Tristan Kelly (76 kg) won gold at the 2024 U23 Pan American Championships in Rionegro, Colombia.

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Kelly wins gold, Hays, Nwachukwu add silver as US earns four medals at U23 Pan American Championships in Women's freestyle

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by Savannah Asmann, USA Wrestling

On the first day of the U23 Pan American Championships in Rionegro, Colombia, five weight categories in Women's freestyle wrestling were contested, and Team USA earned one gold, two silver and two bronze medals. This is the first-ever U23 Pan American Championships.

The United States earned gold at 76 kg, as Tristan Kelly had an impressive tournament. She dominated her opening round match against Peru’s Paola Rodriguez Guzman with a quick 12-0 technical fall. In the semifinals, Kelly continued her dominance against Venezuela’s Neirili Banguero Martinez, clinching a victory that propelled her into the gold medal match. In the finals, Kelly controlled the offense in the first period, pushing to a 7-0 advantage over Argentina’s Linda Machuca. Machuca scored a takedown before the break, cutting the lead to 7-2. Kelly won by fall after reaching an 11-2 score.

Adaugo Nwachukwu reached the 62 kg finals, going 2-0 in the morning session. Nwachukwu faced a tough opponent in Venezuela’s Astrid Montero Chiniros, ultimately securing the silver medal with the tough loss. Montero Chiniros earned a point after Nwachukwu was put on the clock and was unable to score. The Venezuelan added two more takedowns and after Nwachukwu’s offensive efforts were halted, earned the 5-0 victory.  

Brooklyn Hays, wrestling at 68 kg, also reached the finals and ultimately claimed a silver medal. In the match, Hays led early with a point on a step out. A scramble in the center saw Colombia’s Nicoll Parrado Osorio score a takedown to take a 2-1 lead. Hays bounced back with a takedown to claim the 3-2 lead entering the break. Parrado Osorio was awarded a point on a step out to lead on criteria, and a lost challenge from the USA added another point to make it a 4-3 match.

At 53 kg, Elena Ivaldi fought in a tough bracket and earned bronze. Ivaldi had a challenging start to her tournament, falling in a high-scoring match to Serena Dibenedetto of Canada, 17-10. She bounced back to wrestle for bronze later in the day. Ivaldi started strong in the bout, catching Venezuela’s  Alexa Alvarez Valenzuela’s throw and securing two exposure points to lead 4-0. Ivaldi extended her lead with a series of takedowns, ultimately winning by a 13-2 technical fall and earning the bronze medal.

Sofia Macaluso, competing at 57 kg, fell in a tough battle for bronze at the tournament. In the medal match, Macaluso initiated action aggressively with an inside trip to lead 4-0. Her opponent scored a takedown, cutting the lead to 4-2. Macaluso regained control with a double leg takedown, pushing the score to 6-2. Late in the match, an injury stifled her efforts, allowing her opponent to capitalize and secure a fall over Macaluso.

The tournament continues on Saturday, June 22, in Rionegro, Colombia. Women’s freestyle action continues with 50 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 65 kg, and 72 kg. Men’s freestyle competition also begins on Saturday. The full schedule is below.

Visit arena.uww.org for full results and brackets.

Schedule of Events

*All times are local to Rionegro, Colombia, one hour behind US Eastern time.

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)

2024 U23 Pan American Championships | Rionegro, Colombia

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Team Standings after Day One
  1. United States - 90 points
  2. Colombia - 79 points
  3. Canada - 75 points
  4. Venezuela - 67 points
  5. Mexico - 63 points
  6. Argentina - 35 points
  7. Puerto Rico - 32 points
  8. Peru - 30 points
  9. Panama - 17 points
  10. Brazil - 10 points
  11. Ecuador - 9 points
  12. Chile - 0 points
  13. El Salvador - 0 points

Full Results

53 kg

Gold - Yusmy Chaparro Urrego (Colombia)

Silver - Nathaly Herrera Huacre (Peru)

Bronze - Elena Ivaldi (United States)

4. Alexa Alvarez Valenzuela (Venezuela)

5. Serena Di Benedetto (Canada)

6. Yusneiry Agrazal West (Panama)

7. Pamela Banda Gomez (Mexico)

57 kg

Gold - Bertha Rojas Chavez (Mexico)

Silver - Mia Friesen (Canada)

Bronze - Loyda Pechene Manunga (Colombia)

Bronze - Camila Agustina Amarilla (Argentina)

5. Eliana White Vega (Puerto Rico)

5. Sofia Macaluso (United States)

7. Irichell Vargas Rivera (Panama)

8. Yspmed Caguado Irausquin (Venezuela)

62 kg

Gold - Astrid Paola Montero Chirinos (Venezuela)

Silver - Adaugo Diana Nwachukwu (United States)

Bronze - Jolie Donna Elizabeth Brisco (Canada)

4. Karoline Stephanie Ortiz Rosado (Puerto Rico)

5. Ameyalli Sayil Jessel Rojas (Mexico)

6. Alejandra Rodriguez Velasquez (Ecuador)

7. Eliana Isabel Fuentes Palacios (Colombia)

68 kg

Gold - Nicoll Parrado Osorio (Colombia)

Silver - Brooklyn Hays (United States)

Bronze - Aleah Nickel (Canada)

4. Alejandra Arriaga (Mexico)

5. Yasmine Santana Oliveira (Brazil)

6. Gleymaris Beria Diaz (Venezuela)

76 kg

Gold - Tristan Kelly (United States)

Silver - Linda Machuca (Argentina)

Bronze - Brianna Fraser (Canada)

Bronze - Neirili Banguero Martinez (Venezuela)

5. Paola Rodriguez Guzman (Puerto Rico)

5. Aomi Riques Morales (Peru)

7. Karime Cortes Resendiz (Mexico)

8. Nicol Hurtado Castillo (Colombia)

U.S. Women’s freestyle results

53 kg: Elena Ivaldi (Rocklin, Calif.), Bronze medalist

LOSS Serena Di Benedetto (Canada), 17-10 decision

WIN Yusneiry Agrazal West (Panama), 3:43 fall

WIN Alexa Alvarez Valenzuela (Venezuela), 12-2 technical fall

WIN Alexa Alvarez Valenzuela (Venezuela), 13-2 technical fall

57 kg: Sofia Macaluso (Otisville, N.Y./West Point WC), Fifth place

WIN Yspmed Caguardo Irausquin (Venezuela), 2:22 fall

LOSS Mia Friesen (Canada), 6-5 decision

LOSS Camila Amarilla (Argentina), 5:46 fall

62 kg: Adaugo Nwachukwu (Fountain, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP), Silver medalist

LOSS Astrid Montero Chirinos (Venezuela), 6-1 decision

WIN Ameyali Jessel Rojas (Mexico), 7-0 decision

WIN Elaina Fuentes Palacios (Colombia), 11-0 technical fall

LOSS Astrid Montero Chirinos (Venezuela), 5-0 decision

68 kg: Brooklyn Hays (Lindon, Utah), Silver medalist

WIN Glenmaris Beria Diaz (Venezuela), 10-0 technical fall

WIN Nicoll Parrado Osorio (Colombia), 11-8 decision

WIN Aleah Nickel (Canada), 4:32 fall

LOSS Nicoll Parrado Osorio (Colombia), 4-3 decision

76 kg: Tristan Kelly (Erie, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP), Gold medalist

WIN Aomi Riques Morales (Peru), 12-0 technical fall

WIN Neirili Banguero Martinez (Venezuela), 11-0 technical fall

WIN Linda Machuca (Argentina), 4:23 fall

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