Jimenez, Blades, Schwab, Baublitz to go for gold, Martinez, Cosme for bronze in Pan American women’s freestyle

MONTERREY, Mexico – Four U.S. women have a chance to win a gold medal, and another two will battle for bronze after a busy first day of women’s freestyle at the 2025 Senior Pan American Championships on Friday.

Two U.S. wrestlers won semifinal matches and powered into the finals, Audrey Jimenez (50 kg) and 2024 Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades (68 kg).

Jimenez scored an impressive come-from-behind technical fall over 2024 Olympic silver medalist Yusneylis Guzman Lopez of Cuba, 18-8. Guzman ran up an 8-2 lead on Jimenez, but the young American came back strong. Jimenez got a takedown and a turn to close the lead to 8-6. Jimenez’ next takedown tied the match at 8-8, then she locked up an ankle lace and turned Guzman five straight times to close out the match.

Jimenez, a four-time age-group World champion, will battle Canada’s Madison Parks in the gold-medal finals.

Blades powered to three straight wins, two by technical fall, to reach the finals. She will have a rematch from her first match of the day with Nathali Griman Herrera of Venezuela, who Blades beat 6-2.

Two U.S. women who are in round-robin competitions, were undefeated on Friday morning and will earn gold medals if they win their final match on Friday night, Louisa Schwab (55 kg) and Tiffany Baublitz (72 kg).

Schwab won two matches in her four-athlete round robin during the Friday morning session, scoring a pin with five seconds on the clock against Geisa Raphael Veloso of Brazil and a technical fall over Andrea Avelino Barrientos of Mexico. Her finals opponent is talented Karla Godinez Gonzalez of Canada.

Baublitz is in a three-athlete roundrobin and will face Canada’s Nyla Burgess for the gold. Both of them beat Michelle Olea Ruiz of Mexico in the morning session, with Baublitz getting a pin.

Two U.S. women are going for bronze medals, Amanda Martinez (57 kg) and SaVannah Cosme (62 kg). Martinez lost her opening bout, but was pulled back into a bronze-medal bout against Mia Katherine Friesen of Canada. Cosme was beaten in the semifinals, and will battle Melanie Jimenez Villalba of Mexico for the bronze.

The medal round in women’s freestyle, and two Greco-Roman weight classes, resumes at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time,

All of the action will be broadcast live on FloWrestling. https://flosports.link/4fv90qt

SENIOR PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Monterrey, Canada

Women’s Freestyle Finals pairings

50 kg - Audrey Jimenez (USA) vs. Madison Parks (Canada)

57 kg - Bertha Rojas Chavez (Mexico) vs. Yaynelis Sanz Verdecia (Cuba)

62 kg - Ana Godinez Gonzalez (Canada) vs. Astrid Montero Chrinos (Venezuela)

68 kg - Kennedy Blades (USA) vs. Nathali Griman Herrera (Venezuela)

Women’s Freestyle Semifinals results

50 kg

Audrey Jimenez (USA) tech. fall Yusneylis Guzman Lopez (Cuba), 18-8

Madison Parks (Canada) dec. Kamila Barbosa Vito da Silva (Brazil), 9-0

57 kg

Bertha Rojas Chavez (Mexico) pin Mia Katherine Friesen (Canada), 3:37

Yaynelis Sanz Verdecia (Cuba) dec. Ana Luiza Pereira Franca (Brazil), 6-0

62 kg

Ana Godinez Gonzalez (Canada) pin SaVannah Cosme (USA), 0:55

Astrid Montero Chrinos (Venezuela) dec. Melanie Jimenez Villalba (Mexico), 2-0

68 kg

Kennedy Blades (USA) tech fall Virginia Jimenez Fernandez (Chile), 10-0

Nathali Griman Herrera (Venezuela) tech fall Debanhi Tapia Garcia (Mexico), 11-0

Round Robin weight classes (with remaining matches)

55 kg

Karla Godinez Gonzalez (Canada) tech fall Andrea Avelino Barrientos (Mexico), 10-0

Louisa Schwab (USA) pin Geisa Raphael Veloso (Brazil), 5:55

Karla Godinez Gonzalez (Canada) tech fall Geisa Raphael Veloso (Brazil), 11-0

Louisa Schwab (USA) tech fall Andrea Avelino Barrientos (Mexico), 14-4

Karla Godinez Gonzalez (Canada) vs. Louisa Schwab (USA)

Andrea Avelino Barrientos (Mexico) vs. Geisa Raphael Veloso (Brazil)

72 kg

Nyla Burgess (Canada) dec. Michelle Olea Ruiz (Mexico), 4-1

Tiffani Baublitz (USA) pin Michelle Olea Ruiz (Mexico), 1:00

Tiffani Baublitz (USA) vs. Nyla Burgess (Canada)

U.S. Women’s freestyle performances

50 kg: Audrey Jimenez, Tucson, Ariz. (Lehigh Valley Wrestling RTC/Titan Mercury WC), in gold-medal bout

WIN Yorlenis Moran Sanchez (Panama), tech fall 10-0

WIN Yusneylis Guzman Lopez (Cuba), 18-8

Gold medal – Vs. Madison Parks (Canada)

55 kg: Louisa Schwab, Menlo Park, Calif. (Menlo WC), going for gold

WIN Geisa Raphael Veloso (Brazil), pin 5:55

WIN Andrea Avelino Barrientos (Mexico), tech fall 14-4

Round robin finals – Vs. Karla Godinez Gonzalez (Canada)

57 kg: Amanda Martinez, Naperville, Ill. (Cardinal WC/Titan Mercury WC), in bronze-medal bout

LOSS Bertha Rojas Chavez (Mexico), pin 3:56

Bronze medal – Vs. Mia Katherine Friesen (Canada)

62 kg: SaVannah Cosme, Tempe, Ariz. (Atreus WC), in bronze-medal bout

WIN Juliana Neper Oliveira Santos (Brazil), tech fall, 18-8

LOSS Astrid Montero Chirinos (Venezuela), tech fall, 10-0

LOSS Ana Godinez Gonzales (Canada), pin 0:55

Bronze medal – Vs. Melanie Jimenez Villalba (Mexico)

68 kg: Kennedy Blades, Chicago, Ill. (Hawkeye WC/Tigan Mercury WC), in gold-medal bout

WIN Nathali Griman Herrera (Venezuela), 6-2

WIN Grabriela Pedro Da Rocha (Brazil), tech fall 11-1

WIN Virginia Jimenez Fernandez (Chile), tech fall, 10-0

Gold Medal – Vs. Nathali Griman Herrera (Venezuela)

72 kg: Tiffani Baublitz, Warriors Mark, Pa. (Team Pennsylvania), going for gold

WIN Michelle Olea Ruiz (Mexico), pin 1:00

Round robin finals - vs. Nyla Burgess (Canada)