Four Americans claim Schoolboy Pan-American Greco golds

MEDELLIN, Colombia – Team USA’s Schoolboy Greco-Roman team capped off an excellent run for the United States at the Pan-American Championships with four Greco champions and another team title.


Team USA scored 80 points, edging out Venezuela (72) and Colombia (71).


"It was a tremendous effort by our schoolboys today, coming off a successful freestyle day on Friday,” coach Bob Empey said. “They represented the American way with tough, in your face attacks. What a great lifetime memory the guys put together in welcoming back the Schoolboy Pan American Championships."


The same 10 wrestlers from the men’s freestyle tournament represented the U.S. in the Greco-Roman tournament.


Three Americans return with two gold medals each, including Brandon O’Brien (32 kg/70.5 lbs.), Keegan Slyter (47 kg/103.5 lbs.) and Tyler Hannah (85 kg/187 lbs.), who were crowned both freestyle and Greco-Roman Pan-American champions after perfect 6-0 weekends.


Mendez improved upon his bronze-medal finish from earlier in the weekend with a gold-medal performance at 42 kg/ 92.5 lbs. on Sunday.


Christian Forbes of Tulsa, Okla., earned his second silver medal of the weekend, taking second in the Greco tournament at 35 kg/77 lbs.


Carter Young, who was the freestyle champ and Outstanding Wrestler, produced a runner-up finish at 38 kg/83.5 lbs.


Aaden Valdez of Pueblo, Colo., moved up a weight to 59 kg/129.8 lbs., where he competed alongside U.S. teammate Dominick Serrano of Greeley, Colo.


Valdez finished second at the weight, while Serrano claimed the bronze.


A pair of Americans in Cougar Andersen of Oklahoma and Brooks Empey of Wisconsin took fifth at 66 kg/145.2 lbs. and 73 kg/160.5 lbs., respectively.


Overall, the United States brings home 22 medals between the three tournaments, including 12 gold, four silver and six bronze.


UWW Schoolboy/Girl Pan-American Championships

At Medellin, Colombia, Oct. 9

Greco-Roman final results
32 kg/70.5 lbs.
Gold – Brandon O’Brien (USA)
Silver – Jhon Medina (VEN)
Bronze – Jafet Densel (HON)
Bronze – Hedy Perez (COL)

35 kg/77 lbs.
Gold – Jose Torres (VEN)
Silver – Christian Forbes (USA)
Bronze – Brenier Palacios (COL)

38 kg/83.5 lbs
Gold – Gildo Alberth (MEX)
Silver – Carter Young (USA)
Bronze – Enrique Herrera (PER)

42 kg/92.5 lbs.
Gold – Jesse Mendez (USA)
Silver – Juan de Dios Gonzalez (PER)
Bronze – Eliander Diaz (VEN)
Bronze – Yofran Rondon (VEN)

47 kg/103.5 lbs.
Gold – Keegan Slyter (USA)
Silver – Jordan Ruiz (ECU)
Bronze – Diego Zuluaga (COL)
Bronze – Brando Dominguez (COL)

53 kg/116.5 lbs.
Gold – Matias Panero (ARG)
Silver – Yender Reyes (VEN)
Bronze – Juan Mendez (COL)
Bronze – Eduardo Oliva (PER)

59 kg/129.8 lbs.
Gold – Elvis Micolta (COL)
Silver – Aaden Valdez (USA)
Bronze – Dominick Serrano (USA)
Bronze – Lucas Beltran (ARG)

66 kg/145.2 lbs.
Gold – Jared Pereyra (MEX)
Silver – Alberth Mendoza (PER)
Bronze – Juan Montemayor (MEX)
Bronze – Sebastian Ortega (CHI)

73 kg/160.5 lbs.
Gold – Pedro Bello (MEX)
Silver – Brandon Calle (COL)
Bronze – Olber Benedith (HON)
Bronze – Andres Caballero (PER)

85 kg/187 lbs.
Gold – Tyler Hannah (USA)
Silver – Andres Henao (COL)
Bronze – Wilson Lugo (VEN)
Bronze – Juan Torres (ECU)

U.S. Greco-Roman results
32 kg/70.5 lbs. – Brandon O’Brien, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gold
WIN Hedy Perez (Colombia), 11-2
WIN Jafet Densel (Honduras), 9-1
WIN Jhon Medina (Venezuela), 8-0

35 kg/77 lbs. – Christian Forbes, Tulsa, Okla., Silver
LOSS Jose Torres (Venezuela), 12-2
WIN Breiner Palacios (Colombia), 17-10

38 kg/83.5 lbs. – Carter Young, Bixby, Okla., Silver
WIN Cristian Salazar (Venezuela), 8-0
WIN Enrique Herrera (Peru), 8-5
WIN Yover Antezana (Peru), 8-0
LOSS Gildo Alberth (Mexico), 8-7

42 kg/92.5 lbs. – Jesse Mendez, Crown Point, Ind., Gold
WIN Eliander Diaz (Venezuela), fall
WIN Juan de Dios Gonzalez (Peru), 3-0

47 kg/103.5 lbs. – Keegan Slyter, Paola, Kan., Gold
WIN Elizon Gonzalez (Venezuela), 19-9
WIN Brando Dominguez (Colombia), 10-2
WIN Jordan Ruiz (Ecuador), 8-0

59 kg/129.8 lbs. – Aaden Valdez, Pueblo, Colo., Silver
WIN Dominick Serrano (USA), 12-0
WIN Esli Martinez (Mexico), 6-5
LOSS Elvis Micolta (Colombia), 10-2

59 kg/129.8 lbs. – Dominick Serrano, Greeley, Colo., Bronze
LOSS Aaden Valdez (USA), 12-0
WIN Elsi Martinez (Mexico), 8-0

66 kg/145.2 lbs. – Cougar Andersen, Skiatook, Okla., Fifth
WIN Daniel Bello (Venezuela), 9-6
LOSS Alberth Mendoza (Peru), 4-0
LOSS Sebastian Ortega (Chile), 4-2

73 kg/160.5 lbs. – Brooks Empey, Stoughton, Wisc., Fifth
LOSS Pedro Bello (Mexico), 8-0
LOSS Olber Benedith (Honduras), 8-0

85 kg/187 lbs. – Tyler Hannah, Genoa, Wisc., Gold
WIN Franco Chialanza (Argentina), 8-0
WIN Juan Torres (Ecuador), 5-2
WIN Andres Henao (Colombia), 11-0