The U23 Pan American Championships is a significant event in the wrestling calendar, showcasing emerging talents from across the Americas. This article provides a detailed overview of the competition, including wrestler matchups and other relevant information.
Greco-Roman Pairings
Several entries in Greco-Roman have first round draws, including Brennan Van Hoecke (67 kg), Aydin Rix McElhinney (77 kg) and Keenan Wyatt (97 kg). Here's a breakdown of the Greco-Roman pairings:
- 67 kg: Brennan Van Hoecke, Fort Myers, Fla. (Arkansas RTC) vs. Yonat Velez Martinez (Cuba)
- 77 kg: Aydin Rix McElhinney, South Berwick, Maine (Northern Colorado WC) vs. Josue Alvarez Sintuj (Guatemala)
- 97 kg: Keenan Wyatt, Gardendale, Ala. (Knights RTC) vs. Dorian Trejo Olguin (Mexico)
- 130 kg: Aden Attao, Boise, Idaho (Beaver Dam RTC) - Group A opponents: Wesley Barrios Das Dores (Brazil), Juan Herrera De La Rosa (Mexico)
Aden Attao will have three opponents in Group A at 130 kg. He will wrestle Wesley Barrios Das Dores of Brazil, 2022 U20 Pan American silver medalist Juan Herrera De La Rosa of Mexico and Nicolas Araya Tapia of Chile in Group A.
Men’s Freestyle Pairings
Here are the initial matchups for the men's freestyle category:
- 57 kg: Charlie Farmer, Coal Valley, Ill. (West Point WC) - Group A opponents: Juan Valerio Delgado (Dominican Republic), Jose Falcon Reyes (Venezuela), Adrian Samano (Puerto Rico)
- 60 kg: Max Black, Castle Rock, Colo. (New York AC/NMU-NTS) Vs. Patrick Rodriguez Quinto (Ecuador)
- 65 kg: Bo Bassett, Windber, Pa. (Titan Mercury WC) vs. Diego Peraza Aguilar (Mexico)
- 74 kg: Mitchell Mesenbrink, Hartland, Wis. (Nittany Lion WC/TMWC) vs. Arnoldo Proboste (Argentina)
- 86 kg: Rocco Welsh, Fredericktown, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC/TMWC) vs. Juan Cardoza Ibata (Colombia)
- 87 kg: Payton Jacobson, Elkhorn, Wis. (New York AC/NMU-NTS) vs. Brian Ruiz Marin (Venezuela)
- 97 kg: Tommy Dineen, Hancock, Minn. (Jackrabbit WC) - Group B opponents: Juan Andres (Dominican Republic), Lucas Imbernon Da Silva (Brazil)
- 125 kg: Lucas Stoddard, Chardon, Ohio (West Point WC)
Senior Open champion Mitchell Mesenbrink will start his 74 kg competition against Arnoldo Proboste of Argentina. Mesenbrink won an NCAA title and placed second in Final X this year. Should Mesenbrink win his opening bout, he faces the winner of Jhon Zambrano Encalada of Ecuador and Ricardo Oyoque Vasquez of Venezuela.
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2021 Junior Pan American Games champion Rocco Welsh will be seeking to win this event for the second time, competing this year at 86 kg. Welsh opens against Juan Cardoza Ibata of Colombia. If he wins, he has the winner of Fernando Ramos Arce of Paraguay and 2025 U20 Pan American silver medalist Max Franca Magalhaes De Almeida of Brazil.
High school star Bo Bassett, who was a 2021 U17 World champion, opens against 2025 U20 Pan American bronze medalist Diego Peraza Aguilar of Mexico at 65 kg.
Another 2025 Senior World Team member, Max Black at 60 kg, will face 2025 U23 Pan American silver medalist Patrick Rodriguez Quinto of Ecuador in his opening match. Should Black win, he will draw the winner of 2025 Senior Pan American bronze medalist Yonaiker Martinez Cravo of Venezeula and 2024 U23 Pan American champion. Christopher Verastegui Alexande of Columbia.
2024 Olympian and 2025 World Team member Payton Jacobson opens his 87 kg competition against Brian Ruiz Marin of Venezuela, a two-time U23 Pan American champion. Should Jacobson win, he faces the winner of Edison Valdez Rodriguez of Paraguay and 2025 U23 Pan American bronze medalist Cristian Pelegrino Viery of Cuba.
wrestlers were drawn into Group competitions, Charlie Farmer (57 kg) and Tommy Dineen (97 kg). Farmer has four athletes in Group A, facing Juan Valerio Delgado of the Dominican Republic, Jose Falcon Reyes of Venezuela and Adrian Samano of Puerto Rico.
