Greco-Roman

On the Pan American level in Greco-Roman, Cuba is the heavy favorite, often pushed by the United States. Cuba takes great pride in winning the team title at the Pan American level, and had six of the seven champions at this year’s Pan Am Championships. The Cuban team is usually very experienced, but this time around features a few different faces. Team USA has only one member of its 2011 World Team competing in Guadalajara, but will be expected to do well in this field.

The other Pan American nations have improved dramatically in Greco-Roman, with good coaches in many nations bringing along some talented individuals. Nations such as Venezuela, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Peru have shown progress, and make the field more competitive than in previous Pan Am Games action.

55 kg/121 lbs. preview

This weight class has a lack or experience, with a number of young athletes who are making their name internationally. The favorite should be Gustavo Belart of Cuba, a two-time Pan American Championships champion. The top veteran in the field is 33-year-old Jorge Cordoza of Venezuela, a 2001 Pan American Championships champion who has won nine Pan American Senior medals in his career. Francisco Encarnacion of the Dominican Republic and Cristhian Paravecino of Peru won Pan American Championships bronze medals this year. The rest of the field will be trying to prove itself. The USA is not entered here, as it did not place in the top eight at the qualifier, the 2011 Pan American Championships.

55 kg/121 lbs. entries and achievements

Brazil - Rafael Pascoa – Eighth in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Fourth in 2009 Junior Pan Ams...Age: 21

Colombia - Juan Carlos Lopez – Fifth in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Age: 22

Cuba - Gustavo Eddy Balart – Tenth in 2010 World Championships… 2009 and 2010 Pan American Champs. Champion… Second in 2010 World Cup… Age: 24

Dominican Republic - Francisco Antonio Encarnacion – Third in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Second in 2010 Pan Am Champs… Third in 2009 Pan Am Champs… Second in 2010 Central American & Caribbean Games… Age: 22

México - Ildefonso Arangure – Ninth in 2007 Pan Am Champs… Second in 2002 Junior Pan Am Champs… Age: 27

Nicaragua - Alberto Mendieta – Seventh in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Sixth in 2010 Pan Am Champs… Second in 2010 Central American & Caribbean Games… Third in 2009 Pan Am Cadet Champs… Age: 18

Perú - Cristhian Paravecino – Third in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Second in 2003 Cadet Pan Am Champs… Age: 22

Venezuela - Jorge Cardoza – Second in 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011 Pan Am Champs… 2010 Central American & Caribbean Games champion… Second in 2007 Pan Am Games… Third 2005 and 2006 Pan Am Champs… 2001 Pan American Champs. Champion… Age: 33

Past Pan American Games medals – Cordoza (VEN – 2007 silver)

60 kg/132 lbs. preview

Coming in with great momentum is veteran Luis Liendo of Venezeula, who had his best international effort with a strong fifth place at the 2011 World Championships. Liendo has won two past Pan Am Games medals along with three other Pan Am Championships medals. He has never won a Pan Am gold. American Joe Betterman lost to Liendo at the 2011 World Championships and seeks revenge. Betterman has a 2008 Pan American bronze on his record, but he is a stronger athlete now. The Cuban entry is a 2009 Pan Am Championships champion Hanser Meoque. Expect Meoque to be ready for battle. Jansel Ramirez of the Dominican Republic is the most seasoned, a two-time Pan American Championships champion with eight Pan Am medals in his trophy case. Others with past Pan Am Senior medals are Yesid Meneses of Colombia and Manuel Lopez of Mexico.

60 kg/132 lbs. entries and achievements

Brazil - Diego Romanelli – Seventh in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Second in 2010 Pan Am Junior Champs… Age: 20

Colombia - Yesid Alfredo Meneses – Third in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Fifth in 2009 Pan Am Champs… Second in 2002 Junior Pan Am Champs… Age: 28

Cuba - Hanser Lenier Meoque – 2009 Pan American Champs champion… Eighth in 2011 World Cup… Age: 23

Dominican Republic - Jansel Rafael Ramirez – Third in 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2011 Pan Am Champs… 2007 and 2010 Pan Am Champs champion…Third in 2007 Pan Am Games… 2004 Olympian… Fifth in 2003 Pan Am Games… Age: 28

México - Manuel Alejandro Lopez – Tenth in 2011 World Championships… Second in 2010 Pan Am Champs… Fifth in 2009 Pan Am Champs… Age: 25

Puerto Rico - German Diaz – Third in 2011 Pan Am Junior Champs… Fifth in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Third in 2010 Central American & Caribbean Games… Third in 2007 and 2008 Cadet Pan Am Champs… Age: 19

