U.S. wins team title, sweeps gold in men’s freestyle at the Pan-American Championships in Acapulco, Mexico

The United States went 10-for-10 at the 2024 Pan-American Championships in Acapulco, Mexico, en route to the team and overall titles. All seven athletes that wrestled on the final day of action earned gold in Team USA’s dominant men’s freestyle performance.

At 57 kg, Spencer Lee made his long-awaited return to international competition. Lee, a three-time Junior World Champion, stood atop the podium at the end of the night. Lee defeated Oscar Tigreros Urbano of Colombia in a commanding 10-0 victory, followed by another 10-0 win against Davi Silva Giovannetti of Brazil. In the finals, Lee continued his winning streak by defeating Pedro Mejias Rodriguez of Venezuela, 12-2, securing the gold medal.

Nick Lee, competing at 65 kg, claimed the gold medal with a series of commanding victories. Lee began with a dominant 10-0 win over Joshua Kramer of Ecuador, followed by another 10-0 victory against Jacob Torres of Canada. His final match was not wrestled, as his opponent was unable to compete due to an injury.

Alec Pantaleo secured a gold at 70 kg, going 4-0 in his round-Robin bracket. Pantaleo opened his tournament with a commanding 10-0 victory over Victor Soto Rivera of Puerto Rico, and continued with wins over Erick Barron Medina of Mexico and Mauricio Lovera of Argentina. Pantaleo’s performance earned him a spot in the U.S Olympic Team Trials in State College, Pa. in April.

At 79 kg, Alex Facundo, celebrating his 22nd birthday, won gold. Facundo's path to the top of the podium included a 10-0 win over Jasmit Phulka of Canada, followed by an injury default victory against Dylan Palacio of Uruguay. He sealed his gold medal with another commanding 11-0 victory over Jose Cano Lopez of Mexico. Facundo adds another medal at just his second Senior level tournament.

Nate Jackson, competing at 92 kg, claimed the gold medal with a series of dominant performances. Jackson's tournament began with a strong 11-0 victory over Tejvir Boal of Canada, followed by a pin in just 54 seconds against Erwin Vargas Martinez of Mexico. Jackson continued his streak with a 10-0 victory over Cesar Ubico Estrada of Guatemala, and his gold medal journey concluded with another quick victory in just 46 seconds against Jose Betancourt Kock of Puerto Rico. Jackson earned the golden boot at the Pan-American Championships.

Kyle Snyder, competing at 97 kg, claimed the gold medal. Snyder's tournament was opened with a fall at 1:49 against Luis Perez Sosa of the Dominican Republic, followed by an 11-0 victory over Matias Sepulveda of Chile. He sealed his gold medal with a hard-fought 10-5 victory over Arturo Torres of Cuba.  

At 125 kg, Mason Parris added another gold to the U.S. medal count. Parris started his tournament with a 10-0 victory over Richard Deschatelets of Canada. Both his semifinal and finals opponents defaulted due to injury, so Parris’s lone victory was enough for the gold.

The United States won the team trophy with a perfect 250 points in men’s freestyle. Team USA also captured the overall win at the Pan-American Championships, as all three styles won their respective team races.

PAN-AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Acapulco, Mexico, Feb.21-24

57 kg: Spencer Lee (Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC), gold medalist

WIN Oscar Tigreros Urbano (Colombia), 10-0

WIN Davi Silva Giovannetti (Brazil), 10-0

WIN Pedro Mejias Rodriguez (Venezuela), 12-2

65 kg: Nick Lee (Titan Mercury WC/Nittany Lion WC), gold medalist

WIN Joshua Kramer (Ecuador), 10-0

WIN Jacob Torres (Canada), 10-0

WIN Agustin Destribats (Argentina), inj. def.

70 kg: Alec Pantaleo (Titan Mercury WC/ Cliff Keen WC), gold medalist

WIN Victor Soto Rivera (Puerto Rico), 10-0

WIN Erick Barron Medina (Mexico), 10-0

WIN Mauricio Lovera (Argentina), 11-0

WIN Peiman Biabani (Canada), inj. def.

79 kg: Alex Facundo (Titan Mercury WC/Nittany Lion WC), gold medalist

WIN Jasmit Phulka (Canada), 10-0

WIN Dylan Palacio (Uruguay), inj. def.

