Biographies of U.S. athletes competing in Junior Pan American Games in Asuncion, Paraguay, August 20-22
Share:
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
For only the second time in history, the Junior Pan American Games, are underway in Asunción, Paraguay.
This is a major multi-sport competition featuring athletes from North, Central and South America, the nations within the Pan American nations. There are 28 sports and 42 disciplines being contested. The first Junior Pan American Games were held in Cali, Colombia in 2021.
The wrestling competition is being hosted at the Olympic Training Center of the Paraguayan Olympic Park, August 20-22. Greco-Roman is set for Wednesday, August 20, with women’s freestyle on Thursday, August 21 and men’s freestyle on Friday, August 22. Session times each day are at 10:00 a.m. (qualification) and 6:00 p.m. (finals). Ascuncion is one hour ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone.
The USA won 12 medals at the 2021 Junior Pan American Games in Cali, including three individual champions. One of the 2021 men’s freestyle gold medalists, Rocco Welsh, has returned seeking a second career Junior Pan American Games title.
The USA team features 17 athletes, many who are already successful on the Senior level. Below are their biographies:
JUNIOR PAN AMERICAN GAMES
At Asunción, Paraguay, August 20-22
U.S. Greco-Roman bios
60 kg: Max Black, Castle Rock, Colo. (New York AC/NMU-NTS)
2025: Senior Pan American Championships gold medalist…CLAW U.S. Open champion…13th at Zagreb Open Ranking Series in Zagreb, Croatia…
2024: Druskininkai Cup silver medalist…Senior World Team Trials runner-up at 63 kg…Third at U.S. Olympic Team Trials…Thor Masters bronze medalist…
2023: U20 Greco-Roman World Team Trials champion… U20 Greco-Roman Nationals champion… Third in U.S. Open in Greco-Roman…
2022: Competed at U20 Greco-Roman World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria… U20 Greco-Roman Pan-American Championships bronze medalist… U20 Greco-Roman World Team Trials champion… U23 Greco-Roman Nationals runner-up… Fourth in World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Greco-Roman… U20 Greco-Roman nationals champion… U.S. Open runner-up in Greco-Roman… Fourth in 2022 Bill Farrell Memorial International in Greco-Roman…
2021: USMC Junior Nationals champion in Greco-Roman, seventh in freestyle… Western Regional runner-up in Greco-Roman, third in freestyle… Fifth in UWW Junior Greco-Roman Nationals…
2019: USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals champion… Third in UWW Cadet Greco-Roman Nationals… Western Regional champion in Greco-Roman, third in freestyle…
2018: Fifth in USMC Cadet Freestyle Nationals… Northwest Regional third in Greco-Roman, second in freestyle… Western Regional champion in Greco-Roman, runner-up in freestyle…
College: Attends Northern Michigan University…
High School: Fourth in 2021 CHSAA State Championships for Douglas County (Colorado) High School… Third in 2020… Third in 2019… Fifth in 2018…
Personal: Born on March 3, 2003… 22 years old…Brother Otto is on the Senior National Team…
67 kg: Brennan Van Hoecke, Fort Myers, Fla. (Arkansas RTC)
2025: U23 Nationals champion…
2024: U20 Pan American champion… Second in U20 World Team Trials… Second in U20 Nationals…
2023: Third in U20 World Team Trials.
2022: Junior Nationals Greco-Roman champion…
2018: U15 Pan American champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman…
2017: Third in 16U Nationals… Fifth in U17 Nationals in freestyle…
College: Competes for Little Rock… Second in 2025 Pac-12 Championships…
High School: 2021 and 2022 Florida state champion for Palmetto Ridge High School… Second in 2020 state championships… Second in 2019 state championships…
Personal: Born on June 18, 2004… 21 years old
77 kg: Aydin Rix McElhinney, South Berwick, Maine (Northern Colorado WC)
2025: U23 Nationals champion… Fifth in Senior U.S. Open…
2024: Ninth in U20 World Championships… U20 Pan American champion… U20 World Team Trials champion… U20 Nationals champion…
2023: Fifth in Senior U.S. Open… Second in U20 World Team Trials… Second in U20 Nationals…
College: Attends University of Northern Colorado...
