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.

Honor These Legends August 28-29

Alabama Chapter Recognizes HSEA Winners

The Alabama Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame recognized Mackenzie Schultz and Bradley Williams, the Alabama winners of the Hall of Fame's Tricia Saunders and Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award, at its induction ceremony.

2026 Alabama Chapter Induction Ceremony

The Alabama Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame officially honored its Class of 2026 on May 3.

Alabama Chapter Class of 2026

(Left to Right): Jack Stallings, Hasaan Hawthorne, Gary Averett, Eddie Crocker, Jeff Mann, April Baxter (representing late husband Doug Baxter), Shawn Weltzin and Scott Peavey.

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.