PETEN, GUATAMALA -- Courtesy: USOEC
Three wrestlers with United States Olympic Education Center ties helped Team USA win titles in both Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling at the 2012 Pan American Junior Championships in Peten, Guatemala recently (June 6-9). The event featured athletes between 17-20 years old from the nations in North America, Central America and South America.
The U.S. men’s teams, doubled up and competed in both freestyle and Greco-Roman except at one weight class.
In the 50-kilogram weight class, USOEC recruit Ramon Moreno of Miami Lakes, Fla., earned a silver medal in both Greco-Roman and freestyle. Moreno captured his silver in Greco-Roman by defeating Oscar Lopez of Guatemala, 0-4, 1-1, 1-2. He took his freestyle silver home by beating Aheed Lakani of Canada, 4-2, 3-1.
"I’m happy Ramon will be in our gym next year," said USOEC Head Coach Rob Hermann. "He is very energetic and is eager to keep getting better."
Isaiah Verona of Homestead, Fla., another USOEC recruit, earned fifth place at 55-kg in Greco-Roman and third in freestyle by defeating Lucas Pavon of Argentina by pin.
Current USOEC wrestler Nick Alvarez, an Northern Michigan University sophomore from Homestead, Fla., also earned points for Team USA, with fifth place in the 66-kg Greco-Roman weight class.
"We’ve got great recruits coming in this year, and I was happy to see all three of these guys attend the competition," said Hermann. "All three paid their own expense to make the trip to gain more international experience."
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