Fernandez claims gold, Graham seventh in beach wrestling at U17 Pan American Championships
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by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
Taina Fernandez on the podium at the 2025 U17 Pan American Beach Championships
RIO DE JAINERO, Brazil – Team USA picked up a gold medal in beach wrestling from Taina Fernandez on Sunday to highlight the U17 Pan American Championships held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Fernandez, a 2024 U17 World champion in women’s freestyle, went 6-0 in the 65 kg women’s beach division on her way to the title. She earned three pins, two, 3-0, technical superiority wins and a 3-2 decision over Yolayni Rosado Valerio of Dominican Republic in the championship match.
The talented, young American also won the U17 Pan American Championships in women’s freestyle at 61 kg earlier in the week. She was part of the women’s freestyle crew that went 10-for-10 on gold medals. Fernandez was a U15 Pan American beach champion last year.
Fernandez’s gold medal pushed the U.S. to a fifth-place team finish in the women’s division.
In the men’s beach division, American Ben Graham secured a seventh-place finish at 70 kg with a 2-2 overall record. He finished pool play at 2-1 before falling in the quarterfinal round to Marcus Antunes De Souza of Brazil, 3-0.
Brackets and match-by-match results from the 2025 U17 Pan American Beach Championships are available on UWW Arena.
2025 U17 Pan American Beach Championships #
June 22, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil #
Men’s Beach Results #
Team Standings #
1. Brazil, 67
2. Venezuela, 54
3. Puerto Rico, 50
4. Mexico, 50
5. Guatemala, 29
6. Peru, 23
7. El Salvador, 14
8. Chile, 12
9. Ecuador, 10
10. Argentina, 10
60 kg #
Gold – Gabriel Licon Ramirez (Venezuela)
Silver – Zeus Gonzalez (Mexico)
Bronze – Haniel Rodriguez Nolaya (Venezuela)
70 kg #
Gold – Joab Carrillo Rodriguez (Puerto Rico)
Silver – Marcus Antunes De Souza (Brazil)
Bronze – Anthony Molina Rubio (Peru)
80 kg #
Gold – Alexander Barros (Puerto Rico)
Silver – Reynniel Yepez Hernandez (Venezuela)
Bronze – Heder Saldana Bernardino (Mexico)
90 kg #
Gold – Allan De Sousa Beserra (Brazil)
Silver – John Saenz Corea (Guatemala)
Bronze – Jose Esparza Ordonez (Mexico)
Women’s Beach Results #
Team Standings #
1. Brazil, 70
2. Peru, 43
3. Venezuela, 42
4. Puerto Rico, 40
5. United States, 25
6. Colombia, 24
7. Mexico, 21
T-8. Dominican Republic, 20
T-8. Honduras, 20
10. Argentina, 19
45 kg #
Gold – Heklanys Rivera Quiles (Puerto Rico)
Silver – Andrea Flores (Honduras)
Bronze – Sarah Martins (Brazil)
55 kg #
Gold – Clara Ramirez Guardia (Peru)
Silver – Luanny Barbosa De Souza (Brazil)
Bronze – Stacy Rodriguez Tello (Peru)
65 kg #
Gold – Taina Fernandez (United States)
Silver – Yolayni Rosado Valerio (Dominican Republic)
Bronze – Yasmim Neper Oliveira Santos (Brazil)
75 kg #
Gold – Luz Cuauro Alvarez (Venezuela)
Silver – Ana Vicente Da Cruz (Brazil)
Bronze – Mayara Neper Oliveira Santos (Brazil)
U.S. Men’s Beach Results #
70 kg – Ben Graham (New Lenox, Ill.), 7th place
LOSS Adrian Canales Perez (El Salvador), 3-2
WIN Joab Carrillo Rodriguez (Puerto Rico), fall, 0:29
WIN Jose Gurumendiz Bravo (Ecuador), forfeit
LOSS Marcus Antunes De Souza (Brazil), 3-0
U.S. Women’s Beach Results #
65 kg – Taina Fernandez (Bowie, Md.), gold medal #
WIN Paola Ramirez (Puerto Rico), 3-0
WIN Nairam Jaime Figueroa (Venezuela), Fall, 0:08
WIN Sylvia Espinosa Muniz (Mexico), 3-0
WIN Natalia Proboste (Argentina), Fall, 0:44
WIN Fernanda Riffo Catalan (Chile), Fall, 0:15
WIN Yolayni Rosado Valerio (Dominican Republic), 3-2
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