Pan American Championships: US Army Soldier Alex Sancho Clinches Gold To Bring Honor to Nation

The US sent a formidable group of the country’s best wrestlers to Acapulco, Mexico with hopes of replicating its last year’s success at the Pan American Championships. And it looks like the wrestlers weren’t kidding around either when it came to shouldering the responsibility ahead of the Paris Olympics 2024. While the freestyle wrestlers still wait to get on the mat, the Greco-Roman athletes are already getting the ball rolling.

USA’s Greco-Roman wrestlers are a force to be reckoned with the US Army’s World-Class Athlete Program “Specialist” Alex Sancho at the helm of things. In 2020, Sancho won a bronze at the Ottawa Pan American Championships, and now, his motivation to keep pushing bore him more exploits.

Pan American Championships start more than decently for Team USA

Taking down Ecuador’s Andres Montano Arroyo with a 3-1 decision victory, Alex Sancho won the gold medal in the Greco-Roman 67kg weight class. The triumph was shared by the official account of USA Wrestling on X, with the sonorous caption, “Sancho wins gold at the Pan-American Championships“, that’s also accompanied by a gold medal emoji looking to sprinkle a pinch of Goldust on the celebrations.

Only yesterday, Sancho was practicing his moves on his comrades, trying to make sure his A-game was the only thing on display in the Mexican city for the next few days. And from the looks of things, his rigorous training has paid off in the most brilliant fashion possible. Sancho opened the day by defeating Starlin Roodhelly Laguerre Laureus of the Dominican Republic, 4-1. In the semis, Nestor Almanza Truyol of Chile fell to him in a 4-3 decision before Andres Montano Arroyo of Ecuador in the final match.

At last year’s Pan American Championships in Buenos Aires, Arroyo won a bronze medal, underscoring his ability to bag podium finishes at big competitions. Naturally, a win over such an opponent only sweetens Sancho’s victory. However, the US Army wrestler isn’t the only one to awe fans.

USA making ripples in Mexico

Only hours ago, another Army wrestler Hayden Tuma won the gold in the 63kg category by defeating Mexico’s Hector Zapata. And now, it looks like Team USA is riding on a high momentum as another member of the squad cliches a similar result, while Sunkist Kids athlete Kamal Bey secures a bronze at the 2024 Pan American Championships. And that’s not all for the American Greco-Roman wrestlers!

Read more: Olympic Wrestling Champion David Taylor Stunned Over Penn State’s Massive 8-Figure Contribution to Cancer Victims

Arizona State’s very own Cohlton Schultz also bagged another bronze medal in the 130kg weight class after pinning his opponent in 34 seconds, while Randon Miranda had to settle for a silver after being handed a defeat in the 60kg category. Now, with the lion’s share of the tournament still ahead, it waits to be seen if the freestyle and folkstyle wrestlers manage to maintain the pace.

Watch this story: I Can Wrestle With Anybody Anytime: The Unranked Purdue Wrestler Proved His Boast