Jake Varner of the USA scores a takedown on Khetag Pliev of Canada in the 96 kg freestyle semifinals at the Pan American Games. Robbert Wijtman photo.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Both U.S. men’s freestyle wrestlers competing on Monday have qualified for the gold-medal finals on last day of Pan American Games wrestling competition on Monday at CODE II Gymnasium

The U.S. athletes in the finals are 2011 World champion Jordan Burroughs (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and 2011 World bronze medalist Jake Varner (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

Burroughs opened with a dominant technical fall over Jose Mercado of Ecuador, who was fifth in the 2011 Pan American Championships. 

In the semifinals, he defeated Ricardo Roberty of Venezuela, 2-1, 1-1. Burroughs had also defeated Roberty in the quarterfinals at the 2011 World Championships in Turkey, 2-1, 1-0. Roberty was fifth in the 2011 World Championships.

Burroughs will face Yunierki Blanco of Cuba in the finals. Blanco was second in the 2011 Pan American Championships and was the 2011 World Cup champion.

Varner won both of his matches against wrestlers with strong connections to the United States

Varner won his first match against Israel Silva of Mexico, 2-0, 5-0. Silva competed at UT-Chattanooga and North Idaho College, and trains at the Northwest Regional Training Center in Corvallis, Ore. 

In the semifinals, Varner stopped Khetag Pliev of Canada, 3-0, 6-0. Varner has not allowed a point in either of his Pan American Games matches.

Pliev attended high school in Ohio and was a U.S. Junior Nationals champion. Originally from Ossetia, Pliev ended up competing internationally for Canada. Pliev upset 2007 Pan American Games champion Michel Batista of Cuba in the quarterfinals.

Varner will face Luis Vivenes of Venezeula in the finals. Vivenes was second in the 2007 Pan American Games.

Both U.S. competitors on Monday are competing in their first Pan American Games.

Two past NCAA Div. I wrestling champions will be featured in medal matches.

Franklin Gomez of Puerto Rico, who won his NCAA title for Michigan State, will compete in the finals at 60 kg/132 lbs. Gomez won two matches to reach the finals, including a clutch 1-0, 2-0 win over Yowlys Bonne of Cuba in the semifinals. Gomez was second in the 2011 World Championships. He will face Guillermo Torres of Mexico in the finals.

The United States does not have an entry at 60 kg/132 lbs. because it did not qualify to compete by placing in the top eight at the 2011 Pan American Championships in Colombia.

Matt Gentry of Canada, who won his NCAA title for Stanford, will be in a bronze medal match at 74 kg/163 lbs. Gentry won his first match, but was edged in the semifinals by Yunierki Blanco of Cuba. Gentry will face Eduardo Valencia of Mexico in the bronze-medal bout.

PAN AMERICAN GAMES
At Guadalajara, Mexico, Oct. 24

U.S. men’s performance on Monday

74 kg/163 lbs. – Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)
WIN Jose Mercado (Ecuador), 7-0, 6-0
WIN Ricardo Roberty (Venezuela), 2-1, 1-1
Vs. Yunierki Blanco (Cuba)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
WIN Israel Silva (Mexico), 2-0, 5-0
WIN Khetag Pliev (Canada), 3-0, 6-0
Vs. Luis Vivenes (Venezuela)

U.S medal match short bios

74 kg/163 lbs. gold medal match

United States – Jordan Burroughs – 2011 World Champion… 2011 U.S. Open champion… Tenth in 2008 Junior World Championships… Two-time NCAA champion for Nebraska… Age: 23

Cuba - Yunierki Blanco – Second in 2011 Pan Am Champs… 2011 World Cup champion… Second in 2009 World Cup… Age: 24

96 kg/211.5 lbs. gold medal match

United States – Jake Varner – 2011 World bronze medalist… Second in 2010 New York AC International… 2009 U.S. World Team member… Two-time NCAA champion for Iowa State… Age: 25

Venezuela - Luis Vivenes – Third in 2004, 2006 and 2011 Pan Am Champs… Second in 2007 and 2010 Pan Am Champs… 2010 Central American & Carribean Games champion… Fifth in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 Pan Am Champs… 2008 Olympian… Second in 2007 Pan Am Games… Fourth in 2003 Pan Am Games… Age: 30