U15 Pan American Championships coverage
by Taylor Gregorio, USA Wrestling
Nov. 6 recap - Men’s freestyle adds eight more titles to close out U15 Pan Am Championships
RIONEGRO, Colombia – The U.S. men’s freestyle scored 10 more medals with eight gold and two bronze to close out competition at the U15 Pan American Championships on Sunday in Rionegro, Colombia.
Winning titles for the USA were Liam Collins (38 kg), Jensen Boyd (41 kg), Henry Aslikyan (44 kg), Lincoln Sledzianowski (48 kg), Thomas Verrette (57 kg), Mikel David Uyemura (68 kg), Terrell McFarland (75 kg) and Dreshaun Ross (85 kg). It was the second gold of the weekend for all eight athletes, who also competed in Greco-Roman.
Josiah Boyden (52 kg) and Blue Stiffler (62 kg) secured podium finishes, winning bronze.
U.S men’s freestyle earned the team title with 230 points, followed by Mexico for second place with 143 points and Colombia for third place with 139 points.
“Of all the U15 trips I’ve taken, this group of kids ranks among the best,” Coach Danny Struck said. “The future of this group is bright gold. Their coachability and willingness to learn from each other and coaches is there. The way they warmed up and cooled down was the way you see champions do it. The mindsets they got in pre-match were signs of their success, and last but not least, the amazing supportiveness of their parents was there every bit of the way.”
Throughout the weekend, the USA won team titles in each style and collected 31 medals, including 26 golds, one silver and four bronzes.
USA Wrestling will update with individual match results if/when they become available.
2022 U15 PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Rionegro, Colombia | Nov. 4-6
U.S. men’s freestyle finishes
38 kg: Liam Collins (Savage, Minn.) – GOLD
41 kg: Jensen Boyd (Muncie, Indiana) – GOLD
44 kg: Henry Aslikyan (Panorama City, Calif.) – GOLD
48 kg: Lincoln Sledzianowski (Naples, Fla.) – GOLD
52 kg: Josiah Boyden (Grovetown, Ga.) – BRONZE
57 kg: Thomas Verrette (Lakewood, Colo.) – GOLD
62 kg: Blue Stiffler (Braselton, Ga.) – BRONZE
68 kg: Mikel David Uyemura (San Gabriel, Calif.) – GOLD
75 kg: Terrell McFarland (Pottsville, Pa.) – GOLD
85 kg: Dreshaun Ross (Fort Dodge, Iowa) – GOLD
Nov. 5 recap - USA continues medal haul with nine golds from women’s freestyle at U15 Pan Ams
RIONEGRO, Colombia – USA’s women’s freestyle team earned 11 medals, including nine golds, one silver and one bronze on Saturday at the U15 Pan American Championships in Rionegro, Colombia.
Winning titles for the USA were Brynn Engel (33 kg), Francesca Gusfa (36 kg), Jaclyn Bouzakis (44 kg), Morgan Turner (48 kg), Ysabella Ocampo (52 kg), Isabella Marie Gonzales (57 kg), Taina Fernandez (68 kg), Isis France (75 kg) and Skylar Slade (85 kg).
Because there were no other competitors at 33 kg, Engel won gold but also competed at 36 kg, where she earned a silver medal and U.S. teammate Gusfa topped the podium. At 50 kg, Jayden Keller secured a bronze medal.
USA won the team title with 215 points, followed by Mexico for second place with 149 points and Colombia for third place with 111 points.
“Today was a great day for our USA women’s freestyle team,” Coach Brazel Marquez said. “These ladies worked hard leading up to today. Their weight management was phenomenal, their training looked great and their attitudes were awesome! It was so great seeing so many smiles and hearing the National Anthem play nine times! This is just the start for these young women.”
The tournament wraps up on Sunday with men’s freestyle action.
USA Wrestling will update with individual match results if/when they become available.
2022 U15 PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Rionegro, Colombia | Nov. 4-6
U.S. women’s freestyle results
33 kg: Brynn Engel (Genoa City, Wis.) – GOLD
36 kg: Brynn Engel (Genoa City, Wis.) – SILVER
36 kg: Francesca Gusfa (Ridgewood, N.J.) – GOLD
39 kg: Jaclyn Bouzakis (Shavertown, Pa.) – GOLD
42 kg: Morgan Turner (Lockport, Ill.) – GOLD
46 kg: Ysabelle Ocampo (New Haven, Ind.) – GOLD
50 kg: Jayden Keller (Saint Catharine, Mo.) – BRONZE
54 kg: Isabella Marie Gonzales (Fresno, Calif.) – GOLD
58 kg: Taina Fernandez (Bowie, Md.) – GOLD
62 kg: Isis France (Glendale, Ariz.) – GOLD
66 kg: Skylar Slade (Altoona, Iowa) – GOLD
Nov. 4 recap - USA starts U15 Pan Ams with nine gold medals in Greco-Roman
RIONEGRO, Colombia – The U.S. Greco-Roman team collected nine gold medals and one bronze medal in the opening day of action at the U15 Pan American Championships in Rionegro, Colombia.
Winning titles for the USA were Liam Collins (38 kg), Jensen Boyd (41 kg), Henry Aslikyan (44 kg), Lincoln Sledzianowski (48 kg), Josiah Boyden (52 kg), Thomas Verrette (57 kg), Mikel David Uyemura (68 kg), Terrell McFarland (75 kg) and Dreshaun Ross (85 kg).
Competing at 62 kg, Blue Stiffler rounded out the successful day with a bronze medal.
The squad ran away with the team title with 240 points, followed by Colombia for second place with 136 points and Mexico for third place with 135 points.
"I am very proud of all our kids and how they competed," Coach Joe Uccellini said. "They are eager to learn and are a great group. This really says a lot about the grass roots of Greco-Roman and all the work all the club coaches and GRIT coaches have put in. I went to an international tournament a few years back, and we hardly had a throw. Now every kid threw nearly every match. They weren’t afraid to take calculated risks."
All 10 of today’s competitors will represent the U.S. in men’s freestyle competition on Sunday. The tournament continues tomorrow with women’s freestyle.
USA Wrestling will update with individual match results if/when they become available.
2022 U15 PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Rionegro, Colombia | Nov. 4-6
U.S. Greco-Roman finishes
38 kg: Liam Collins (Savage, Minn.) – GOLD
41 kg: Jensen Boyd (Muncie, Indiana) – GOLD
44 kg: Henry Aslikyan (Panorama City, Calif.) – GOLD
48 kg: Lincoln Sledzianowski (Naples, Fla.) – GOLD
52 kg: Josiah Boyden (Grovetown, Ga.) – GOLD
57 kg: Thomas Verrette (Lakewood, Colo.) – GOLD
62 kg: Blue Stiffler (Braselton, Ga.) – BRONZE
68 kg: Mikel David Uyemura (San Gabriel, Calif.) – GOLD
75 kg: Terrell McFarland (Pottsville, Pa.) – GOLD
85 kg: Dreshaun Ross (Fort Dodge, Iowa) – GOLD