High School: Attended Falcon High School in Colorado… Second in 2021 Colorado 4A State Championships… Fourth in 2022 State Championships… Third in 2023 State Championships…
Personal: Son of Magan Rix-McElhinney and Michael McElhinney… Born on May 15, 2004… 21 years old
87 kg: Payton Jacobson, Elkhorn, Wis. (New York AC/NMU-NTS)
2025: Senior Pan American Championships gold medalist in Monterrey, Mexico…CLAW U.S. Open champion…
2024: Fifteenth at 2024 Paris Olympic Games…U.S. Olympic Team Trials champion…Ninth at Thor Masters…Fifth at U23 World Championships…
2023: Ninth at Grand Prix of Germany…Twenty-third at Zagreb Open…Final X True-Thirds runner-up…U23 Nationals Greco-Roman champion…Senior World Team Trials Challenge runner-up…Third at US Open…
2022: Eighth at U20 World Championships…U20 World Team Trials champion…Third at World Team Trials Challenge…Third at Senior USMC US Open…Third at U20 USMC US Open…
2021: Junior Pan American Championships silver medalist…UWW Junior Nationals runner-up…
2020: UWW Junior Nationals champion…
2018: Seventh at USMC/USAW Cadet Greco-Roman Nationals…Third at UWW Cadet Nationals…Fourth at USMC/USAW Cadet GR Nationals…Third at Northern Plains Regional Freestyle…Third at Northern Plains Regional Greco-Roman…
College: Wrestles at Northern Michigan…
High School: Wrestled at Elkhorn Area High School in Elkhorn, Wisconsin… Sixth at WIAA Individual State Championships…
Personal: Born September 12, 2002…22 years old…
97 kg: Keenan Wyatt, Gardendale, Ala. (Knights RTC)
2025: U23 Nationals champion…
2024: Fourth in U20 Nationals…
2023: Second in U23 Nationals…
College: Competes for Bellarmine University…
High School: Sixth in 2022 Alabama 6A State Championships for Gardendale High School…
Third in 2021 Alabama 6A State Championships… Sixth in 2019 State Championships…
Personal: Born on August 19, 2004… 21 years old…
130 kg: Aden Attao, Boise, Idaho (Beaver Dam RTC)
2025: U23 Nationals champion… Third in Senior U.S. Open…
2024: U23 World Team member…U20 World Championships bronze medalist…Third at U.S. Olympic Team Trials…Sixth at Thor Masters…
2023: U20 Pan-American Championships gold medalist in Greco-Roman…USMC Junior Nationals champion in Greco-Roman, runner-up in freestyle… U20 World Team Trials champion in Greco-Roman, runner-up in freestyle… U20 Greco-Roman Nationals champion… Northwest Regional champion in Greco-Roman and freestyle…
2022: U20 World Championships bronze medalist in Greco-Roman in Sofia, Bulgaria… U20 Pan-American Championships gold medalist in Greco-Roman… USMC Junior Nationals champion in Greco-Roman and freestyle… U20 World Team Trials champion in Greco-Roman, fourth in freestyle… U20 Nationals champion in Greco-Roman, eighth in freestyle… USA Wrestling National High School Recruiting Showcase champion… Northwest Regional champion in Greco-Roman and freestyle…
2021: USMC Junior Greco-Roman Nationals runner-up… Western Regional champion in freestyle, runner-up in Greco-Roman… UWW Cadet Nationals runner-up in Greco-Roman, fourth in freestyle…
College: Attends Oregon State University…
High School: Two-time Idaho state champion (2022-23) for Borah High School…
Personal: Son of Stacey Hammar and Jesse Attao… Born: October 17, 2004… 20 years old…
U.S. Women’s Freestyle roster
50 kg: Emilie Gonzalez, El Monte, Calif. (Iowa Women’s WC/TMWC)
2025: Third in U23 Nationals…
2024: Seventh in U20 Nationals…
2021: Junior Nationals champion… Second at U17 Nationals…
2017: U17 Pan American champion
College: 2024 NCWWC national champion for the University of Iowa… Fifth in 2025 NCWWC…
High School: Second in 2022 California State Championships for Arroyo High School… Sixth in 2020 State Championships…
Personal: Daughter of Gabriela and Carlos Gonzalez… Born September 9, 2004… 20 years old…
53 kg: Brianna Gonzalez, El Monte, Calif. (Iowa Women’s WC/TMWC)
2025: Second in Final X… Senior U.S. Open champion… Third in U23 Nationals…
2024: U20 World Team member (15th place)… U20 Nationals champion… Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier champion…
2022: Fifth in U20 Nationals…
2021: U17 Pan American champion…Junior Nationals champion… Third in U17 Nationals… National High School Recruiting Showcase champion…
College: Fifth in 2025 NCWWC nationals for the University of Iowa… Second in 2024 NCWWC…
High School: 2022 California state champion for Arroyo High School… Second in 2020 State Championships…
Personal: Daughter of Gabriela and Carlos Gonzalez… Born September 9, 2004… 20 years old…
62 kg: SaVannah Cosme, Denver, Colo. (Atreus WC)
2025: Second in Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament… Fourth in Senior Pan American Championships… Third in Senior U.S. Open… Third in U23 Nationals… Second in Klippan Lady Open (Sweden)…
2024: Third in Senior World Team Trials…
2023: Third in U20 Pan American Championships… Fifth in Senior U.S. Open (December)… Sixth in Senior U.S. Open (April)… Second in U20 Nationals…
2022: U20 World Team (11th place)…U20 Nationals champion… Fourth in Grand Prix of Spain..
