U.S. earns four gold, two bronze on day one of women’s freestyle at Pan-American Championships

All six athletes earned medals as the United States did not lose a medal match on the first day of women’s freestyle competition at the Pan-American Championships in Acapulco, Mexico. The remaining four weight classes will compete on Friday, as 53 kg, 59 kg, 65 kg and 76 kg will be contested.

At 55 kg, Alisha Howk secured a gold after defeating Zeltzin Hernandez Guerra of Mexico, 5-4. Howk was able to takedown Hernandez Guerra and add up four points after falling behind early. A lost challenge at the end of the match sealed Howk’s victory. The third athlete in the bracket did not compete.

Helen Maroulis faced a familiar opponent from Brazil in the finals, and she was able to secure a gold medal with a 4-1 victory. En route to the final match, Maroulis was commanding with a 9-0 win over Andrea Gonzalez Gongora of Colombia and a fall at 0:29 over Luisa Valverde Melendres of Ecuador.

Kayla Miracle used three chest wraps to defeat Ana Godinez Gonzalez in a 6-6 criteria decision in the finals. The gold medal performance earns Miracle the top seed at the Pan-American Olympic Games Qualifier next week, where she aims to qualify the U.S. for the 2024 Paris Games at 62 kg.

Brooklyn Hays claimed gold at 72 kg following an impressive showing in both of her matches. Hays bested Katie Mulkay of Canada, 6-4, then forged ahead with an 11-0 technical fall over Edna Jimenez Villalba of Mexico for Pan-American gold.

Audrey Jimenez clinched a bronze medal in the 50 kg weight division by defeating Katie Dutchak of Canada with a score of 8-2. Displaying strong offensive skills, Jimenez maintained dominance throughout the match. Earlier in the day, she secured a convincing victory over Linda Castaneda Gaona of Mexico with a score of 10-0. Despite facing a setback against Jacqueline Mollocano Eleno of Ecuador, Jimenez bounced back to secure the bronze medal.

Alex Glaude went 1-1 at the tournament. After Glaude dropped her first match of the event, she secured bronze with a 3-3 criteria decision over Nicoll Parrado Osorio of Colombia.

The Pan-American Championships will be live streamed on FloWrestling.com to the U.S. market. Brackets and updated results will be provided by United World Wrestling on uww.org and the UWW mobile app.

Those seeking to follow along in real time can reference the complete event schedule below. USA Wrestling will provide regular updates on TheMat.com and its social media platforms throughout the event.

U.S. Women’s freestyle results

50 kg: Audrey Jimenez (Sunkist Kids), bronze medalist

WIN Linda Castaneda Gaona (Mexico), 10-0

LOSS Jacqueline Mollocana Eleno (Ecuador), 2:21

WIN Katie Dutchak (Canada), 8-2

55 kg: Alisha Howk (Sunkist Kids), gold medalist

WIN Zeltzin Hernandez Guerra (Mexico), 5-4

57 kg: Helen Maroulis (Sunkist Kids),

WIN Andrea Gonzalez Gongora (Colombia), 9-0

WIN Luisa Valverde Melendres (Ecuador), 0:29

WIN Guillia Oliveira (Brazil), 4-1

62 kg: Kayla Miracle (Sunkist Kids)

WIN Katherine Renteria Cuero (Colombia), 11-0

WIN Astrid Montero Chirinos (Venezuela), 4:28

WIN Ana Godinez Gonzalez (Canada), 6-6

68 kg: Alex Glaude (Titan Mercury WC/Beaver Dam RTC)

LOSS Olivia Di Bacco (Canada), 5-0

WIN Nicoll Parrado Osorio (Colombia), 3-3

72 kg: Brooklyn Hays (Minnesota Gold WC), gold medalist

WIN Katie Mulkay (Canada), 6-4

WIN Edna Jimenez Villalba (Mexico), 11-0

Full Results

50 kg

Gold – Jacqueline Mollocana Eleno (Ecuador)

Silver – Mariana Rojas Diaz (Venezuela)

Bronze – Audrey Jimenez (United States)

Bronze – Moran Sanchez Yorlenis Milagros (Panama)

5^th – Katie Dutchak (Canada)

5^th – Kamila Vito da Silva (Brazil)

6^th – Maia Cabrera (Argentina)

7^th – Alisson Cardozo Rey (Colombia)

8^th – Javiera Ortega Fernandez (Chile)

9^th – Antuaneth Casusol Casas (Peru)

10^th – Karla Hernandez Gonzalez (El Salvador)

11^th – Linda Castaneda Gaona (Mexico)

12^th – Cub Yusneylys Guzman Lopez (Cuba)

55 kg

Gold – Alisha Howk (United States)

Silver – Zeltzin Hernandez Garcia (Mexico)

57 kg

Gold – Helen Maroulis (United States)

Silver – Giullia Oliveira (Brazil)

Bronze – Luisa Valverde Melendres (Ecuador)

Bronze – Yocleidy Ramirez Santana (Dominican Republic)

5^th – Hannah Taylor (Canada)

5^th – Andrea Gonzalez Gongora (Colombia)

6^th – Betzabeth Sarco Colmenarez (Venezuela)

7^th – Angela Alvarez Martinez (Cuba)

8^th – Jacqueline Hernandez Gonzalez (El Salvador)

9^th – Camila Amarilla (Argentina)

10^th – Bertha Rojas Chavez  (Mexico)

11^th – Karoline Ortiz Rosado (Puerto Rico)

62 kg

Gold – Kayla Miracle (United States)

Silver – Ana Godinez Gonzalez (Canada)

Bronze – Lais Nunes (Brazil)

Bronxe – Astrid Montero Chirinos (Venezuela)

5^th – Katherine Renteria Cuero (Colombia)

5^th – Arely Novelo Gomez (Mexico

7^th – Maria Santana Garcia (Cuba)

8^th –Virginia Jimenez Fernandez (Chile)

9^th – Carina Giangeruso (Puerto Rico)

10^th – Eldarah Brown Ton (Jamaica)

68 kg

Gold – Olivia Di Bacco (Canada)

Silver – Soleymi Caraballo Hernandez (Venezuela)

Bronze – Alexandria Glaude (United States)

Bronze – Leonela Ayovi Parraga (Ecuador)

5^th – Nicoll Parrado Osorio (Colombia)

5^th – Alejandra Rivera Arriaga (Mexico)

7^th – Brenda Sterling Martinez (Cuba)

72 kg

Gold – Brooklyn Hays (United States)

Silver – Katie Mulkay (Canada)

Bronze – Edna Jimenez Villalba (Mexico)