United States - Joe Betterman – Third in 2008 Pan Am Champs… Fifth in 2007 Pan Am Champs… Two-time U.S. World Team member… Second in 2010 Ivan Podubbny (Russia)… Age: 27

Venezuela - Luis Liendo – Fifth in 2011 World Championships… Second in 2005 and 2011 Pan Am Champs… Third in 2007 Pan Am Games… Fifth in 1993, 2006 and 2008 Pan Am Champs… Second in 2003 Pan Am Games… Third in 2002 Pan Am Champs… Fourth in 2000 Junior World Championships… Age: 30

Past Pan American Games medals – Liendo (VEN – 2007 bronze, 2003 silver), Ramirez (DOM – 2007 bronze)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. preview

The top performer in the field is Pedro Mulens of Cuba, who was third in the 2011 World Championships and won the 2010 Pan Am Championships. A couple of veterans are expected to challenge him for top honors. Anyelo Mota of the Dominican Republic, who enters the event at 39 years old, won Pan Am Games silver medals in 2003 and 2007, and boasts eight career Pan Am Senior medals. Glenn Garrison of the USA, at 37, has a long list of achievements, including a 2007 Pan Am Championships silver. Others who have won Pan Am Championships medals include Francisco Barrio of Argentina, Ivan Duque of Colombia, Vicente Huacon of Ecuador and Ulises Barragan of Mexico.

66 kg/145.5 lbs. entries and achievements

Argentina - Francisco Albano Barrio - Third in 2010 Pan Am Champs… Second in 2007 and 2008 Junior Pan Am Champs… Age: 23

Canadá - Shawn Daye-Finley - Fifth in 2011 Pan Am Champs… 2010 Canadian Junior World Team… Seventh in 2010 Junior Pan Am Champs…  Age: 21

Colombia - Ivan De Jesus Duque - Third in 2008 and 2011 Pan Am Champs… Third in 2011 Granma Cup (Cuba)… Fifth in 2009 Pan Am Champs… Fifth in 2007 Pan Am Games… Age: 24

Cuba - Pedro Isaac Mulens – Third in 2011 World Championships… 2010 Pan Am Champs. Champion… Age: 25

Dominican Republic - Anyelo Alberto Mota Brea - Fifth in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Third in 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2010 Pan Am Champs… Second in 2003 and 2009 Pan Am Champs… Second in 2003 and 2007 Pan Am Games… Age: 39

Ecuador - Vicente Orlando Huacon – Third in 2011 Pan Am Champs… 2009 Junior Pan Am Champs champion… Age: 22

Honduras - Jefrin Mejia – 2011 Junior Pan Am Champs champion… Eighth in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Third in 2010 Central American & Carribean Games… Third in 2010 Junior Pan Am Champs … Third in 2009 Cadet Pan Am Champs… Age: 19

México - Ulises Ivan Barragan – Second in 2010 Pan Am Champs… Third in 2010 Central American & Carribean Games… Fifth in 2007 Pan Am Games… Fifth in 2007 Pan Am Champs… Age: 26

United States - Glenn Garrison – Seventh in 2007 World Military Championships… Second in 2007 Pan Am Championships… Two-time U.S. Open champion… Second in U.S. Olympic Team Trials… Age: 37

Venezuela - Manuel Torres – Seventh in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Second in 2010 Central American & Carribean Games… Second in 2003 Cadet Pan Am Champs… Age: 24

Past Pan American Games medals – Anyelo Mota (DOM, 2007 silver, 2003 silver)

74 kg/163 lbs. preview

This weight class looks to have competitive depth. Veteran Sixto Barrera of Peru was a 2007 Pan American Championships champion, and won a silver at the 2007 Pan American Games. Jorgisbell Alvarez of Cuba won the 2009 Pan American Championships. Jose Escobar of Colombia was second at the 2003 Pan Am Games. Young U.S. star Ben Provisor was a Junior Pan Am champion and made three U.S. Junior World Teams. Provisor was U.S. Open champion this year. Also watch 2011 Pan Am Championships bronze medalist Juan Escobar of Mexico, 

74 kg/163 lbs. entries and achievements

Colombia - Jose Uber Escobar – Seventh in 2007 Pan Am Champs… Third in 2009 Pan Am Champs… Second in 2003 Pan Am Games… Fifth in 2003 Pan Am Champs… 1996 Olympian… Seventh in 1995 Pan Am Games… Age: 36

Cuba - Jorgisbell Alvarez – Second in 2011 Granma Cup (Cuba)… 2009 Pan Am Champs champion… Sixth in 2009 World Cup… Age: 26

