By David Gerhart
USA Wrestling

Levi Haines, Trent Hidlay, Zahid Valencia, Real Woods and Kylie Welker have declared to represent the U.S. at the 2026 Pan American Championships in Coralville, Iowa. The five reigning World medalists will guide Team USA on home soil, May 7-10 at Xtream Arena.

Reigning World champions Valencia and Hidlay look to defend their Pan American titles after winning gold in Monterrey, Mexico, last spring. Valencia enters this year’s tournament as a two-time Pan American champion after winning his first title in 2022.

Two-time World bronze medalist and three-time age-group World champion Welker returns to the Pan American circuit after a gold medal performance last year.

2025 World silver medalist and U23 World champion Haines will compete at the Senior Pan American Championships for the first time in his career. Haines was the 2025 U23 Pan American champion. 2025 World bronze medalist Woods will also debut at the senior continental championship next month. In 2019, Woods collected silver at the U20 Pan American Championships.

This will be the first time the U.S. has hosted the Senior Pan American Championships since 2016, when it took place in Frisco, Texas.

With less than a month until the event, fans are encouraged to buy their tickets now before they sell out! Fans can purchase two-, three- and four-day passes through Xtream Arena. Each pass gets you into all sessions for the days selected at checkout.

Team USA’s complete roster for the Pan American Championships will be announced at a later date.

Greco-Roman begins the continental championship on May 7-8. Women’s freestyle will be contested on May 8-9, followed by men’s freestyle on May 9-10. Action begins each day at 10 a.m. CT with finals slated for 5 p.m. CT.

A full detailed schedule is available below.

Over 20 countries from North, Central, and South America are expected to be represented in Iowa next month.

2026 Senior Pan American Championships

Coralville, Iowa, May 7-10

Event Schedule

Thursday, May 7

Greco-Roman (55 kg, 60 kg, 63 kg, 67 kg, 77 kg, 82 kg, 87 kg, 130 kg) 

10 a.m. – Qualification Rounds

1 p.m. – Semifinals

2 p.m. – Repechages

4:15 p.m. – Opening Ceremony

5 p.m. – Finals & Award Ceremonies

Friday, May 8

Greco-Roman (72 kg, 97 kg) 

Women’s Freestyle (50 kg, 55 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 68 kg, 72 kg) 

10 a.m. – Qualification Rounds

1 p.m. – Semifinals

2 p.m. – Repechages

5 p.m. – Finals & Award Ceremonies

Saturday, May 9

Women’s Freestyle (53 kg, 59 kg, 65 kg, 76 kg) 

Men’s Freestyle (61 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg) 

10 a.m. – Qualification Rounds

1 p.m. – Semifinals

2 p.m. – Repechages

5 p.m. – Finals & Award Ceremonies

Saturday, May 10

Men’s Freestyle (57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg, 92 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg) 

10 a.m. – Qualification Rounds

1 p.m. – Semifinals

2 p.m. – Repechages

5 p.m. – Finals & Award Ceremonies

* All times are listed in Central Time

U.S. Men’s Freestyle Roster

65 kg – Real Woods (Ann Arbor, Mich./Cliff Keen WC/Titan Mercury WC)

79 kg – Levi Haines (Bellefonte, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

86 kg – Zahid Valencia (Stillwater, Okla./Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

92 kg – Trent Hidlay (Raleigh, N.C./Wolfpack RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

U.S. Women’s Freestyle Roster

76 kg – Kylie Welker (Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC)