-sport event held in the Americas. More than 6,800 athletes from 41 countries will compete across 46 sports during the 17-day extravaganza. Team USA is sending 631 athletes to Chile, with wrestler Kyle Snyder being one-of-12 Olympic champions anticipated to represent the U.S. across all sports.

All told, 92 Olympians are expected to make the trek for the U.S., including three wrestlers—Snyder, plus 2020 Olympians Kayla Miracle and Ildar Hafizov.

The Panam Sports Channel will broadcast over 1,900 of coverage from the Pan American Games at panamsportchannel.org, including complete coverage of all four days of wrestling. USA Wrestling will provide complete coverage of the event through TheMat.com and its social media channels using #Santiago2023.

This edition of the Pan American Games is a notable moment for the nation of Chile, as it will be hosting the event for the first time. More information about the Pan American Games can be found at santiago2023.org.

2023 Pan American Games

At Santiago, Chile, Nov. 1-4

Event schedule

Wednesday, Nov. 1

10 a.m. – Qualification rounds and repechage (MFS 57-74-97-125 kg)

5 p.m. – Finals and awards (MFS 57-74-97-125 kg)

Thursday, Nov. 2

10 a.m. – Qualification rounds and repechage (MFS 65-86 kg and WFS 50-57-68 kg)

5 p.m. – Finals and awards (MFS 65-86 kg and WFS 50-57-68 kg)

Friday, Nov. 3

10 a.m. – Qualification rounds and repechage (WFS 53-62-76 kg and GR 60-77 kg)

5 p.m. – Finals and awards (WFS 53-62-76 kg and GR 60-77 kg)

Saturday, Nov. 4

10 a.m. – Qualification rounds and repechage (GR 67-87-97-130 kg)

5 p.m. – Finals and awards (GR 67-87-97-130 kg)

Updated U.S. delegation

Men’s freestyle roster

57 kg – Zane Richards (Champaign, Illinois/Titan Mercury WC/Illinois RTC)

65 kg – Nahshon Garrett (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania/Titan Mercury WC/Lehigh Valley WC)

74 kg – Tyler Berger (Lincoln, Nebraska/Sunkist Kids WC/Pennsylvania RTC)

86 kg – Mark Hall (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania/Titan Mercury WC/Pennsylvania RTC)

97 kg – Kyle Snyder (State College, Pennsylvania/Titan Mercury WC/Nittany Lion WC)

125 kg – Mason Parris (Lawrenceburg, Indiana/Titan Mercury WC/Cliff Keen WC)

Coach – Bill Zadick (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Coach – Joe Russell (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Coach – Jake Varner (Port Matilda, Pennsylvania)

Team Leader – Rich Tavoso (New York City, New York)

Women’s freestyle roster

50 kg – Erin Golston (Lake In The Hills, Illinois/New York AC)

53 kg – Samara Chavez (Arlington, Texas/Team Tornado WC)

57 kg – Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Humble, Texas/Rise RTC)

62 kg – Kayla Miracle (Tempe, Arizona/Sunkist Kids WC)

68 kg – Forrest Molinari (Tempe, Arizona/Sunkist Kids WC)

76 kg – Kennedy Blades (Chicago, Illinois/Sunkist Kids WC)

Coach – Terry Steiner (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Coach – Katie Kreibel (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Coach – Nate Engel (Albany, Oregon)

Team Leader – Cody Bickley (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Greco-Roman roster

60 kg – Ildar Hafizov (Colorado Springs, Colorado/U.S. Army WCAP)

77 kg – Kamal Bey (Colorado Springs, Colorado/U.S. Army WCAP)

87 kg – Zac Braunagel (O’Fallon, Illinois/Illini WC/Illinois RTC)

97 kg – Josef Rau (Chicago, Illinois/Titan Mercury WC/Wildcat WC)

130 kg – Cohlton Schultz (Parker, Colorado/Sunkist Kids WC)

Coach – Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Coach – Herb House (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Coach – Spenser Mango (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Team Leader – Josh Weintraub (New York City, New York)

Support staff

Medical (ATC) – Chad Smidt (Fort Collins, Colorado)

Medical (MD) – Dr. David Haight (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Medical (Massage) – Amy Murry (Olympia, Washington)

Secretary General – Rich Bender (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Media – Richard Immel (Colorado Springs, Colorado)