FRISCO, Texas (February 26) – The United States bagged three gold medals along with a silver and two bronze to take team honors in the women’s wrestling competition Friday, the opening day of the Pan American Wrestling Championships.
Canada, entering only five wrestlers, also nabbed three gold medals to finish 20 points adrift in second place at Dr. Pepper Arena while Cuba snuck in for third palce with a pair of silver and bronze medals each.
Former world champion Clarissa CHUN (USA) kicked things off for the home team with an 8-4 win over Natasha KRAMBLE (CAN) at 48kg. It was the fourth continental crown over all for the 2008 world champion and her first since 2010.
Canada roared back, however, with a fall and a win on an injury default at 53kg and 55kg with Jasmine MIAN (CAN) overcoming a slow start with 2014 Pan Am champ Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) for a win by fall and her first continental crown.
Mian also won her first international event since securing the 48kg ticket to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games over the winter.
Samantha STEWART (CAN), meanwhile, who rolled up a pair of 10-0 triumphs in the morning session, won by injury default over 2015 Pan Am bronze medal winner Giulia RODRIGUES (BRA).
Defending Pan Am champion Justina DI STASIO (CAN) closed out the day for the short-handed Canadian squad with a fall at 2:07 in the 75kg final with last year’s bronze medal winner Andrea OLAYA GUTIERREZ (COL).
In the morning session, Di Stasio slipped passed 2014 world runner-up Aline FERREIRA (BRA), 5-2, in the semifinals at 75kg.
In other finals, 2011 champ Kelsey CAMPBELL (USA) forged a 2-2 win on criteria over Pan American Games silver medalist Yaquelin ESTORNELL (CUB) at 58kg. In the morning, Campbell edged 2014 champ Lissette ANTES CASTILLO (ECU), 2-1.
Amanda HENDEY (USA) came from behind twice with falls at 63kg in the early session, but 2012 and 2013 bronze medalist Lais NUNES DE OLIVERIA (BRA) would not be denied gold as she eased by Hendey, 8-1.
Meanwhile, 2012 world champion Elena PIROZHKOVA (USA) gave the U.S. a third gold medal after receiving a forfeit from Toronto 2015 silver medalist Maria ACOSTA (VEN).
At 60kg, two-time Olympic Games bronze medalist Jackeline RENTERIA CASTILLO (COL) rolled to her third win of the day, 6-2, against South American champion Yanet SOVERO NINO (PER) for the title.
Renteria, who already owns a pair of Olympic Games bronze medals, qualified for Rio 2016 at the world championships last fall in Las Vegas with a fifth place finish at 58kg.
For complete results, go to unitedworldwrestling.org/event/pan-american-championship-senior-2.
Championship Final Pairings
48kg – Clarissa CHUN (USA) df. Natasha KRAMBLE (CAN), 8-4
53kg – Jasmine MIAN (CAN) df. Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) by Fall, Time Not Recorded (4-4)
55kg – Samantha STEWART (CAN) df. Giulia RODRIGUES (BRA) by Injury Default, 1:33 (4-0)
58kg – Kelsey CAMPBELL (USA) df. Yaquelin ESTORNELL (CUB), 3-3
63kg – Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) df. Amanda HENDEY (USA), 8-1
75kg – Justina DI STASIO (CAN) df. Andrea OLAYA GUTIERREZ (COL) by Fall, 2:07
Final Round Pairings in Four-Wrestler Round-Robin
60kg – Jackeline RENTERIA (COL) df. Yanet SOVERO (PER), 6-2
(Renteria wins round-robin with three wins, no losses)
69kg - Elena PIROZHKOVA (USA) df. Maria ACOSTA (VEN) by Forfeit, 0:00
(Pirozhkova wins round-robin with three wins, no losses)
Final Team Standings in Women’s Wrestling
1. United States, 67 points (3 gold medals, 1 silver and 2 bronze)
2. Canada, 47 (3-1-1)
3. Cuba, 41 (0-2-2)
4. Brazil, 40 (1-1-1)
5. Venezuela, 40 (0-0-3)
6. Colombia, 35 (0-0-2)
