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.

Brazel Marquez Named 2025 USA Wrestling Women’s Freestyle Coach of the Year

COLORADO SPRINGS – Brazel Marquez (Bethlehem, Pa./Lehigh Valley Wrestling RTC) has been named the 2025 USA Wrestling Women’s Freestyle Coach of the Year. This is the first time Marquez has won the prestigious honor.

Marquez is the head women’s wrestling coach at Lehigh University and coaches women with the Lehigh Valley Wrestling Regional Training Center based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Hall of Fame Mourns the Passing of Longtime Board Member Wayne Renneisen

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame was saddened to learn of the passing of longtime Board of Governors member Wayne Renneisen. 

After first joining the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Board of Governors in 1996, Renneisen became a Governor's Associate in 2002 before returning to the board from 2005 to 2013. After again becoming a Governor's Associate in 2014, Renneisen returned to the board in 2018.