By Ellen Paddock, USA Wrestling

USA Wrestling is sending a roster loaded with talent to compete at the 2022 U17 Pan American Championships, which are scheduled for June 24-26 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The U.S. will be represented in all 30 weight classes across the three Olympic styles– men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman. The men’s rosters are the same wrestlers for both freestyle and Greco-Roman.

The qualification procedures for men were based on rankings points awarded from the 2022 U17 World Team Trials, held as part of the U.S. Open in Las Vegas, Nev. in April. Athletes who placed in the top eight between both styles, with the highest point value earned the right to represent the U.S. at the Pan American Championships. If there was a tie in points, the athlete with the most pins in the least amount of time was awarded the spot.

The Women’s U17 World Team Trials, held as part of the Women’s Nationals in Fort Worth, Texas in May, determined the representatives for women’s freestyle, following the rank order from second through eighth.

Among those headed to Argentina is a 2021 Cadet Pan American gold medalist in both styles, Kael Lauridsen of Nebraska (55 kg) and 2021 Cadet World Bronze medalist, Ava Ward of Missouri. Two athletes in the men’s division won double titles at the U17 World Team Trials, Christian Castillo of Arizona (48 kg) and Koy Hopke of Wisconsin (110 kg). On the women’s side, Skylar Little Soldier of Minnesota (57 kg) was a 16U Nationals champion last summer in Fargo, N.D.

2022 U17 PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 24-26

Men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman roster

45 kg: Domenic Munaretto (Barrington, Ill.) – 1st freestyle, 3rd Greco-Roman

48 kg: Christian Castillo (Glendale, Ariz.) – 1st freestyle, 1st Greco-Roman

51 kg: Edwin Sierra (Yuma, Ariz.) – 4th freestyle, 2nd Greco-Roman

55 kg: Kael Lauridsen (Norfolk, Neb.) – 6th freestyle, 3rd Greco-Roman

60 kg: Zan Fugitt (Clever, Mo.) – 5th freestyle, 1st Greco-Roman

65 kg: Joel Adams (Wahoo, Neb.) – 2nd freestyle, 1st Greco-Roman

71 kg: KJ Evans (Edmond, Okla.) – 2nd freestyle, 4th Greco-Roman

80 kg: Cole Han-Lindenmyer (Farmington, Minn.) – 7th freestyle, 1st Greco-Roman

92 kg: Sawyer Bartelt (Coral Gables, Fla.) – 4th freestyle, 3rd Greco-Roman

110 kg: Koy Hopke (Amery, Wis.) –1st freestyle, 1st Greco-Roman

Coach: Gralan Early, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Coach: Michael Pila, Oak Lawn, Ill.

Note: Placements from the U17 World Team Trials in Las Vegas

Women’s freestyle roster

40 kg: Annalise Maralit (Summerville, S.C.) - 2nd

43 kg: Katelyn Valdez (Colorado Springs, Colo.) - 2nd

46 kg: Isabella Bocanegra (Glendale, Ariz.) – 6th

49 kg: Ava Ward (Centralia, Mo.) - 2nd

53 kg: Persaeus Gomez (Denver, Colo.) - 2nd

57 kg: Skylar Little Soldier (Welch, Minn.) – 2nd

61 kg: Marissa Rumsey (Williamsport, Pa.) – 2nd

65 kg: Sydney Perry (Batavia, Ill.) – 2nd

69 kg: Mishell Rebisch (Washington Township, Mich.) – 2nd

73 kg: Kaiulani Garcia (Stockton, Calif.) – 3rd

National Women’s Developmental Coach – Jessica Medina, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Coach: Nicole Tyson, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Note: Placements from the U17 World Team Trials in Fort Worth

Team Leader: Kelli Shuffler, Valdese, N.C.

Official – Drew Hayes, Tempe, Ariz.

Official – Nick Mancini, Boardman, Ohio

Official – James Stinson, Sulphur, La.

Medical – Steven Mirasolo, Reading, Mass.

Event Schedule

(local time, which is one hour ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone)

Friday, June 24

10 a.m. – Qualification rounds and repechage GR

5:15 p.m. – Opening ceremony

6 p.m. – Medal matches GR

Saturday, June 25

10 a.m. – Qualification rounds and repechage WFS

6 p.m. – Medal matches WFS

Sunday, June 26

10 a.m. – Qualification rounds and repechage MFS

6 p.m. – Medal matches MFS