2021: U17 World Team (16th place)… U17 Nationals champion… Junior Folkstyle Nationals champion… Second in National Girls High School Recruiting Showcase…
2019: Second in U15 Pan American Championships… Third in U15 Nationals… Fourth in 16U Nationals…
College: Attends Arizona State…
High School: 2021 Colorado state champion for Pomona High School… Second in 2020 State Championships…
Personal: Born on April 2, 2004… 21 years old…
68 kg: Brooklyn Hays, Colorado Springs, Colo. (USOPTC/TMWC)
2025: Second in Final X… Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion… Third in Senior U.S. Open… U23 Pan American champion… U23 Nationals champion… Third in Polyak Imre & Varga Janos Ranking Event (Hungary)…
2024: Fifth in U23 World Championships… Senior Pan American champion… Second in U23 Pan American Championships… Fourth in U.S. Olympic Team Trials… U23 Nationals champion… Fifth in Henri Deglane Challenge (France)…
2023: Fourth in Senior U.S. Open (December)… Second in Bill Farrell Memorial International… Third in Senior U.S. Open (April)… Third in U20 Nationals… Third in U23 Nationals…
2022: Junior Nationals champion… Fifth at U23 Nationals… Second in Junior Folkstyle Nationals…
College: Sixth in 2023 NCWWC Nationals for Augsburg University…
High School: 2022 Utah 6A state champion for Pleasant Grove High School…
Personal: Born on November 12, 2003… 21 years old…
76 kg: Tristan Kelly, Erie, Colo. (U.S. Army WCAP)
2025: Third in Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament… Fifth in Senior U.S. Open… U23 Nationals champion…
2024: Second in CISM Military World Championships… U23 Pan American champion…
2023: Third in Bill Farrell Memorial International… Ninth in Senior Pan American Championships… Second in Klippan Lady Open (Sweden)… Sixth in Senior U.S. Open… Fourth in U23 Nationals…
2022: U20 World bronze medalist…. Fourth in Grand Prix of Spain… Fourth in World Team Trials Challenge Tournament…
2020: Sixth in Klippan Lady Open (Sweden)… U20 Nationals champion… Fifth in U23 Nationals… Fourth in Senior U.S. Open…
2019: U17 Pan American champion… Second in Junior Nationals… Second in U17 Nationals…
2018: U17 World Team (16th place)…Second in U17 Pan American Championships… Junior Nationals champion… 16U Nationals champion… U17 Nationals champion…
College: 2025 NCWWC national champion for McKendree University… Third in 2024 NCWWC… Previously competed for Colorado Mesa University… Third in 2021 NCWWC for Colorado Mesa…
High School: 2020 Colorado state champion for Douglas County High School… 2018 Colorado State champion…
Personal: Born on March 28, 2002… 23 years old…
U.S. Men’s Freestyle bios
57 kg: Charlie Farmer, Coal Valley, Ill. (West Point WC)
2025: Fourth in U23 Nationals…
2024: U23 Pan American champion… Second in U23 Nationals…
2019: Fifth in 16U Nationals… Third in Illinois 16U States in freestyle…
2018: Sixth in USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals (9th-10th grade)…
2017: Second in USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals (9th-10th grade)…
College: Attends Army West Point… 2025 NCAA qualifier… Second in 2025 EIWA Championships…
High School: Attended Moline High School…
Personal: Born on March 10, 2003… 22 years old…
65 kg: Bo Bassett, Windber, Pa. (Titan Mercury WC)
2025: Junior Nationals champion… Second in U20 World Team Trials… Third in U20 Nationals…
2024: U20 World bronze medalist… U20 Pan American champion… U20 World Team Trials champion… U20 Nationals champion… Second in Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier…
2023: Fourth in U20 World Team Trials… Fourth in U17 Nationals…
2022: Fourth in 16U Nationals… Second in U17 Nationals in freestyle and seventh in Greco-Roman…
