WRESTLING Preview: Powerful U.S. team in Argentina for Pan American Champs

Five-time World Champion Adeline Gray of the U.S. (Photo: UWW)

The United States wrestling teams – men’s Freestyle, men’s Greco-Roman and women’s Freestyle – have full squads in Buenos Aires (ARG) for the 2019 Pan American Championships to defend their team titles in all three disciplines.

The U.S. dominated the Freestyle competitions last year, winning the men’s title over Cuba, 230-130 and the women’s title over Canada, 198-155. The Greco-Roman title was a nail-biter, with the American squad out-pointing the Cubans by just 141-140.

For 2019, the full brackets are not released until the day before the division starts (dumb), but USA Wrestling has released its line-ups, including:

Men’s Greco-Roman:
● 63 kg: Ryan Mango ~ 2018 Pan American Champion
● 72 kg: Ravaughn Perkins ~ 2018 Pan American Champion
● 130 kg: Adam Coon ~ 2018 Worlds bronze medalist

Women’s Freestyle:
● 53 kg: Sarah Hildebrandt ~ 2018 Worlds silver medalist and 3x Pan Am Champion
● 59 kg: Kelsey Campbell ~ 2011-16 Pan Am Champion
● 62 kg: Mallory Velte ~ 2018 Worlds bronze medalist
● 68 kg: Tamyra Mensah-Stock ~ 2018 Worlds bronze medalist
● 76 kg: Adeline Gray ~ Four-time World Champion and 2015-18 Pan Am Champion

Men’s Freestyle:
● 61 kg: Joe Colon ~ 2018 Worlds bronze medalist
● 74 kg: Jordan Burroughs ~ 2012 Olympic champ and four-time World Champion
● 86 kg: David Taylor ~ 2018 World Champion
● 92 kg: J’den Cox ~ 2018 World Champion and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist
● 97 kg: Kyle Snyder ~ 2016 Olympic champ and two-time World Champion
● 125 kg: Nick Gwiazdowski ~ 2017 and 2018 Worlds bronze medalist

Of the seven Greco-Roman brackets actually available to see, six of the classes have returning champions from 2018:

● 55 kg: Sargis Khachatryan (BRA)
● 60 kg: Luis Orta Sanchez (CUB)
● 63 kg: Ryan Mango (USA)
● 67 kg: Ismael Borrero (CUB)
● 72 kg: Ravaughn Perkins (USA)
● 97 kg: Luillys Perez (VEN)

The Greco-Roman tournament will take place on Thursday and Friday, the women’s Freestyle on Friday and Saturday, and the men’s Freestyle on Saturday and Sunday. As a continental championship event, it offers UWW ranking points and can boost world-ranking places.

Look for results here.