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Women’s Freestyle Pairings
Here are the women’s freestyle pairings for the competition:
- 50 kg: Emilie Gonzalez, El Monte, Calif. (Iowa Women’s WC/TMWC) vs. Arami Cespedes Servin (Paraguay)
- 53 kg: Brianna Gonzalez, El Monte, Calif. (Iowa Women’s WC/TMWC) vs. Serena Di Benedetto (Canada)
- 62 kg: SaVannah Cosme, Denver, Colo. (Atreus WC) vs. Mayara Ramos Pereira (Brazil)
- 68 kg: Brooklyn Hays, Colorado Springs, Colo. (USOPTC/TMWC) vs. Debanhi Tapia Garcia (Mexico)
- 76 kg: Tristan Kelly, Erie, Colo. Army WCAP)
A pair of twins who compete for the University of Iowa, Emilie Gonzalez (50 kg) and Brianna Gonzalez (53 kg) also know their first opponents.
Senior National Team, opens up her competition at 68 kg against 2025 U23 Pan American bronze medalist Debanhi Tapia Garcia of Mexico. If Hays wins, she gets the winner of 2023 U20 Pan American silver medalist Leonela Gruezo Ortiz of Ecuador and Leilani Hernandez of Puerto Rico in the semifinals.
2022 U20 World bronze medalist Tristan Kelly will open against 2024 U23 Pan American bronze medalist Melanie Sanchez Morales of Chile. If Kelly wins, her semifinal opponent would be 2025 U20 Pan American champion Edna Jimenez Villalba of Mexico or Ilorany Prado Batista of Brazil.
Future Host Cities
Las Vegas will play host to the U23 World Championships October 12-18 at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The 2026 event will go to Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, May 6-9.
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USA Wrestling has hosted the Pan American Championships six times (2016, 2012, 2008, 1989, 1990, 1986).
Other events confirmed by UWW for the 2026 season that Team USA will participate in include:
- U17 World Championships, Baku, Azerbaijan, July 27 - August 2
- U20 World Championships, Manama, Bahrain, August 17-23
- U15 Pan American Championships, Santiago, Chile, Dates TBD
- U17 Pan American Championships, Panama City, Panama, May 28-30
- U20 Pan American Championships, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 9-11
- U23 Pan American Championships, Miranda, Venezuela, Dates TBD
UWW will announce the host site of the 2026 Senior World Championships on September 16.
Lineups, will be released at a later date.
Table of Key Matchups
| Weight Class | Wrestler 1 | Wrestler 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 67 kg (Greco-Roman) | Brennan Van Hoecke (USA) | Yonat Velez Martinez (Cuba) |
| 77 kg (Greco-Roman) | Aydin Rix McElhinney (USA) | Josue Alvarez Sintuj (Guatemala) |
| 97 kg (Greco-Roman) | Keenan Wyatt (USA) | Dorian Trejo Olguin (Mexico) |
| 60 kg (Men's Freestyle) | Max Black (USA) | Patrick Rodriguez Quinto (Ecuador) |
| 65 kg (Men's Freestyle) | Bo Bassett (USA) | Diego Peraza Aguilar (Mexico) |
| 74 kg (Men's Freestyle) | Mitchell Mesenbrink (USA) | Arnoldo Proboste (Argentina) |
| 86 kg (Men's Freestyle) | Rocco Welsh (USA) | Juan Cardoza Ibata (Colombia) |
| 87 kg (Men's Freestyle) | Payton Jacobson (USA) | Brian Ruiz Marin (Venezuela) |
| 50 kg (Women's Freestyle) | Emilie Gonzalez (USA) | Arami Cespedes Servin (Paraguay) |
| 53 kg (Women's Freestyle) | Brianna Gonzalez (USA) | Serena Di Benedetto (Canada) |
| 68 kg (Women's Freestyle) | Brooklyn Hays (USA) | Debanhi Tapia Garcia (Mexico) |
| 76 kg (Women's Freestyle) | Tristan Kelly (USA) | Melanie Sanchez Morales (Chile) |
2023 Santiago Pan-American Championships - (CHI) Mat B 07/07
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