Dominican Republic - Hansel Joel Mercedes Martinez – Fifth in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Second in 2010 Central American & Carribean Games… Ninth in 2009 Pan Am Champs… Age: 27

México - Juan Angel Escobar – Third in 2011 Pan Am Champs… 2010 Central American & Carribean Games champion… Seventh in 2010 Pan Am Champs… Fifth in 2008 Pan Am Champs… 2003 and 2004 Cadet Pan Am Champs champion… Age: 24

Perú - Sixto Cesar Barrera – Third in 2003, 2007 and 2011 Pan Am Champs… Fifth in 2002 and 2010 Pan Am Champs… 2008 Olympian… 2007 Pan Am Champs champion… Second in 2007 Pan Am Games… Second in 2006 Pan Am Champs… Fourth in 2003 Pan Am Games… Age: 27

Puerto Rico - Otoniel Perez – Fifth in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Fifth in 2007 and 2010 Pan Am Champs… Seventh in 2007 Pan Am Champs… Age: 29

United States – Ben Provisor – 2011 U.S. Open champion… Three-time U.S. Junior World Team member… 2009 Junior Pan Am Champs champion in both styles… Age: 21

Past Pan American Games medals – Barrera (PER, 2007 silver), Escobar (COL, 2003 silver)

84 kg/185 lbs. preview

Pablo Shorey of Cuba is the class of this division, a 2010 World silver medalist, 2009 World bronze medalist and two-time Pan American Championships gold medalist. He could be pushed by Jose Arias of the Dominican Republic, who was second in the 2010 and 2011 Pan American Championships. Arias was also seventh in the 2009 World Championships. Cristian Mosquera has been second in the Pan American Championships three times and third two other times. Cheney Haight of the United States made the 2011 U.S. World Team, and has extensive experience moving up the U.S. ladder. Yorgen Cova of Venezuela was third in the 2011 Pan American Championships.

84 kg/185 lbs. entries and achievements

Brazil - Marcelo Gomes – Seventh in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Seventh in 2006 and 2009 Pan Am Champs… Seventh in 2007 Pan Am Games… Fifth in 2005 and 2007 Pan Am Champs… Age: 30

Canadá - Eric William Fuenekes – Fourth in 2010 Commonwealth Games… 2009 Junior Pan Am Champs champion… Second in 2008 Junior Pan Am Champs… Age: 22

Colombia - Cristian Ferney Mosquera – 2010 Central American & Carribean Champs… Second in 2002, 2007 and 2009 Pan Am Champs… Third in 2005 and 2008 Pan Am Champs… Fifth in 2000 and 2001 Pan Am Champs… Seventh in 2003 Pan Am Games in freestyle… Age: 31

Cuba - Pablo Enrique Shorey – 2010 and 2011 Pan Am Champs champion… Second in 2010 World Championships…Fourth in 2010 World Cup… Third in 2009 World Championships… Third in 2007 Pan Am Champs… Age: 27…

Dominican Republic - Jose Antonio Arias Paredes – Second in 2010 and 2011 Pan Am Champs… Third in 2010 Central American & Carribean Games… Seventh in 2009 World Championships… Third in 2005, 2006 and 2007 Pan Am Championships… Third in 2007 Pan Am Games… Age: 26

México - Jose Antonio Mendoza – 13th in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Sixth in 2010 Pan Am Champs… Third in 2010 Central American and Carribean Games… Fifth in 2009 Pan Am Champs… Age: 27

United States – Cheney Haight – 2011 U.S. World Team member… Fifth in 2011 Granma Cup (Cuba)… Second in 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials… Age: 26

Venezuela - Yorgen Cova – Third in 2011 Pan Am Champs… 2007 and 2008 Junior Pan Am Champs champion… Age: 2319/02/1988

Past Pan American Games medals – Arias (DOM, 2007 bronze)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. preview

Yunior Estrada of Cuba enters with the most achievements, including a 2008 Pan American Championships gold medal and a 2007 Pan American Games bronze medal. Estrada has top 10 placements at the 2010 World Championships and 2008 Olympics. The most experienced in the field is 2007 Pan American Games bronze medalist Erwin Caraballo, who boasts four Pan American Championships bronze medals. Korey Jarvis of Canada won a bronze medal at the 2011 Pan American Championships in both styles. Much of the field is mostly unproven, including U.S. entry Pete Gounaridis, who has been No. 2 in the USA at this weight. This could be the kind of field where some athletes have a breakthrough performance.

