U.S. draws set for U23 Pan American Championships in Rionegro, Colombia, June 21-22
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
RIONEGRO, Colombia – The U.S. team has received its first round draws for the 2024 23 Pan American Championships, which will be held at the Coliseo Iván Ramiro Córdoba, June 21-22.
This is the first time that there has been a U23 Pan American Championships event, and the USA is sending a full team of athletes in the three Olympic disciplines, men's freestyle, women's freestyle and Greco-Roman.
On Friday, June 21, the Greco-Roman competition will be held, and half of the women’s freestyle competition. On Saturday, June 22, the men’s freestyle competition will be held, as well as the remaining half of the women’s freestyle weight classes.
The events which determined the athletes for this team in men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman was the the U23 Nationals in Geneva, Ohio, while the women's freestyle team was determined at the Women's Nationals in Spokane, Washington in the U23 Nationals event.
The U.S. Greco-Roman team, which competes on Friday, is led by past Senior National Team member Justus Scott at 72 kg. Scott was a 2023 Senior Pan American champion. Past age-group World Team members on the Greco-Roman team are Billy Sullivan (55 kg), Jonathan Gurule (63 kg), Hunter Lewis (67 kg), Beka Melelashvili (82 kg) and Michael Altomer (97 kg).
The U.S. women’s freestyle team is very experience, led by past age-group World medalists Heather Crull (50 kg),
Sofia Macaluso (57 kg), Adaugo Nwachukwu (62 kg), Jasmine Robinson (72 kg) and Tristan Kelly (76 kg). A past age-group World Team member is Elena Ivaldi (53 kg).
The entire men’s freestyle team has no international experience at either the World or Pan American levels. This young group will be competing to make their name and win medals on their first foreign trip with Team USA.
Results from the U23 Pan American Championships can be found on UWW Arena.
https://arena.uww.org/sport-event/show/1ef2e3a4-5b16-6798-bdad-37882c128838
U23 PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Rionegro, Colombia, June 21-22
U.S. Greco-Roman first round draw
55 kg: Billy Sullivan (Las Vegas, Nev./U.S. Army WCAP)
Group B opponents
Christopher Verastegui Aguilar (Colombia)
Jose Perez Estrada (Mexico)
60 kg: Joseph Couch (Pasadena, Md., West Point WC)
Vs. Abel Hidalgo Berrios (Panama) – 5th 2022 U20 Pan Ams
63 kg: Jonathan Gurule (Peralta, N.M./NMU-National Training Center)
Group A opponents
Jeremy Peralta Gonzalez (Ecuador) – 3rd 2023 Pan American Games, 2023 U20 Pan Am champion
Hector Sanchez Zapata (Mexico) – 3rd 2021 Junior Pan American Games, 2nd 2018 U17 Pan Ams
67 kg: Hunter Lewis (Clayton, N.C./Wolfpack WC)
Vs. Luis Medina Reyes (Venezuela)
72 kg: Justus Scott (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP)
Vs. Julio Tovar Guzamana (Venezuela)
