Glenn Garrison of the USA fights for position against Ivan Duque of Colombia in his 66 kg first-round win at the Pan American Games. Robbert Wijtman photo.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Glenn Garrison (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) will compete in a bronze-medal match at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. in Greco-Roman tonight on the first day of wrestling at the Pan American Games at CODE II Gymnasium on Thursday.

Garrison will face Vicente Huacon of Ecuador in a bronze-medal match Thursday night, in a session which begins at 6:00 p.m. U.S. Central Time.

Garrison, currently No. 2 in the USA at his division, was second in the 2007 Pan American Championships. Huacon was third in the 2011 Pan American Championships.

Garrison opened with a victory over Ivan Duque of Colombia, 0-2, 2-0, 2-0. Garrison was turned by Duque in the par terre position in the first period. Garrison was able to turn Duque for exposure in the par terre after both the second and the third period to secure the victory.

In the semifinals, Garrison was defeated by 2011 World bronze medalist Pedro Isaac Mulens of Cuba, 0-1, 0-2. Garrison was unable to turn Mulens in the par terre after the first period. Mulens was able to expose Garrison for two points in the par terre after the second period.

Two U.S. wrestlers dropped their first matches, and were not eligible to enter the medal rounds when their opponent was defeated in the semifinals.

Cheney Haight (Orem, Utah/New York AC) lost in his opening bout at 84 kg/185 lbs. to Jose Arias of the Dominican Republic, 1-3, 2-0, 2-3.

Arias lifted and threw Haight in the first period in the par terre position for three points, and Haight ended the period with a pushout point. In the second period, Haight was able to turn Arias from the top position for two points from the par terre. In the deciding third period, Arias got a three-point throw on the edge to get ahead 3-0. Haight rallied for two pushouts from the feet, but could not score in the par terre as Arias avoided his attack.

Haight was eliminated when Arias was beaten by 2010 World silver medalist Pablo Shorey of Cuba in the semifinals.

Timothy Taylor (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) lost by a first-period injury default to Ramon Garcia of the Dominican Republic at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. 

There was no scoring in the 90-second period on the feet, and the Dominican wrestler took the top position in par terre. Garcia turned Taylor with a gut wrench for two points, rolling him over his posted arm. Taylor’s arm was injured and he could not complete the match.

He was eliminated when Garcia lost to Olympic and four-time World champion Mijian Lopez of Cuba in the semifinals.

PAN AMERICAN GAMES
At Guadalajara, Mexico, October 20

U.S. Greco-Roman matches

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Glenn Garrison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
WIN Ivan Duque (Colombia), 0-2, 2-0, 2-0
LOSS Pedro Isaac Mulens (Cuba), 0-1, 0-2
Bronze medal match – vs. Vicente Huacon (Ecuador)

84 kg/185 lbs. – Cheney Haight, Orem, Utah (New York AC)
LOSS Jose Arias (Dominican Republic), 1-3, 2-0, 2-3

120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tim Taylor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
LOSS Ramon Garcia (Dominican Republic), inj. dft. 1st period