96 kg/211.5 lbs. entries and achievements

Argentina - Yuri Alexei Maier – Fifth in 2010 and 2011 Pan Am Champs… Second in 2009 Junior Pan Am Champs… Third in 2006 Junior Pan Am Champs… 2005 Cadet Pan Am Champs champion… also competes in freestyle… Age: 22

Canadá - Korey Jarvis – Third in 2011 Pan Am Champs in both styles… Second in 2010 Commonwealth Games in freestyle… Third in 2009 Pan Am Champs in freestyle… Age: 25

Colombia - Raul Andres Angulo – Fifth in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Age: 34

Cuba - Yunior Estrada – 2011 Granma Cup champion… Seventh in 2010 World Championships… Tenth in 2008 Olympic Games… 2008 Pan Am Champs champion… Third in 2007 Pan Am Games… Age: 25

Honduras - Randy Lambert – Seventh in 2011 Pan Am Champs in both styles… Fifth in 2011 Granma Cup (Cuba)… Third in 2010 Central American & Carribean Games… 2010 Junior Pan Am Champs champion… Age: 21

México - Joel Mauricio Lopez – 12th in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Second in 2010 Central American & Carribean Games… Age: 20

United States – Pete Gounaridis – Second in 2010 Sunkist International… Second in 2010 NYAC International… Second in 2009 U.S. World Team Trials… Age: 24

Venezuela - Erwin Caraballo – Third in 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2011 Pan Am Champs… 2010 Central American & Carribean Games champion… Third in 2007 Pan Am Games… Age: 30

Past Pan American Games medals – Estrada (CUB, 2007 bronze), Caraballo (VEN, 2007 bronze)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. preview

The most dominant wrestling athlete at the Pan Am Games in Cuba’s Mijian Lopez, a 2008 Olympic champion and four-time World champion. Lopez has won two Pan American Games gold medals, and seven Pan American Championships titles. He has been second in the World twice, including this year. He is a heavy, heavy favorite. The most experienced challenger is three-time Pan American Games bronze medalist Rafael Barreno of Venezuela. Barreno was a 2010 Pan American Championships titlist, and has been winning medals at this level since 1997. Timothy Taylor of the USA looks to show his abilities as the No. 2 American behind World champion Dremiel Byers for many years. He is experienced and talented. Placing third at the last two Pan American Championships at this weight is Ramon Garcia of the Dominican Republic. Watch for 20-year-old Edgardo Lopez of Puerto Rico as a fresh newcomer.

120 kg/264.5 lbs. entries and achievements

Colombia - Victor Alfonso Asprilla – Fifth in 2008 and 2011 Pan Am Champs… Eighth in 2006 Junior World Championships… 2006 Junior Pan Am Champs champion… 2004 Cadet Pan Am Champs champion… Age: 24

Cuba - Mijain Lopez – 2008 Olympic champion… Four-time World champion (2005, 2007, 2009, 2010)… Two-time World silver medalist (2006, 2011)… 2003 and 2007 Pan Am Games champion… Seven-time Pan Am Champs champion (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009… 2005, 2006 and 2009 World Cup champion… 2005 World University champion… Fifth in 2004 Olympics… 2002 Junior Pan Am Champs champion… Age: 29

Dominican Republic - Ramon Antonio Garcia – Third in 2010 and 2011 Pan Am Champs…Third in 2010 Central American & Carribean Games… 2006 Junior Pan Am Champs champion…Second in 2005 Junior Pan Am Champs… Age: 24

Ecuador - Romel Mesias Maza – Eighth in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Age: 23

México - Orlando Ramirez – Fifth in 2010 and 2011 Pan Am Champs… Competed in 2006 and 2007 Junior World Championships… Age: 22

Puerto Rico - Edgardo Lopez – Third in 2011 Junior Pan Am Champs in both styles… Seventh in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Second in 2009 Junior Pan Am Champs… 2007 and 2008 Cadet Pan Am Champs champion… Also competing in freestyle at Pan Am Games… Age: 20

United States – Timothy Taylor - Ninth in 2010 World Military Champs… Second in 2010 and 2011 U.S. World Team Trials… Second in 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials… Age: 29

Venezuela - Rafael Barreno – Third in 1997, 2001 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011 Pan Am Champs… 2010 Pan Am Champs champion… Ninth in 2009 World Championships… Third in 1999, 2003 and 2007 Pan Am Games… 2000 Olympian… Age: 32 

Past Pan American Games medals – Lopez (CUB – 2007 gold, 2003 gold), Barreno (VEN – 2007 bronze, 2003 bronze, 1999 bronze)