Joe Betterman of the USA turns Jansel Ramirez of the Dominican Republic in the 60 kg semifinals in Greco-Roman at the Pan American Games. Robbert Wijtman photo.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Three U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers will be competing in Pan American Games medal matches on Friday night at the CODE II Gymnasium.

Qualifying for gold-medal matches are Joe Betterman (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 60 kg and Ben Provisor (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg. 

Betterman, a two-time U.S. World Team member, won both of his matches on Friday morning. He opened with victory over Manuel Lopez of Mexico, 1-0, 2-1, then stopped Jansel Ramirez of the Dominican Republic, 3-0, 1-0 in the semifinals.

Betterman will face Luis Liendo of Venezuela in the finals. Liendo defeated Betterman, 3-0, 1-0 in the first round of the 2011 World Championships. Liendo went on to place fifth in the World Championships.

Liendo has won two past Pan American Games medals, a bronze in 2007 and a silver in 2003. By making the finals, he has guaranteed his third career Pan Am Games medal.

Provisor, a 2011 U.S. Open champion, also won two matches to reach the finals. He beat Elton Brown of Panama, then Hansel Mercedes of the Dominican Republic, by identical 1-0, 1-0 scores.

Provisor has drawn Jorgisbell Alvarez of Cuba in the finals match. Alvarez was a 2009 Pan American Championships champion.

Qualifying for a bronze medal match is Pete Gounaridis (Leominster, Mass./Sunkist Kids) at 96 kg. 

He opened with a 1-0, 2-0 win over Joel Lopez of Mexico. In the semifinals, he was defeated by 2008 Pan American Championships champion Yunior Estrada of Cuba, 0-3, 0-1. 

Gounaridis will face Erwin Caraballo of Venezuela in the bronze-medal bout. Caraballo was third in the 2007 Pan American Games.

All three U.S. athletes today are competing in their first Pan American Games. 

The finals round is at 6:00 p.m. local time, which is the same as U.S. Central time.

The U.S. won a Greco-Roman medal on Thursday with Glenn Garrison’s bronze at 66 kg. Both Betterman and Provisor have clinched at least a silver medal here today. A win by Gounaridis tonight would give the USA four medals in Greco-Roman here.

PAN AMERICAN GAMES
At Guadalajara, Mexico, Oct. 21

U.S. Greco-Roman performances

60 kg/132 lbs. – Joe Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Manuel Lopez (Mexico), 1-0, 2-1
WIN Jansel Ramirez (Dominican Republic), 3-0, 1-0
Gold Medal Match - Vs. Luis Liendo (Venezuela)

74 kg/163 lbs. – Ben Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Elton Brown (Panama), 1-0, 1-0
WIN Hansel Mercedes (Dominican Republic), 1-0, 1-0
Gold Medal Match – Vs. Jorgisbell Alvarez (Cuba)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Pete Gounaridis, Leominster, Mass. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Joel Lopez (Mexico), 1-0, 2-0 
LOSS Yunior Estrada (Cuba), 0-3, 0-1
Bronze Medal Match – Vs. Erwin Caraballo (Venezuela)

U.S. medal match biographies

60 kg/132 lbs. gold medal bout

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

74 kg/163 lbs. gold medal bout

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

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

96 kg/211.5 lbs. bronze medal bout

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