FORTALEZA, Brazil – The United States put on a show in the first half of the Junior Pan American Championships freestyle tournament, with seven athletes in position to compete for gold tonight at 5 p.m. ET in Fortaleza, Brazil.
Two other U.S. wrestlers, Anthony CASSIOPPI and Cameron CAFFEY, already claimed Junior Pan American freestyle titles to double up on 2018 Pan Am golds after successful morning sessions, with each wrestler going 4-0.
Cassioppi, who won the Golden Boot in Greco-Roman, secured the crown at 125 kg, while Caffey won at 97 kg.
With the highest amount of entrants among the three styles, there are five weights with finals, 57 kg, 61 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg and 74 kg.
At 57 kg, Kevin CHAVES BETANCUR (COL) will challenge 2017 Cadet South American champion Jonathan PRATA ALAS (ARG) for gold.
Greco champion Dylan GREGERSON (USA) will go up against Marco PALMERO (CAN) for the title at 61 kg.
The 65 kg finals features Andrew ALIREZ (USA) and 2015 Cadet Pan American freestyle champion Cristian SANTIAGO PEREZ (MEX). Alirez outscored his opponents, 20-0, while Santiago outscored his opponents, 20-5.
Emerging from pool play at 70 kg was Jose VALERA GARCIA (GUA) and Austin O’CONNOR (USA). Both athletes bounced back from first-round losses to move on to the finals.
At 74 kg, Junior World representative for Canada Ty BRIDGEWATER won by two technical falls to advance to the finals. Tonight, he will go against Jeremiah MOODY (USA) for gold, who was also dominant.
Anthony MANTANONA (USA) went 3-0 in the morning session at 79 kg to enter tonight as the only undefeated wrestler at the weight. Should he win his match against Miguel ORNELAS REYNOSO (MEX), he will seal the gold medal in the 79 kg bracket.
Ornelas and Phelipe DOS SANTOS (BRA) head into the final round with 2-1 records.
It’s a similar situation at 86 kg, with Kordell NORFLEET (USA) collecting a 3-0 record. He will face Connor PATTISON (CAN) in the fifth round.
In the other 86 kg match, Junior Pan Am Greco-Roman bronze medalists Nicolas BAEZ (ARG) and Jhon CARMONA (COL), who each are 2-1, will go head-to-head.
Should Austin HARRIS (USA) win his third-round match against Emiliano PRADO GUZMAN (MEX) at 97 kg, he will secure the gold medal. Harris won tech falls over Richard DESCHATELETS (CAN) and Guilherme PRADELLA LIMA (BRA) in the morning session.
The finals are set for 5 p.m. ET live on unitedworldwrestling.org.
