All eight U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers remain in hunt for medals at Pan American GamesThe United States swept all five of its evening matches on Saturday, July 24, and all eight team members are still in medal contention at the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada. The Greco-Roman wrestling competition is being held at the Winnipeg Convention Centre Hall B.
Claiming wins during the evening session were Steven Mays (Pensacola, Fla./U.S. Navy) at 54 kg/119 lbs., Glenn Nieradka (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., Matt Lindland (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids) at 76 kg/167.5 lbs., Quincey Clark (New Brighton, Minn./Minn. Storm) at 85 kg/187.25 lbs.and Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 130 kg/286 lbs.
Mays defeated Julio Maldonado of Guatemala, 7-0, for his second victory of the tournament. Mays is participating in a five-athlete round-robin format, and will have two more matches on Sunday.
Nieradka scored an impressive 13-0 technical fall over James Cako of Canada in 4:13. His record during Saturday's action was 2-1.
Lindland scored his third straight technical fall of the tournament, stopping Leigh Vierling of Canada 10-0 in 2:09.
Clark also won his third match without a loss, scoring a 10-0 technical fall over Eddy Bartolozzi of Venezuela at the 6:00 mark.
Byers also scored a technical fall, defeating Carlos Nancuvil of Chile, 10-0 in 5:02. Byers record during Thursday's action was 2-1.
The eight-man U.S. team had a combined 18-2 record in the preliminary rounds. All eight team members secure positions in Sunday morning's semifinals, and still have a chance to claim gold medals in their weight divisions.
The other three U.S. wrestlers who did not compete Saturday night but qualified for the semifinals earlier in the day were Dennis Hall (Plover, Wis./Sunkist Kids) at 58 kg/127.75 lbs., David Zuniga (New Brighton, Minn./Minn. Storm) at 69 kg/152 lbs. and Jason Klohs (Maple Grove, Minn./Minn. Storm) at 97 kg/213.75 lbs..
The U.S. team is led by head coach Joe DeMeo of Niskayuna, N.Y. and assistant coach Dan Russell of Colorado Springs, Colo.
U.S. bouts, Saturday, July 24, Session III
54 kg/119 lbs. - Steven Mays, Pensacola, Fla. (U.S. Navy) - dec. Julio Maldonado, Guatemala, 7-0
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Glenn Nieradka, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) - won by tech. fall over James Cako, Canada, 13-0, 4:13
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Matt Lindland, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids) - won by tech. fall over Leigh Vierling, Canada, 10-0, 2:09
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Quincey Clark, New Brighton, Minn. (Minn. Storm) - won by tech. fall over Eddy Bartolozzi, Venezuela, 10-0, 6:00
130 kg/286 lbs. - Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) - won by tech. fall over Carlos Nancuvil, Chile, 10-0, 5:02
Sunday morning's semifinal pairings
54 kg/119 lbs.
Five-athlete round robin competition, no semifinals
58 kg/127.75 lbs.
Dennis Hall, United States, vs. Mike Francis, Canada
Roberto Monzon, Cuba, vs. Sidney Guzman, Peru
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Juan Maren, Cuba, vs. Armondo Olivier, Venezuela
Enrique Cubas, Peru, vs. Glenn Nieradka, United States
69 kg/152 lbs.
David Zuniga, United States, vs. Luis Izquierdo, Colombia
Liubal Colas, Cuba, vs. Angelo Brea, Dominican Republic
76 kg/167.5 lbs.
Filiberto Azcuy, Cuba, vs. Olguin Sabua, Dominican Republic
Matt Lindland, United States, vs. Rodolpho Hernandez, Mexico
85 kg/187.25 lbs.
Luis Mendez, Cuba, vs. Eddy Bartolozzi, Venezuela
Quincey Clark, United States, vs. Felix Villalobos, Peru
97 kg/213.75 lbs.
Reynaldo Pena, Cuba, vs. Colbie Bell, Canada
Jason Klohs, United States, vs. Arnulfo Hernandez, Colombia
130 kg/286 lbs.
Alfredo Far, Panama, vs. Dremiel Byers, United States
Hector Milian, Cuba, vs. Rafael Barreno, Venezuela