Some of the world’s top competition will be on hand for the Pan American Wrestling Championships at the U.S Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 24-26. Olympic and World medalists, as well medalists from past Pan American Games and Championships will be competing this year.

A strong Cuba Greco-Roman team will feature World and Olympic champion Mijian Lopez at heavyweight, as well as World medalist Pablo Shorey at 85 kg/185 lbs. Also competing is 2004 Olympian Jansel Ramirez of the Dominican Republic wrestling at 60 kg/ 132 lbs. 

The talented Canadian women’s team will include World medalists Jessica MacDonald at 51 kg/112 lbs., Brittanee Lavedure at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Justin Bouchard at 63 kg/138 lbs.  Also wrestling for Canada will be 2009 World bronze medalist Justine Bouchard at 63 kg/138. 75 lbs. In addition to the top Canadians, 2008 and 2004 Olympian Mayelis Caripa of Venezuela will be wrestling at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.

In men’s freestyle, 2011 Pan American Games silver medalists Pedro Soto of Puerto Rico at 66 kg/145 lbs., Yunierki Blanco of Cuba at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Luis Vivenes of Venezuela at 96 kg/ 211 lbs. will compete. Men’s freestyle will also see 2008 Olympian Disney Rodriguez of Cuba at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. 

At least 32 medalists from the 2011 Pan American Games will also be competing. The Pan American Games is a major multi-sport event held every four years, which differs from the annual Pan American Wrestling Championships event. 

The last time the U.S. hosted the Pan American Championships was in 2008 in Colorado Springs. The Pan American Wrestling Championships were also held in Colorado Springs in 1986, 1989 and 1990. 

The U.S. lineups for all three styles will be announced early next week. 

2012 PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE
At U.S. Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Friday, February 24
12:00 noon -5:00 p.m. - Session I: Greco-Roman qualification rounds
6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - Opening Ceremony
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - Session II: Greco-Roman finals

Saturday, February 25
12:00 noon - 5:00 p.m. - Session I: Women's Freestyle qualification rounds
6:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m. - Session II: Women's Freestyle finals

Sunday, February 26
12:00 noon -5:00 p.m. - Session I: Men's Freestyle qualification rounds
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Session II: Men's Freestyle finals

2012 PAN AMERICAN CHAMPINSHIPS ROSTERS

Argentina
Men’s Freestyle
60 kg Sebastian Perez
96 kg Yuri Maier

Greco-Roman
66 kg Francisco Barrio
74 kg Maximiliano Prudenzano

Women’s Freestyle
48 kg Paticia Bermudez
55 kg Romina Gonzalez
63 kg Luz Clara Vazquez

Brazil
Men’s Freestyle
55 kg Wellington Pindo de Silva Oliveira
60 kg Waldeci Silva 
60 kg Rafael Aparecido 
74 kg Daniel Alverez 
84 kg Marcelo Gomes
96 kg Leonardo Nascimento 

Greco-Roman
60 kg Arley Machado da Costa
66 kg Andre Felipe de Silva Feitosa
74 kg Daniel Alverez 

Women’s Freestyle
51 kg Mayara Amailia Graciano
55 kg Camila Tristao
59 kg Lais Nunes de Oliveira
72 kg Gilda Maria de Oliveira

Canada
Men’s Freestyle
55 kg Jake Hergenhein
60 kg Aso Palani
66 kg Ryley Walker
74 kg Ryan Lue
84 kg Matthew Miller
96 kg Khetag Pliev
120 kg Arjan Bhullar

Greco-Roman
55 kg Promise Mwenga
60 kg Cole Dixon
66 kg Jack Bond
74 kg Shawn Daye-Finley
84 kg Eric Fuenekes
96 kg Korey Jarvis
120 kg Sunny Dhinsa

Women’s Freestyle
48 kg Ashley McKilligan
51kg Jessica MacDonald
55 kg Brittanee Laverdue
59 kg Amanda Gerhart
63 kg Justine Bouchard
67 kg Megan Buydens
72 kg Vanessa Wilson

Chile 
Men’s Freestyle
55 kg Andre Quispe
66 kg Marcelo Castro
74 kg Eduardo Gajardo
84 kg Alberto Burgos
120 kg Piero Burgos

Greco-Roman
55 kg Cristobal Torres
120 kg Andres Ayub

Columbia
Men’s Freestyle
55 kg Yerson Hernandez
74 kg Rosalio Medrango 
84 kg Jarlys Mosquera
96 kg Juan Esteban Martinez

