GUADALAJARA, Mexico – The first four U.S. men’s freestyle wrestlers have weighed in and received their draws for the the Pan American Games competition on Sunday.

Two of those competing on Sunday are past World medalists, 2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and 2009 World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Herbert will face Jaime Espinal of Puerto Rico, who lives in State College, Pa. and trains with the Nittany Lion WC.

Dlagnev will battle Carlos Delgado of Ecuador in his opening match. Should he win, he could meet Cuba’s Disney Rodriguez in the semifinals.

Dlagnev placed fifth in the 2011 World Championships. He was a champion at the 2010 Pan American Championships.

The other two competitors have also been members of U.S. Senior World Teams, 2010 World Team member Obe Blanc (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and 2011 World Team member Teyon Ware (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

Blanc drew a bye in his first match. He will face the winner of the match between Steven Takahashi of Canada and Andre Quispe of Chile in the semifinals.

The Cuban competitor, 2010 World bronze medalist Frank Chimizo, missed weight, bringing the field down to seven athletes. Blanc drew the No. 1 spot in the draw and received the bye

Blanc was second in the 2009 and 2010 Pan American Championships.

Ware drew Ryan Lue of Canada in the first round. Lue was a replacement for Canada’s No. 1 athlete, Haislan Garcia, who withdrew reportedly with an injury prior to the event.

Ware was second in the 2011 Pan American Championships, placing second to Cuba’s Livan Lopez there. Lopez is in Ware’s half-bracket, and the two could meet in the semifinals.

None of the U.S. men’s freestyle wrestlers competing on Sunday have participated in a past Pan American Games.

The U.S. does not have an athlete at 60 kg/132 lbs. because it failed to qualify at the 2011 Pan American Championships in that division. The 60 kg division wrestles on Monday.

With Cuba losing an athlete by missing weight, Team USA has an increased chance in the team race.

PAN AMERICAN GAMES
At Guadalajara, Mexico

U.S. men’s freestyle pairings for Sunday

55 kg/121 lbs. – Obe Blanc, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
Vs. winner of Steven Takahashi (Canada) and Andre Quispe (Chile)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Teyon Ware, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
Vs. Ryan Lue (Canada)

84 kg/185 lbs. – Jake Herbert, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
Vs. Jaime Espinal (Puerto Rico)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
Vs. Carlos Delgado (Ecuador)

Bio shorts for U.S. first round pairings

55 kg/121 lbs.

United States – Obe Blanc – Ninth in 2011 World Championships… Second in 2009 and 2010 Pan Am Champs… 2010 U.S. Open champion… Age: 26

Canadá - Steven Takahashi – Tenth in 2011 Junior World Championships… Second in 2019 Junior Pan Am Champs… 2010 Junior Commonwealth Champs champion… 2008 Pan Am Cadet champion… Age: 19
OR
Chile - Andre Renato Quispe – 13th in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Eighth in 2010 Junior Pan Am Champs… Third in 2005 Cadet Pan Am Champs… Age: 21 

66 kg/145.5 lbs.

United States – Teyon Ware – 2011 U.S. World Team member… Second in 2011 Pan Am Champs… 2011 U.S. Open champion… Two-time NCAA champion for Oklahoma… Age: 28

Canada - Ryan Lue – Competed in 2009 Junior World Championships… Age: 22

84 kg/185 lbs.

United States – Jake Herbert – Second in 2009 World Championships… Competed in 2010 World Championships… Second in 2010 World Cup… Third in 2006 and 2008 University World Championships… Two-time NCAA champion for Northwestern… Age: 26

Puerto Rico – Jaime Espinal - Fifth in 2011 Pan Am Champs… 2010 Central American & Carribean Games champion… Second in 2010 Pan Am Champs… Ninth in 2009 World Championships… Third in 2008 and 2009 Pan Am Champs… Trains with Nittany Lion WC at Penn State… Age: 27

120 kg/264.5 lbs.

United States – Tervel Dlagnev – Third in 2009 World Championships… Fifth in 2011 World Championships… 2010 Pan Am Champs champion… 2008 University World champion… Two-time NCAA Div. II champion for Nebraska-Kearney… Age: 25

Ecuador - Carlos Julio Delgado – Eighth in 2011 Pan Am Champs… Age: 26