Kilty, Welker to go for women’s freestyle gold at Pan American Championships, Gallegos, Nette in medal hunt

MONTERREY, Mexico –Macey Kilty (65 kg) and Kylie Welker (76 kg) need one more win to secure a gold medal in women’s freestyle after a powerful performance at the 2025 Senior Pan American Championships on Saturday morning.

Competing in a four-athlete round robin, Kilty was dominant in her first two wins, scoring a 10-0 technical fall over Alexis Gomez of Mexico and pinning Leticia De Oliveira Gaion Piazza of Brazil in 23 seconds. If Kilty beats Miki Rowbottom of Canada in her final match, she will clinch the title.

Welker also won two matches handily, stopping Linda Machuca of Argentina 8-2 and beating Genesis Reasco Valdez of Ecuador by technical fall, 10-0. In the championship finals, Welker draws Thamires Martins Machado of Brazil.

Kilty is a two-time Senior World medalist, and Welker has won a Senior World bronze medal. They were teammates at the University of Iowa this past season, where both were NCWWC national champions.

Going for a bronze medal at 53 kg is Jaslynn Gallegos, who faces Serena DiBenedetto of Canada in the bronze-medal bout. Gallegos opened her day with a 14-4 technical fall over Nathaly Herrera Huacre of Peru, then was beaten in the semifinals by Lucia Yepez Guzman of Ecuador.

Past Senior World Team member Abigail Nette will win either a silver medal or a bronze-medal at 59 kg, based upon the result of her next match in a three-athlete round robin. Nette lost to Laurence Beauregard of Canada, 6-3 in her only morning bout. Laurence Beauregard clinched the title when she won her next match against Alma Jane Valencia Escoto of Mexico. The winner of the Nette vs. Valencia match on Saturday night will get the silver medal, while the loser will claim bronze.

The USA will add to its medal haul in Monterrey after getting five medals on Friday. Claiming gold medals for Team USA on Friday were Audrey Jimenez (55 kg), 2024 Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades (68 kg) and Tiffani Baublitz (72 kg). Louisa Schwab (55 kg) added a silver medal, and Amanda Martinez (57 kg) won a bronze medal. The USA was in first place in the team standings after the first six weight classes were complete.

The medal round featuring the four women’s freestyle weight classes, and three men’s freestyle 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, Mexico, May 10

Women’s freestyle finals pairings

53 kg - Lucia Yepez Guzman (Ecuador) vs. Mariana Rojas Diaz (Venezuela)

76 kg - Kylie Welker (USA) vs. Thamires Martins Machado (Brazil)

Women’s freestyle semifinal results

53 kg

Lucia Yepez Guzman (Ecuador) tech fall Jaslynn Gallegos (USA), 10-0

Mariana Rojas Diaz (Venezuela) tech fall Adrianny Castillo Castillo (Argentina), 10-0

76 kg

Kylie Welker (USA) tech fall Genesis Reasco Valdez (Ecuador), 10-0

Thamires Martins Machado (Brazil) dec. Milaimy Marin Potrille (Cuba), 9-6

Women’s freestyle round robin results

59 kg

Laurence Beauregard (Canada) dec. Abigail Nette (USA), 6-3

Laurence Beauregard (Canada) tech fall Alma Jane Valencia Escoto (Mexico), 12-2

Abigail Nette (USA) vs. Alma Jane Valencia Escoto (Mexico)

65 kg

Macey Kilty (USA) tech fall Alexis Gomez (Mexico), tech fall, 10-0

Miki Rowbottom (Canada) pin Leticia De Oliveira Gaion Piazza (Brazil), 4:54

Macey Kilty (USA) pin Leticia De Oliveira Gaion Piazza (Brazil), 0:23

Alexis Gomez (Mexico) dec. Miki Rowbottom (Canada), 3-2

Macey Kilty (USA) vs. Miki Rowbottom (Canada)

Alexis Gomez (Mexico) vs. Leticia De Oliveira Gaion Piazza (Brazil)

U.S. Women’s Freestyle results

53 kg: Jaslynn Gallegos, Naperville, Ill. (Cardinal WC), in bronze medal match

WIN Nathaly Herrera Huacre (Peru), tech fall. 14-4

LOSS Lucia Yepez Guzman (Ecuador), tech fall 10-0

Bronze bout – Serena DiBenedetto (Canada)

59 kg: Abigail Nette, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP), in round robin

LOSS Laurence Beauregard (Canada), 6-3

Vs. Alma Jane Valencia Escoto (Mexico)

65 kg: Macey Kilty, Stratford, Wis. (Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC), in round robin

WIN Alexis Gomez (Mexico), tech fall, 10-0

WIN Leticia De Oliveira Gaion Piazza (Brazil), pin, 0:23

Vs. Miki Rowbottom (Canada)

76 kg: Kylie Welker, Franksville, Wis. (Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC), in gold medal match

WIN Linda Machuca (Argentina), 8-2

WIN Genesis Reasco Valdez (Ecuador), tech fall, 10-0

Gold Medal – Vs. Thamires Martins Machado (Brazil)