Greco-Roman
55 kg Juan Carlos Lopez 
55 kg Andres Taborda
66 kg Ivan de Jesus Arango Duque
84 kg Cristian  Mosquera 
96 kg Angulo Raul Andres
120 kg Victor Asprilla 

Women’s Freestyle
48 kg Carolina Castillo 
51 kg Juliana Alzate 
55 kg  Leidy Cifuentes 
63 kg Sandra Roa

Cuba
Men’s Freestyle
55 kg Alfredo Cisneros Gomez
60 kg Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez
74 kg Yunierky Blanco Mora
84 kg Luis Mario Miranda Mazar
96 kg Javier Cortina Lacerra
120 kg Disney Rodriguez

Greco-Roman
55 kg Javier Dumenigo Gonzalez
60 kg Ismael Borrero Molina
66 kg Pedro Isaac Mulen Herrera
66 kg Alexei Bel Caballero
84 kg Pablo Enrique Shorey Hernandez
96 kg Yasmany Daniel Lugo Caberera
120 kg Mijain Lopez Nunez

Women’s Freestyle
55 kg Yamilka Del Valle Alvarez
55 kg Lisandra Ramirez Maren
63 kg Katerina Videuz Lopez
72 kg Lisset Echavarria Medina


Dominican Republic
Men’s Freestyle
60 kg Gabriel Garcia Sanchez
66 kg Angelo Mota Brea

Greco-Roman
60 kg Jansel Ramirez
84 kg Jose Antonio Arias Paredes
120 kg Ramon Antonio Garcia

Ecuador
Men’s Freestyle
66 kg Yoan Blanco Reinoso

Greco-Roman
55 kg Andres Roberto Montano Arroyo
60 kg Jefferson Walter Mayea Figueroa
66 kg Vincente Orlando Huacon Alvarado
66 kg Milton Guallpa 

Women’s Freestyle
48 kg Katiuska Toaza Avelino
55 kg Lissette Alexandra Antes Castillo


El Salvador
Men’s Freestyle 
60 kg Luis Isaias  Portillo Mejia

Guatemala
Men’s Freestyle
55 kg Luis Orantes Carrascosa

Honduras
Greco-Roman
55 kg Brandon Jesus Escobar Amador
66 kg Jefrin Benito Mejia Sambula
96 kg Randy Rucsell Lambert Martinez

Mexico
Men’ Freestyle
60 kg Brandon Disair Diaz Ramirez
84 kg Alejandro Gallardo Ocampo
96 kg Israel Silva Rios
120 kg Jesse Ruiz 

Greco-Roman
55 kg Ali Soto Macias
60 kg Hugo Manolo Gutierrez Barbosa
66 kg Angel Yoccupicio 
74 kg Juan Angel Escobar

Women’s Freestyle
48 kg Yazmin Abigail Martinez Leon
55 kg Alma Jane Valencia 
63 kg Virginia Mendoza Ramirez
72 kg Diana Miranda Gonazalez

Panama
Men’s Freestyle
60 kg Moises Soto
66 kg Fernando Mendosa 

Greco-Roman
60 kg Albis Albino Almendra Jimenez

Women’s Freestyle
63 kg Ashley Zarate 

Peru
Men’s Freestyle
60 kg Abel Gerald Herrera Pastor
74 kg Pool Ambrocus Greifo

Greco-Roman
60 kg Paul Sobrado
74 kg Sixto Barrera

Women’s Freestyle
55 kg Jenny Vanesa Mallqui Suazo
63 kg Yanet Ursula Sollero 

Puerto Rico
Men’s Freestyle
60 kg Francisco Soler
66 kg Pedro Soto 
66 kg Jose Ramos
96 kg Marcos Santos
120 kg Edgardo Lopez

Greco-Roman
60 kg German Diaz
74 kg Otoniel Perez
84 kg Luis Betancourt

Women’s Freestyle
59 kg Livanis Rivera
63 kg Natalia Rodriquez

Luis Centeno
Harrold Torres
Carmelo Marrero

Venezuela
Men’s Freestyle
60 kg Wilfredo Henriquez
66 kg Elvis Fuentes
74 kg Ricardo Robertty
74 kg Luillys Perez
84 kg Jose Diaz Robertti
96 kg Luis Vivenez
120 kg Luis Olivares

Greco-Roman
55 kg Fernando Padres
55 kg Jorge Cordozo
55 kg Jairo Medina
60 kg Luis Liendo
66 kg Wuleixis Rivas
84 kg Yorgen Cova
96 kg Erwin Caraballo
120 kg Rafael Barreno

Women’s Freestyle
48 kg Mayelis Caripa
55 kg Marcias Andrades
63 kg Gloria Zavala
72 kg Jaresmit Weffer