Pan-American Olympic Games Qualifier team set in all three styles

The Pan-American Olympic Games Qualifier team has been set in all 11 weight classes, following the Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier Wrestle-offs, held Saturday, Feb. 3 at Regis University in Denver, Colo, which saw four athletes earn the right to attempt to qualify the United States for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The United States has not qualified to compete in Paris in three weight classes in women’s freestyle (53 kg, 62 kg and 68 kg), two weight classes in men’s freestyle (57 kg, 65 kg) and all six weight classes in Greco-Roman (60 kg, 67 kg, 77 kg, 87 kg, 97 kg, 130 kg).

Pan American nations may enter an athlete only at weight classes where their nation has not yet qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. The semifinals winners from the Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier in each weight class qualify their nation to compete at the Olympic Games at that weight class.

At 57 kg in men’s freestyle, no qualified athletes challenged 2023 World Team member Zane Richards, so Richards will compete at the Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier in Acapulco at that weight class in an effort to qualify the weight.

Nick Lee, a 2023 Senior World Team member, was challenged by 2022 World Silver medalist Yianni Diakomihalis. Lee won the first match 12-3. Diakomihalis was injured in the first match, and withdrew by injury default in the second match, giving Lee the series two matches to none. Lee earned the team berth and will head to Mexico in February.

Three weights are left to be qualified in women’s freestyle. At 53 kg, 2022 World Champion Dom Parrish will attempt to qualify the weight in Acapulco, Mexico. Parrish won her best-of-three series by forfeit, after 2019 World Champion Jacarra Winchester withdrew.

Kayla Miracle, a two-time World silver medalist and 2020 Olympian, defeated 2023 World silver medalist Macey Kilty, two matches to one in the finals series. Miracle came out on top in the first match, picking up the series lead. Kilty evened the series, defeating Miracle 6-3 to force a third match. It was Miracle that captured the 9-2 win in the third match, earning the team berth.

Amit Elor made her debut at 68 kg, and claimed the spot on the team that will compete at the Pan-American Olympic Games Qualifier in Mexico. Elor, a two-time Senior World Champion at 72 kg, defeated two-time World Bronze medalist Mallory Velte in a preliminary match. She was slated to face 2023 World Team member Emma Bruntil in a best-of-three series, but Bruntil did not compete in either match due to injury default.

All six weight classes remain to be qualified for the 2024 Paris Games in Greco-Roman. The team that will head to Mexico to attempt to qualify the six weights was determined at Senior Nationals in Fort Worth, Texas, in December of 2023.

The 2023 Senior Nationals was the qualifying event for the U.S. Greco-Roman team that will compete in the 2024 Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier in Acapulco, Mexico, February 28-March 1.

Under the qualifying procedures for the Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier Team, any 2023 Senior World Team member who also won a medal at the 2023 Pan American Games was allowed to sit out until the Senior Nationals finals. All three athletes that sat out until the finals earned spots on the Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier Team in Ildar Hafizov (60 kg), Kamal Bey (77 kg) and Cohlton Schultz (130 kg).

Joining Hafizov, Bey and Schultz on the team that will attempt to qualify the United States in three weight classes in Mexico are Alejandro Sancho (67 kg), Spencer Woods (87 kg) and Alan Vera (97 kg). Sancho and Hafizov enter with Olympic experience, as both were a part of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Team.

At Acapulco, Mexico, February 28 – March 1

U.S. Men’s freestyle roster

57 kg: Zane Richards (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)/Illinois RTC)

65 kg: Nick Lee (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)Nittany Lion WC)

U.S. Women’s freestyle roster

53 kg: Dom Parrish (Sunkist Kids)

62 kg: Kayla Miracle (Sunkist Kids)

68 kg: Amit Elor (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC)/NYC RTC)

U.S. Greco-Roman roster

60 kg: Ildar Hafizov (Army WCAP)

67 kg: Alex Sancho (Army WCAP)

77 kg: Kamal Bey (Army WCAP)

87 kg: Spencer Woods (Army WCAP)

97 kg: Alan Vera (New York Athletic Club)

130 kg: Cohlton Schultz (Sunkist Kids)