The US wrestling endeavor at the Pan American Games in Chile has gone on to become another highly successful run. The Americans have qualified in multiple weight classes across the three wrestling categories to bolster the medal-winning chances of the US. A total of 17 wrestlers across men’s wrestling, women’s wrestling, and Greco-Roman wrestling have made it to the top charts.

Moreover, the candidates going forward, possess world championship-level caliber, and thus, are clear favorites for the top prizes. In fact, the list is filled with big names like Kyle Snyder, Zane Richards, Kayla Miracle, and many more.

Top draws in men’s wrestling carrying the US flag in Santiago

The American wrestling team in Chile has yielded six men’s freestyle wrestlers, six freestyle women’s wrestlers, and five men’s Greco-Roman wrestlers. The Pan Am Games have also mandated that all competitions will only be carried out in the Olympic weight classes, according to a report by USA Wrestling. The high-voltage wrestling bouts will begin on 1st November and end on 4th November. 

Kyle Snyder will be leading the charge for men’s freestyle wrestling as he competes in the 97kg category. The Olympic gold medalist has been drawn against the winner between Argentina’s Ricardo Baez and Canada’s Nishan Randhawa. Interestingly, the 2x world champion has already bested both men, including an 11-0 victory against Randhawa at this year’s world championship. 

Competing in the 125kg category, America’s Mason Parris enters as this year’s world bronze medalist in his maiden Pan Am Games contest. Zane Richards will be looking forward to taking his Pan Am Games medal tally to eight and dominating the 57kg category. While the men’s team looks all girded up, the women’s division also has several great match-winners for the US.

Women’s division to rake in a high medal this year

Forrest Molinari and Kayla Miracle lead the American women’s wrestling campaign and enter the competition as former world championship medalists. While Molinari will make waves in the 68kg weight class, Miracle will look forward to top the 62kg category. They will be joined by Kylie Welker, the 2021 U20 World Champ, and triple U20 world medalist Erin Golston. Competing at 76kg and 50kg respectively, both women will represent the younger American wrestlers alongside their accomplished seniors.

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The Greco-Roman wrestling division also has several young names along with a two-time Olympian, Ildar Hafizov. The new names include Zac Braunagel, Cohlton Schultz, and Josef Rau. Schultz is a triple age-group world medalist competing in his first senior Pan Am Games in the 130kg weight class. Similarly, Rau and Braunagel will compete in the 97kg and 87kg weight classes, respectively. With a good ratio of both rising and established wrestlers, USA Wrestling looks forward to another successful Pan Am Games tournament.

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