Stephany Lee records a fall to win the Pan American Championships gold medal. Terry Kness photo.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Stephany Lee is never out of a match.

An explosive, wrestler with big-move capability, Lee delivered a dramatic fall to win her fourth Pan American Championships gold medal.

Down 5-0 late in the first period, Lee launched Cuba’s Lisset Echavarria Medina to her back before securing a dramatic fall on Saturday night at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

Lee and teammate Helen Maroulis won gold medals for the U.S., which earned six total medals on Saturday.

Time was ticking down in the first period before Lee registered the fall with 12 seconds left in the finals at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. Medina had won the 2011 Pan American Games title.

“I was down 5-0 and I really had to go,” Lee said. “I forced into her into a bad position where I could capitalize, and I threw her and I was able to get the pin.”

Maroulis, a 2011 Pan American Games champion, won by injury default over Ecuador’s Lissette Alexandra Antes in the finals. Antes, third in the 2011 Pan American Games, was injured in her semifinal match at 55 kg/121 lbs.

“I really, really wanted to wrestle,” Maroulis said. “Anytime you can wrestle for a championship it is 10 times more exciting. I felt I got better as the tournament went along.”

The U.S. captured the team title with Canada finishing second. Colombia was third.

American Randi Beltz dropped a decision to Canada’s Amanda Gerhart in the finals at 59 kg/130 lbs. Gerhart won 3-0, 2-0. Gerhart won this event last year and placed fifth at the 2011 World Championships.

American Whitney Conder, a 2011 World Team member, fell to 2011 World bronze medalist Jessica MacDonald of Canada in the finals at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. MacDonald prevailed 3-0, 2-0.

American Lauren Louive lost to Canada’s Megan Buydens in the finals at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. Buydens,who won this event for the second straight year, won 4-0, 7-0.

American Alyssa Lampe, a past World Team member, recorded a first-period fall over Carolina Castillo of Colombia to earn a bronze-medal at 48 kg/105 lbs.

2010 World silver medalist Elena Pirozhkova fell to 2009 World bronze medalist Justin Bouchard of Canada in the first round at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Bouchard shot in on a leg attack to gain a third-period takedown to earn a 1-0, 0-1, 1-0 win over Pirozhkova.

Pirozhkova, who has won this event three times, was eliminated when Bouchard fell short of reaching the finals.

The three-day tournament is scheduled to conclude with the men’s freestyle competition set for Sunday in Colorado Springs.

FINALS MATCHUPS

48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Patricia Alejandra Bermudez (Argentina) dec. Katiuska Toaza (Ecuador), 1-0, 2-0

51 kg/112.25 lbs.
Jessica MacDonald (Canada) dec. Whitney Conder (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC), 3-0, 2-0 

55 kg/121 lbs.
Helen Maroulis (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) won by injury default over Lissette Alexandra Antes (Ecuador)

59 kg/130 lbs.
Amanda Gerhart (Canada) dec. Randi Beltz (St. Clair, Mo./Missouri Valley WC), 3-0, 2-0

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Sandra Viviana Roa (Colombia) dec. Wendy Garcia (Mexico), 3-0, 4-0

67 kg/147.5 lbs.
Megan Buydens (Canada) dec. Lauren Louive (Massillon, Ohio/UC Women’s Wrestling), 4-0, 7-0

72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Stephany Lee (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) pinned Lisset Echavarria Medina (Cuba), 1:48

MEDAL WINNERS

48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold – Patricia Alejandra Bermudez (Argentina) 
Silver – Jaqueline Toaza Avelino (Ecuador)
Bronze – Alyssa Lampe (USA)
Bronze – Yazmin Martinez (Mexico) 

51 kg/112.25 lbs.
Gold – Jessica MacDonald (Canada)
Silver – Whitney Conder (USA)
Bronze – Mayara Graciano (Brazil)

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold – Helen Maroulis (USA)
Silver – Lissette Alexandra Antes (Ecuador)
Bronze – Camila Fama Tristao (Brazil)
Bronze – Marcia Andrades (Venezuela)

59 kg/130 lbs.
Gold – Amanda Gerhart (Canada)
Silver – Randi Beltz (USA)
Bronze – Lais Nunes de Oliviera (Brazil)

63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold – Sandra Roa Velandia (Colombia)
Silver – Wendy Garcia (Mexico)
Bronze – Justine Bouchard (Canada)
Bronze – Lisandra Ramirez Ramin (Cuba)

67 kg/147.5 lbs.
Gold – Megan Buydens (Canada)
Silver – Lauren Louive (USA)

72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Gold – Stephany Lee (USA)
Silver – Lisset Echavarria Medina (Cuba)
Bronze – Jaramit Weffer (Venezuela)
Bronze – Vanessa Wilson (Canada)

U.S. RESULTS

48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs (Sunkist Kids) – 3rd
WIN Ashley McKilligan (Canada), 7-0, 6-0
LOSS Patricia Alejandra Bermudez (Argentina), fall 1:02
WIN Carolina Castillo (Colombia), fall 1:46

51 kg/112.5 lbs. – Whitney Conder, Colorado Springs (Gator WC) – 2nd
WIN Mayara Graciano (Brazil), 4-0, 1-0
LOSS Jessica MacDonald (Canada), 0-3, 0-2

55 kg/121 lbs. – Helen Maroulis, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) – 1st
WIN Jenny Suazo (Peru), 3-0, 7-0
WIN Liedy Cifuentes (Colombia), fall 1:53
WIN Marcia Andrades (Venezuela), 1-0, 3-0
WIN Lissette Alexandra Antes (Ecuador), injury default

59 kg/130 lbs. – Randi Beltz, St. Clair, Mo. (Missouri Valley WC) – 2nd
WIN Toliana Hizate (Colombia), 3-4, 2-0, 5-3
WIN Lais Nunes de Oliviera (Brazil), fall 0:23
LOSS Amanda Gerhart (Canada) 0-3, 0-2

63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs (Gator WC)
LOSS Justine Bouchard (Canada), 0-1, 1-0, 1-0

67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Lauren Louive, Massillon, Ohio (UC Women’s Wrestling) – 2nd
LOSS Megan Buydens (Canada), 0-4, 0-7

72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Stephany Lee, Colorado Springs (Sunkist Kids) – 1st
WIN Jaramit Weffer (Venezuela), 1-0, 7-0
WIN Lisset Echavarria Medina (Cuba), fall 1:48