Fernandez wins U15 Pan American Beach Championships gold medal at women’s 65 kg

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – U.S. women’s wrestling star Taina Fernandez of Maryland added another award to her impressive trophy case – the 2024 U15 Pan American Beach Wrestling Championships gold medal at 65 kg in the women’s division.

Fernandez won four straight matches in dominant fashion, one by fall and three by technical stoppage. She outscored her opponents, 12-0 in her four victories. If a wrestler scores three points in Beach Wrestling, the match is over.

She was the only U.S. entry in the Beach division at the U15 Pan American Championships.

Fernandez won the 65 kg gold medal at the U15 Pan American Championships in women’s freestyle on Thursday, winning all four of her matches by technical fall. It was her second straight U15 Pan American title, after also winning in 2023.

Fernandez is the No. 1 ranked athlete at 135 pounds in the most recent National Girls High School Rankings, and is the No. 6 Pound-For-Pound wrestler in the nation.

U15 PAN AMERICAN BEACH WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

At San Salvador, El Salvador, June 16

Women’s Beach Wrestling results

65 kg

Gold - Taina Fernandez (USA)

Silver - Mabel Ajpop Paz (Guatemala)

Bronze - Alayrah Torrez Velez (Puerto Rico)

4^th -  Allison Ojeda Quito (Ecuador)

5^th -  Hannia Casso Lopez (Mexico)

U.S. Women’s Beach performances

65 kg - Taina Fernandez, (Bowie, Md./Cavalier WC), gold

WIN Allison Ojeda Quito (Ecuador), 3-0, 1:27

WIN Mabel Ajpop Paz (Guatemala), 3-0, 0:58

WIN Alaryrah Torres Velez (Puerto Rico), 3-0, 0:21

WIN Hannia Casso Lopez (Mexico), pin, 3-0