The United States had a strong team effort at the Pan American Junior Freestyle Championships in Cuenca, Ecuador, claiming five individual champions.

Winning a double title with gold medals in both the freestyle and Greco-Roman divisions were Nikko Triggas of Moraga, Calif. at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Brent Eidenschink of Detroit Lakes, Minn. at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

Triggas defeated Jose Figueroa of Venezuela in the championship match. Eidenschink defeated Luis Roman of Mexico in the gold-medal match.

The U.S. won the team standings with 74 points, followed by Venezuela with 64 points and Canada with 45 points.

Also claiming gold medals were Michael Mangrum of Auburn, Wash.at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Quinten Wright of Wingate, Pa. at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Kirk Smith of Boise, Idaho at 84 kg/185 lbs.

Mangrum defeated an opponent from world power Cuba in the finals, Lazaro Montez.

The U.S. added bronze medals by Desmond Moore of Easton, Pa. at 60 kg/110 lbs., Brian Owen of Spokane, Wash. at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Ben Berhow of Hayward, Minn. at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

The team was coached by Jim Humphrey and Rob Prebish.

PAN AMERICAN JUNIOR FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Cuenca, Ecuador, June 22

FS  TEAM SCORES
1.  USA  74
2.  VEN  64
3.  CAN  45

50kg  DESMOND MOORE, Easton, Pa.  BRONZE
1.  CRISITAN NOVAS, DOM REP
2.  YERI RIVERO, VEN
3.  MOORE
3.  SERGIO MONTAGUT, COL
5.  ALEJANDRO GRIMALDI, MEX
5.  MATIAS AGUIRRE, ARG

55kg  NIKKO TRIGGAS, Moraga, Calif.  CHAMPION  
1.  TRIGGAS
2.  JOSE FIGUEROA, VEN, 5-1 / 0:49
3.  CARLOS VASQUES, ECU
3.  JOSE RAMOS, EL SAL
5.  JHON SAN CLEMENTE, COL

60kg  BRIAN OWEN, Spokane, Wash.  BRONZE
1.  ALEJANDRO VALDEZ, CUB
2.  LUIS PORTILLA, EL SAL
3.  OWEN
3.  ELDIS FUENTE, VEN
5.  FREDY PILCO, ECU
5.  MARCOS AGUIRRE, ARG

66kg  MICHAEL  MANGRUM, Auburn, Wash.  CHAMPION
1.  MANGRUM
2.  LAZARO MONTES, CUB
3.  NELSON PEDRAZA, PER
3.  PEDRO CEBALLO, VEN
5.  JOSE VASQUEZ, DOM REP
5.  MIGUEL BORJA, ECU

74kg  QUENTIN WRIGHT, Wingate, Pa.   CHAMPION
1.  WRIGHT
2.  POOL AMBROSIO, PER
3.  JOSE MERCADO, ECU
3.  CHRIS LAVERICH, CAN
5.  EDUARDO GAPARDO, CHI
5.  JOSEP GONZALEZ, VEN

84kg  KIRK SMITH, Boise, Idaho CHAMPION
1.  SMITH
2.  ERIK FEUNEKES, CAN
3.  JOSE DIAZ, VEN
3.  JONATHAN RIO, COL
5.  JUAN ESPINOZA, ECU
5.  ESEQUIL CABAZOS, MEX

96kg  BRENT EIDENSCHINK, Detroit Lakes, Minn.  CHAMPION
1.  EIDENSCHINK
2.  LUIS ROMAN, MEX
3.  WILLAIN SERRANO, EL SAL
3.  BRAULIO VARGAS, VEN
5.  BEN EAGLESTON, CAN
5.  PIERO BURGOS, CHI

120kg  BEN BERHOW, Hayward, Minn.  BRONZE
1.  ELIER ROMERO, CUB
2.  GURDEEP BEESLA, CAN
3.  BERHOW
3.  ROBERTO MONASTERIO, VEN
5.  DIEGO PONCE, ECU
5.  ALBERT COTORREAL, DOM REP