77 kg: Brendon Abdon (Lakeland, Fla./Arkansas RTC)
Group B opponents
Lautaro Seghesso (Argentina) – 3rd 2022 U20 Pan Ams, 2nd 2019 U17 Pan Ams
Raul Unzueta Torres (Mexico) – 3rd 2023 U20 Pan Ams
82 kg: Beka Melelashvili (Philadelphia, Pa./New York AC)
Round robin opponents
Daniel Bello Vegas (Venezuela) – 3rd 2021 Junior Pan American Games, 2021 U20 Pan Am champion
Jose Sanchez (Puerto Rico) – 2023 Puerto Rico U23 World team, both styles
Yulian Preciado Obregon (Colombia)
Diego Macias Torres (Mexico)
87 kg: Tyson Beauperthuy (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Round robin opponents
Carlos Salazar Gomez (Mexico) – 3rd 2023 Senior Pan Ams, 3rd 2021 U20 Pan Ams
Brian Ruiz Marin (Venezuela) – 2nd 2023 U20 Pan Ams, 2022 U17 Pan Am champion
Eduardo Vega Garcia (Panama) – 3rd 2019 U15 Pan Ams
Brandon Calle Perez (Colombia) – 2nd 2021 U20 Pan Ams, 5th 2018 Youth Olympic Games
97 kg: Michael Altomer (Stuyvesant, N.Y./New York AC/Curby 3 Style WC)
Round robin opponents
Juan Diaz Blanco (Venezuela) – 8th 2023 U20 Worlds, 2023 U20 Pan Am champion
Max Madrid De Leon (Panama) – 7th 2023 Pan American Games, 3rd 2021 Junior Pan American Games
Ricardo Gomez (Argentina) – 5th 2024 Senior Pan Ams, 3rd 2023 U20 Pan Ams
130 kg: Keith Miley (Little Rock, Ark./Arkansas RTC)
Group A opponents
Luis Talavera Luna (Venezuela)
Juan Cantillo Torres (Panama) – 5th 2021 Junior Pan American Games, 3rd 2021 U20 Pan Ams
U.S. Women’s Freestyle First Round Draw
50 kg: Heather Crull (Richmond, Ind./Northeastern WC)
Group B opponents
Linda Castaneda Gaona (Mexico) - 12th 2024 Senior Pan Ams
Mariana Rojas Diaz (Venezuela) – 2nd 2021 Senior Pan Ams, 3rd 2023 Pan Am Games
53 kg: Elena Ivaldi (Rocklin, Calif.)
Group A opponents
Serena Di Benedetto (Canada) – 7th 2023 U23 Worlds, 3rd 2022 and 2023 U20 Pan Ams
Yusneiry Agrazal West (Panama) – 3rd 2022 South American Youth Games, 2nd 2021 U17 Pan Ams
Alexa Alvarez Valenzuela (Venezuela) – 3rd 2022 U17 Pan Ams
55 kg: Montana Delawder (Gettysburg, Pa./Team Pennsylvania)
Round robin opponents
Zeltzin Hernandez Guerra (Mexico) – 2nd 2024 Senior Pan Ams, 2nd 2021 Junior Pan American Games
Victoria Seal (Canada) – 2nd 2019 Canada Cup, 3rd 2018 U17 Pan Ams
Ana Alvarez Fernandez (Peru)
Nohalis Loyo Jimenez (Venezuela)
57 kg: Sofia Macaluso (Otisville, N.Y./West Point WC)
Vs. Yspmed Caguardo Irausquin (Venezuela)
59 kg: Skye Realin (Mililani, Hawaii/Grapplers HI)
Vs. Maria Fuentes Salinas (Venezuela) – 8th 2016 U15 Pan Ams
62 kg: Adaugo Nwachukwu (Fountain, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP)
Group A opponents
Eliana Fuentes Palacios (Colombia) – 3rd 2022 U20 Pan Ams
Ameyali Jessel Rojas (Mexico) – 2nd 2022 Senior Pan Ams
Astrid Montero Chirinos (Venezuela) – 3rd 2024 Senior Pan Ams, 2nd 2023 U20 Pan Ams, 2021 Junior Pan American Games champion
65 kg: Aine Drury (Westminster, Calif.)
