RIONEGRO, Colombia – Two U.S. men’s freestyle wrestlers claimed gold medals on the final day of the Pan American Championships on Sunday.

Winning titles were Nick Marable (Columbia, Mo./Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Steve Mocco, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Marable defeated 2010 World Cup champion Yunieski Blanco of Cuba in the championship finals. The bout went into a third-period clinch, which Marable was able to defend from the defensive position and win the bout. 

Marable, who was second at the 2011 U.S. Open, won three bouts on the way to the title.

Mocco dominated his competition on the way to four victories. He defeated 2008 Junior World silver medalist Elier Romero in the finals.

Mocco, a 2008 U.S. Olympian, had a pair of pins in the tournament. It was his third career Pan American Championship title, to go with victories in 2006 and 2009.

Three U.S. wrestlers won silver medals: Sam Hazewinkel (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Teyon Ware (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Keith Gavin (Bethlehem, Pa./Lehigh Valley AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs.

Hazewinkel lost to Luis Ibanez of Cuba in the finals. Ware was defeated in the finals by Lilven Lopez of Cuba. Gavin fell to Jose Diaz of Venezuela in the championship bout.

Placing fourth at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. was Dan Erekson (Boise, Idaho/Bronco WC). Erekson was injured in the bronze-medal bout and lost by injury default.

At 60 kg/132 lbs., Mike Zadick (Solon, Iowa/Gator WC) lost in his opening bout to Alejandro Valdes of Cuba.

More details will be posted when received.