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U.S. draws set for U23 Pan American Championships in Rionegro, Colombia, June 21-22

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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling

Competition portraits of Justus Scott and Heather Crull, who will compete at the U23 Pan American Championships (Photo by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors)

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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