Group A opponents
Andrea Lopez Martinez (Mexico) – 2nd 2024 Senior Pan Ams, 3rd 2018 U17 Pan Ams
Jaell Llontop Vasquez (Chile) – 5th 2023 U20 Pan Ams
Anays Meza Valencia (Colombia) – 5th 2021 Junior Pan American Games
Jonelle Clarke (Canada)
68 kg: Brooklyn Hays (Lindon, Utah)
Group B opponents
Glenmaris Beria Diaz (Venezuela) – 2nd 2023 U20 Pan Ams, 2022 U17 Pan Am champion
Nicoll Parrado Osorio (Colombia) – 3rd 2023 Pan American Games, 2022 and 2023 U20 Pan Am champion
72 kg: Jasmine Robinson (Allen, Texas/U.S. Army WCAP)
Round robin opponents
Melanie Sanchez Morales (Chile) – 4th 2022 and 2023 U20 Pan Ams
Maria Ceballos Cuenu (Colombia) – 8th 2022 U23 Worlds, 3rd 2021 Junior Pan American Games
76 kg: Tristan Kelly (Erie, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP)
Vs, Aomi Riques Morales (Peru) – 4th 2023 U20 Pan Ams, 4th 2021 U17 Pan Ams
Men’s freestyle first round draw
57 kg: Charlie Farmer (Coal Valley, Ill./West Point WC)
Vs. winner of Esteban Morales Mayancha (Ecuador) and Jaminton Leon Lattore (Colombia)
Morales – 3rd in 2023 U23 Pan Ams, 5th in 2021 Pan American Games
Leon – 2nd in 2019 U15 Pan Ams
61 kg: Kurtis Phipps (Irwin, Pa./Buffalo Valley RTC)
Vs. Kevin Carrasco Arteaga (Panama) – 3rd in 2021 U20 Pan Ams, 4th in 2018 U17 Pan Ams
65 kg: Wyatt Henson (Lock Haven, Pa./Sunkist Kids WC)
Vs Shannon Hanna II (Bahamas) – 3rd in 2024 Senior Pan Ams, 2024 Pat Shaw Memorial champion
70 kg: Daniel Cardenas (Westminster, Colo./Bear Cave WC)
Vs. Gregor McNeil (Canada) – 3rd 2022 U20 Pan Ams, 2nd 2017 U17 Pan Ams
74 kg: Hunter Garvin (North Liberty, Iowa)
Vs. Manuel Brown (Panama), 5th in 2022 U20 Pan Ams
79 kg: Clayton Whiting (Oconto, Wis./Gopher WC-RTC)
Group A opponents
Oscar Diaz Gutierrez (Venezuela)
Erick Martinez Mateo (Puerto Rico)
86 kg: John Gunderson (Baraboo, Wis./Panther WC RTC)
Vs Eduardo Garcia Vega (Panama)
92 kg: Levi Hopkins (Palmer, Ala./ Buies Creek WC)
Vs. Ricardo Gomez (Argentina) – 5th 2024 Senior Pan Ams, 5th 2023 Pan American Games, 3rd 2023 U20 Pan Ams
97 kg: Massoma Endene (Waverly, Iowa/Burg Training Center)
Vs. Gabriel Garibaldi (Argentina)
125 kg: Lucas Stoddard (Chardon, Ohio/West Point WC)
Group A opponents
Luis Talavera Luna (Venezuela)
Jorawar Singh Dhinsa (Canada) – 5th 2024 Senior Pan Ams, 5th 2024 Pan Am Olympic Qualifier
Diego Nole Azabache (Peru) – 3rd 2019 U17 Pan Ams, 3rd 2018 U15 Pan Ams
Schedule of Events
*All times are local to Rionegro, Colombia, one hour behind US Eastern time.
Friday, June 21
10 a.m. – Qualification Rounds and Repechage (Greco-Roman 55 kg, 60 kg, 63 kg, 67 kg, 72 kg, 77 kg, 82 kg, 87 kg, 97 kg, 130 kg, Women’s freestyle 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 68 kg, 76 kg)
5 p.m. – Finals (Greco-Roman 55 kg, 60 kg, 63 kg, 67 kg, 72 kg, 77 kg, 82 kg, 87 kg, 97 kg, 130 kg, Women’s freestyle 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 68 kg, 76 kg)
Saturday, June 22
10 a.m. – Qualification Rounds and Repechage (Men’s freestyle 57 kg, 61 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 74 kg, 79 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg, Women’s freestyle 50 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 65 kg, 72 kg)
5 p.m. – Finals (Men’s freestyle 57 kg, 61 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 74 kg, 79 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg, Women’s freestyle 50 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 65 kg, 72 kg)
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