Though the Asian Olympic Qualifiers have been jeopardized by Coronavirus, the Pan American Olympic wrestling qualifiers is slated as scheduled on 13th March in Ottawa. The wrestling powerhouse in Pan-American region USA is fielding new-look squad for the Olympic qualifier event which will give 2 quota places to the hopefuls in each weight category. Some of the big names of American wrestling will be seen in action but in the changed weight categories.
United States entered a new-look squad into the Pan-American Olympic Games Qualifier with hopes of adding to their pair of Olympic qualified weights (68kg and 76kg). Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) and Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) are dropping from their Nur-Sultan world championship weights of 53kg and 55kg, respectively, while Olympic champion Helen MAROULIS (USA) is returning to international competition for the first time since the 2018 World Championships.
Hildebrandt moved down to 50kg from her Budapest world silver medal-winning weight of 53kg. She gained control of the spot with two straight wins over Whitney CONDER (USA) in their special wrestle-off. The Pan-American Olympic Games Qualifier is Hildebrant’s second international competition down at the new weight. In her first showing at 50kg, Hildebrandt defeated second-ranked Alina VUC (ROU) with a last-second takedown to win the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series title.
Winchester dropped to 53kg from the non-Olympic weight of 55kg, where she’s the reigning world champion. She earned her shot to be USA’s 53kg representative by downing Katherine SHAI (USA) in two straight matches in the pair’s special wrestle-off last month.
Rio Olympic champion Helen Maroulis is returning to USA’s lineup for the first time since falling to a 21st-place finish at the 2018 World Championships. She’s faced difficulties with concussions over the last two seasons but locked up her spot on the Pan-American Qualifer team with two straight pins against Nur-Sultan world team member, Jenna BURKERT (USA).
In the Men’s section David Taylor returns to action in the 86kg category after missing out of action for more than a year due to injury. The American wrestlers have already secure quota places in 74kg & 97kg Men’s and 68kg and 76kg in the women’s weight categories which means players like Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Snyder, Jaden Cox, Adeline Gray, Mensah-Stock will not be in action at the Olympic Qualifiers.
USA Pan-American OG Qualifier Women Team
50kg – Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA)
53kg – Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA)
57kg – Helen MAROULIS (USA)
62kg – Kayla MIRACLE (USA)
Men’s Freestyle Entries For The 2020 Pan Am Olympic Qualifier
57kg – Thomas GILMAN (USA)
65kg – Zain RETHERFORD (USA)
86kg – David Taylor (USA)
125kg – Nick GWIAZDOWSKI (USA)
