Men’s freestyle comes up empty at Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier

ACAPULCO, Mexico – It was a day the U.S. men’s freestyle team would soon forget at the Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier—reigning World Team members Zane Richards and Nick Lee were unable to secure the two remaining weight class quotas needed to send a full men’s freestyle roster to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Richards made quick work of Peter Hammer of Costa Rica in his opener, posting a 14-1 technical fall in 1:36, to advance to the pivotal semifinal round at 57 kg. It turns out, this was the lone victory the American bunch would collect on Friday at Hotel Mundo Imperial in Acapulco, Mexico.

The Illinois product was upended in the evening session by four-time Pan American medalist and NCAA champion Darian Cruz of Puerto Rico, 2-2. Richards earned a pair of shot clock points, one in the first period and another in the second, but was unable to convert his offense into takedowns. Cruz struck with a step out point in the final moments to clinch the win on criteria.

The two also competed at the Pan American Games last November with Richards taking the match, 6-0. Richards went on to win the gold medal in Santiago, Chile. This was one of two recent result reversals that haunted Team USA on Friday.

The 65 kg weight class remains vexing for the U.S. on the Senior level. Lee manned the spot in Acapulco and was surprisingly upended by Mexico’s Austin Gomez in the quarterfinal round, his first and only match of the tournament.

Lee appeared well in control for the bulk of his match against Gomez, surging out to a 10-4 lead post-period break. After a lengthy injury stoppage for Gomez midway through the second frame, a switch was flipped. Gomez reeled off 20 points in the second period, with a four-point throw as the catalyst, to end up teching Lee, 22-12.

Gomez, who is a NCAA All-American and currently wrestling at Michigan, reversed a loss to Lee from last year’s World Championships. Lee picked up a fall on Gomez out in Belgrade, Serbia, in another back-and-forth contest.

The men’s freestyle team has one more opportunity to earn coveted Olympic quotas at 57 kg and 65 kg this May at the World Olympic Games Qualifier in Istanbul, Turkey. Expect the U.S. Olympic Team Trials champion to make the trek.

The other four men’s freestyle weights were qualified at the 2023 Senior World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, with medal performances by Kyle Dake at 74 kg, David Taylor at 86 kg, Kyle Snyder at 97 kg and Mason Parris at 125 kg.

The U.S. audience can watch every match from the Pan American Olympic Games Qualifier on-demand on FloWrestling. Complete brackets and match-by-match results can be found on UWW Arena.

Cuba – 3

Puerto Rico – 3

Canada – 2

Mexico – 2

Dominican Republic – 1

Venezuela – 1

57 kg

Roman Bravo-Young (Mexico) tech. fall (Colombia), 14-4

Darian Cruz (Puerto Rico) dec. Zane Richards (United States), 2-2

65 kg

Austin Gomez (Mexico) dec. Lachlan McNeil (Canada), 6-3

Alejandro Valdes Tobier (Cuba) tech. fall Shannon Hanna (Bahamas), 11-0

74 kg

Geandry Garzon Caballero (Cuba) dec. Julio Rodriguez Romero (Dominican Republic), 6-2

Anthony Montero Chirinos (Venezuela) tech. fall Raul Palacios Dominguez (Mexico), 11-0

86 kg

Ethan Ramos (Puerto Rico) dec. Carlos Izquierdo Mendez (Colombia), 11-6

Alexander Moore (Canada) fall Pedro Ceballos Fuentes (Venezuela), 5:53

97 kg

Luis Perez Sosa (Dominican Republic) dec. Cristian Sarco Colmenarez (Venezuela), 4-2

Arturo Silot Torres (Cuba) tech. fall Maxwell Lacey Garita (Costa Rica), 12-0

125 kg

Jonovan Smith (Puerto Rico) dec. Avila Gino Tanislado (Honduras), 5-1

Amarveer Dhesi (Canada) tech. fall Ibrain Torres Espinosa (Cuba), 11-0

57 kg – Zane Richards (Champaign, Ill./Titan Mercury WC/Illinois RTC)

WIN Peter Hammer Cude (Costa Rica), tech. fall, 14-1

LOSS Darian Cruz (Puerto Rico), 2-2

65 kg – Nick Lee (State College, Pa./Titan Mercury WC/Nittany Lion WC)

LOSS Austin Gomez (Mexico), tech. fall, 22-12