2021: U17 World champion in freestyle… U17 World Greco-Roman Team (12th place)… U17 Nationals champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman…
High School: 2025 Pennsylvania AA state champion at 145 pounds for Bishop McCort High School…
Personal: Son of Bill and Karissa Bassett… Born on August 25, 2006… 18 years old…
74 kg: Mitchell Mesenbrink, Hartland, Wis. (Nittany Lion WC/TMWC)
2025: Second in Final X… Senior U.S. Open champion…
2024: U23 World bronze medalist… Third in U.S. Olympic Team Trials…
2023: U20 World champion… U20 Pan American champion… U20 World Team Trials champion… U20 Nationals champion… Third in Dan Kolov International (Bulgaria)…
2022: U20 World silver medalist… U20 Pan American champion…
2021: Boys National High School Recruiting Showcase champion…
College: 2025 NCAA champion for Penn State… Second in 2024 NCAA Championships… Previously attended California Baptist…
High School: Three-time Wisconsin state champion for Arrowhead High School (2020-2022)… Third in 2019 Wisconsin State Championships…
Personal: Son of Bernadette and John Mesenbrink… Born on June 2, 2003… 22 years old…
86 kg: Rocco Welsh, Fredericktown, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC/TMWC)
2025: U23 World Team Trials champion… Fifth in U.S. Senior Open… Third in Zagreb Open Ranking Event (Croatia)…
2023: Second in U20 Nationals…
2022: Second in Junior Nationals… Third in U20 World Team Trials… Third in U20 Nationals…
2021: Junior Pan American Games champion… Third in Junior Nationals…
2019: Fifth in 16U Nationals…
College: Attends Penn State… 2024 NCAA runner-up for Ohio State…
High School: Two-time Pennsylvania AAA state champion for Waynesburg Central High School (2022-2023)… Two-time Pennsylvania AAA state runner-up (2020-2021)…
Personal: Son of Denny and Natalie Welsh… Born on September 30, 2003… 21 years old…
97 kg: Tommy Dineen, Hancock, Minn. (Jackrabbit WC)
2025: Second in U23 Nationals…
2024: Fourth in U20 World Team Trials… Fourth in U20 Nationals…
College: Attends South Dakota State…
High School: Three-time Minnesota Class A state champion for Benson High School (2021-2023)… Fifth in 2020 Minnesota Class A State Championships…
Personal: Born on May 10, 2004… 21 years old…
125 kg: Lucas Stoddard, Chardon, Ohio (West Point WC)
2025: Third in U23 Nationals… Seventh in Senior U.S. Open… U23 Pan American champion
2024: Fifth in U23 World Championships… U23 Pan American champion… U23 World Team Trials champion…
College: Attends Army West Point… 2024 NCAA qualifier…
High School: 2022 Ohio D-3 state champion for Berkshire High School… Third in 2021 Ohio D-3 State Championships…
Personal: Born on November 16, 2003… 21 years old…
Event Schedule
(Ascuncion is one hour ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone)
Wednesday, August 20
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Greco-Roman Qualification Rounds
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Greco-Roman Finals
Thursday, August 21
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Women’s Freestyle Qualification Rounds
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Women’s Freestyle Finals
Friday, August 22
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Men’s Freestyle Qualification Rounds
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Men’s Freestyle Finals
Read More#
U.S. to send talented team to 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, Paraguay, August 20-22
U.S. women Krazer, Jaffe, Nugent, Fouse receive draws for Grand Prix of Spain
12 Senior National Team berths determined at True-Third Place Matches prior to Final X
Five USA Bracketing tips to get ready for 2025 CLAW U.S. Open Championships