WIN Jose Cano Lopez (Mexico), 11-0

92 kg: Nate Jackson (New York AC/NJRTC), gold medal, gold medalist

WIN Tejvir Boal (Canada), 11-0

WIN Erwin Vargas Martinez (Mexico), 0:54

WIN Cesar Ubico Estrada (Guatemala), 10-0

WIN Jose Betancourt Kock (Puerto Rico), 0:46

97 kg: Kyle Snyder (Titan Mercury WC/Nittany Lion WC), gold medalist

WIN Luis Miguel Perez Sosa (Dominican Republic), 1:49

WIN Matias Uribe Sepulveda (Chile), 11-0

WIN Arturo Silot Torres (Cuba), 10-5

125 kg: Mason Parris (Titan Mercury WC/Cliff Keen WC), gold medalist

WIN Richard Deschatelets (Canada), 10-0

WIN Jose Diaz (Venezuela), inj. def.

WIN Jonovan Smith (Puerto Rico), inj. def.

Full Results

57 kg

Gold - Spencer Lee (United States)

Silver – Pedro Mejias Rodriguez (Venezuela)

Bronze - Oscar Tigreros Urbano (Colombia)

Bronze - Guesseppe Rea Villarroel (Ecuador)

5th - Davi Giovannetti (Brazil)

5th - Jaime Perez Castellanos (Guatemala)

7th - Peter Hammer Cude (Costa Rica)

8th - Jorge Olvera Rodriguez (Mexico)

9th - Enrique Herrera Huacre (Peru)

10th - Jacob Moran (Puerto Rico)

Garette Austin Saunders (Canada)

65 kg

Gold – Nick Lee (United States)

Silver - Agustin Destribats (Argentina)

Bronze - Joshua Kramer (Ecuador)

Bronze - Shannon Hanna II (Bahamas)

5th - Jacob Torres (Canada)

5th - Albaro Camacho (Dominican Republic)

7th - Elkin Santa (Colombia)

8th - Jean Olivero Garcia (Cuba)

9th - Hector Gonzalez Torres (Mexico)

10th - Rafael Garcia Morales (Puerto Rico)

11th – Miguel Auccapina (Peru)

12th - Esteban Perez Castellanos (Guatemala)

13th - Matias de la Cruz Munoz Ramirez (Chile)

70 kg

Gold - Alec Pantaleo (United States)

Silver - Peiman Biabani (Canada)

Bronze - Lovera Alejandro (Argentina)

4th - Victor Soto Rivera (Puerto Rico)

5th - Erick Barron Medina (Mexico)

6th - Jordan Mitchell (Jamaica)

79 kg

Gold – Alex Facundo (United States)

Silver - Jasmit Singh Phulka (Canada)

Bronze - Jose Cano Lopez (Mexico)

4th - Dylan Palacio Pintado (Uruguay)

92 kg

Gold – Nate Jackson (United States)

Silver - Tejvir Singh Boal (Canada)

Bronze - Cesar Ubico Estrada (Guatemala)

4th - Erwin Vargas Martinez (Mexico)

5th - Jose Betancourt Kock (Puerto Rico)

97 kg

Gold - Kyle Snyder (United States)

Silver - Arturo Torres (Cuba)

Bronze - Cristian Sarco Colmenarez (Venezuela)

Bronze - Luis Perez Sosa (Dominican Republic)

5th - Matias Uribe Sepulveda (Chile)

5th - Ailton Brito Rocha (Brazil)

7th - Riley Otto (Canada)

8th - Marcos Santos Bonnet (Puerto Rico)

9th - Hector Garcia Morales (Mexico)

10th – Ricardo Baez (Argentina)

125 kg

Gold - Mason Parris (United States)

Silver - Jonovan Smith (Puerto Rico)

Bronze – Daniel Diaz (Venezuela)

Bronze - Ibrain Espinosa (Cuba)

5th - Richard Deschatelets (Canada)

5th - Avila Dilbert Gino Tanislado (Honduras)

7th – Elison Adames Garcia (Dominican Republic)

8th - Aaron Johnson (Jamaica)

9th - Jhoan Ocoro Palomino (Colombia)

10th - Josue Campos Arizpe (Mexico)

11th - Lacey Garita Maxwell Lemar (Costa Rica)

12th - Gabriel De Sousa Silva (Brazil)

Catriel Muriel (Argentina)

Team Results

1. United States: 250 points
2. Canada: 98 points
3. Puerto Rico: 89 points
4. Venezuela: 85 points
5. Mexico: 84 points
6. Cuba: 57 points
7. Dominican Republic: 53 points
8. Argentina: 52 points
9. Colombia: 46 points
10. Guatemala: 35 points
11. Ecuador: 30 points
12. Peru: 26 points
13. Brazil: 26 points
14. Bahamas: 15 points
15. Jamaica: 15 points
16. Chile: 14 points
17. Uruguay: 12 points
18. Honduras: 12 points
19. Panama: 10 points
20. Costa Rica: 0 points