QUERETARO, MEXICO — Canadian wrestlers were in action April 11-12 in Queretaro, Mexico at the U23 Pan-American (Pan-Am) Championships. It was a successful competition for both the women’s and men’s freestyle teams as they walked away with 14 total medals and finished second in their respective team competitions.
Women’s Results
Beaumont, Alberta’s Lene-Marie McCrackin led the way with a gold medal in the 72kg weight class. McCrackin, who trains out of the Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club, was in a round robin with three other competitors who each faced each other and their win/loss records determined the final positions. McCrackin opened with a win by pin over American Elleni Johnson. Next, she faced Michelle Olea of Mexico, where she was narrowly defeated 5-4, meaning she would need to win her final match and get some help from Johnson to top the podium. McCrackin took care of her business defeating Chile’s Jaeell Llontop by fall. With Johnson defeating Olea, it meant McCrackin had earned the gold.
“I am really excited,” said McCrackin after winning the medal. “This was my first international meet and I was nervous going into it, but I told myself ‘I have put in the work, I just need to give 100 per cent effort and the results will take care of themselves.’ I am just really happy to get this one under my belt and use it as momentum to keep moving forward.”
Canada also finished with four silver medalists. New Hamburg, Ontario’s Olivia Lichti won hers at 59kg in her final round robin match. It came down to her and Karla Ramos of Mexico with the winner taking silver, and loser bronze. Lichti went on to win the match by fall to secure the medal. Stoney Creek, Ontario’s Serena Di Benedetto took silver at 53kg; Calgary’s Gabi Cross earned it at 57kg; and Lethbridge, Alberta’s Angelina Ellis-Toddington picked up the medal at 65kg.
Montreal’s Sophia Bechard earned bronze at 55kg, and Edmonton’s Vianne Rouleau won bronze at 76kg.
Ajax, Ontario’s Nyla Burgess was fifth at 68kg; Guelph Ontario’s Kelyn Young seventh at 50kg and St. Catharines, Ontario’s Michaela Rankin seventh at 62kg.
Men’s Results
The men’s side featured five silver medalists and two bronze medalists. Among Canada’s silver medalists was Guelph, Ontario’s Cole Coghill. Coghill went 3-0 in his round robin at 70kg. He advanced to the finals against American John Wiley, where he suffered his only defeat. Another silver went to Mississauga, Ontario’s Jackson Glasgow. Glasgow was also in a round robin at 79kg and went 3-1 with his only defeat coming to American Levi Haines, who won gold. Calgary’s Joseph De Maio went 1-1 in his 92kg round robin to finish second and earn the silver. London, Ontario’s Treye Trotman was in a traditional bracket at 57kg. After winning a qualification, quarterfinal and semifinal match he advanced to the finals, but was forced to withdraw with an injury, resulting in the silver. Finally, Windsor, Ontario’s Roger Li won a semifinal match at 125kg before falling in the final to American Lucas Stoddard, to pick up his silver.
As for the two bronze medalists, Mississauga’s Omogbai Asekomhe earned a win in his qualification round match before losing to Juan Iturriza of Mexico in the quarterfinals. Iturriza advanced to the final giving Asekomhe a chance at bronze through the repechage. He took full advantage beating Venezuela’s Jeremy Urrieta by superiority. The other bronze went to Pickering, Ontario’s Blayne Helou who was in a round robin at 61kg and finished with a 1-2 record.
Other results for the team included: Pickering’s Dechlan Papadopoulos, seventh at 65kg; Agassiz, B.C.’s Mark Schwichtenberg, seventh at 74kg; and Edmonton’s Aidan Stevenson, eighth at 86kg.
For complete results, visit the official tournament page: UWW Event Hub.
About Wrestling Canada Lutte (WCL)
Wrestling Canada Lutte (WCL) is the national sport governing body for Olympic style wrestling in Canada. Among its responsibilities, the association selects and prepares Canada’s teams that participate in international competitions including Continental Championships, World Championships and major multi-sport Games (i.e. Olympic Games). WCL works with provincial and territorial partners to deliver world-class programs and services to athletes, coaches, and officials to achieve podium success and grow the sport.
For more information:
Darren Matte
Marketing & Communications Manager
Wrestling.ca
Tel: 416-768-6847
Email: dmatte@wrestling.ca
c/o House of Sport – RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1H 7X7