Welker Pins World Champion In Finals, U.S. Women Top Pan American Championships Team Standings

CORALVILLE, Iowa – Kylie Welker took out both bronze medalists from the 2024 Paris Olympics and the reigning World champion enroute to the 76 kg gold medal and the Golden Boot Award as the outstanding wrestler of the women's freestyle division at the Senior Pan American Championships on Saturday.

Abigail Nette and Kayla Miracle also won gold as Team USA bagged the team title with eight champions, a silver medalist, and a bronze medalist, collecting 235 total team points. Canada finished as runners-up with 136 team points. Mexico reeled in third place with 128 team points.

The tournament concludes on Sunday with men’s freestyle group two (57-65-70-79-92-97-125 kg). The action begins at 10 a.m. (CT). Entered for the U.S. are Liam Cronin, Real Woods, Ridge Lovett, Levi Haines, Trent Hidlay, Stephen Buchanan and Wyatt Hendrickson. Hendrickson was the Kansas winner of the DSHSEA and Lovett was the Idaho winner in 2019.

DeSanto, Valencia Bag Men's Freestyle Gold at Pan American Championships

CORALVILLE, Iowa – Reigning World champion Zahid Valencia, who was the California and National winner of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award in 2016, and Zagreb Open Ranking Series champion Austin DeSanto breezed to gold medals in the Senior Pan American Championships on Saturday evening at Xtream Arena.

U.S. Open finalist Kannon Webster, who was Illinois winner of the DSHSEA in 2023, the added a silver medal for Team USA at 74 kg.

The tournament concludes on Sunday with men’s freestyle group two (57-65-70-79-92-97-125 kg). The action begins at 10 a.m. (CT). Entered for the U.S. are Liam Cronin, Real Woods, Ridge Lovett, Levi Haines, Trent Hidlay, Stephen Buchanan and Wyatt Hendrickson. Hendrickson was the Kansas winner of the DSHSEA and Lovett was the Idaho winner in 2019.

U.S. Scores Five Champs In Women’s Freestyle at Pan American Championships

CORALVILLE, Iowa – A near-flawless day for the U.S. women saw Katie Gomez (50 kg), Everest Leydecker (55 kg), Amanda Martinez (57 kg), Adaugo Nwachukwu (62 kg) and Precious Wieser (72 kg) each claim a gold medal at the 2026 Senior Pan American Championships.

Leydecker is the Arizona winner of our Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award in 2026.

Peak Adds Greco-Roman Gold, Young Bronze, U.S. Wins Pan American Team Title

Benji Peak and Timothy Young added a pair of Greco-Roman medals to the U.S. count on Friday evening at the 2026 Pan American Championships, solidifying Team USA’s place atop the team standings.

The U.S. breezed to the team title with seven champions, a silver medalist and a bronze medalist, amassing 216 team points. Cuba finished in second place with 115 team points, and Brazil came in third place with 99 team points.

Final X Spots On The Line at Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

Lots of winners of our Tricia Saunders and Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award scheduled to compete in the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament at Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center in Louisville, Ky., May 14-15.

The final 12 spots at 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, will be solidified at the event.

Schultz, Melelashvili Highlight Six Pan American Championships Greco-Roman Gold Medalists

CORALVILLE, Iowa – It was a breakthrough performance for Team USA’s Cohlton Schultz, who was the Colorado and National winner of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award in 2019, on Thursday evening at Xtream Arena. The four-time Senior World Team member outlasted Cuban great Oscar Pino Hinds on criteria in the final day one bout at the 2026 Senior Pan American Championships. Also taking out a tough Cuban in the gold medal round was 87 kg champion Beka Melelashvili, who earned an 8-6 decision over 2024 Olympian and defending champion Daniel Gregorich Hechavarria.

Earning style points with mammoth-sized throws in the championship finals were Kamal Bey at 82 kg and Joel Adams at 77 kg. Rounding out the list of U.S. champions were Max Nowry at 55 kg and Landon Drury at 63 kg. Both men ran through round robin brackets unscathed to claim gold.

United World Wrestling Releases Brackets for 2026 Senior Pan American Championships in Coralville, Iowa

CORALVILLE, Iowa – United World Wrestling has released brackets in the Greco-Roman, women’s freestyle and men’s freestyle divisions for the 2026 Senior Pan American Championships, which begin on Thursday morning at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa.

Five returning Senior World medalists highlight the U.S. lineup—Kylie Welker in women’s freestyle, plus Zahid Valencia, Trent Hidlay, Levi Haines and Real Woods in men’s freestyle.

David Taylor Named 2025 USA Wrestling Terry McCann Men’s Freestyle Coach of the Year

COLORADO SPRINGS – David Taylor, who was the Ohio and National winner of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award in 2009, has been named the 2025 USA Wrestling Terry McCann Men’s Freestyle Coach of the Year. This is the first time Taylor has won the prestigious honor.

Taylor (Stillwater, Okla./Cowboy RTC) is the head men’s wrestling coach at Oklahoma State University and coaches athletes with the Cowboy Regional Training Center based in Stillwater, Oklahoma.