Pan American Games is one of the most celebrated events that features multiple sports. The event commenced on 21st October and featured various world champions who would compete on the wrestling mat, providing a thrill to the spectators. Along the same lines, USA Wrestling has come up with some changes to its roster at the last moment just days before the competition.

This last-minute addition of sending a few fresh faces into the arena for the upcoming 2023 Pan American Games has put these legendary wrestlers under the spotlight. In addition, the list of wrestlers participating in the Pan Am Games given by USA Wrestling not only includes fresh faces but also replaced world champions and Olympic medalists. 

Fresh faces entering Pan Am wrestling mat

There are three fresh faces offered by USA Wrestling to the Pan American Wrestling mat as reported by themat.com. These include two women and one man freestyle wrestler. Amongst these is Xochitl Mota-Pettis, a U-23 World Team Member from Humble, Texas. She will participate in the 57 Kg spot at the Pan American Games by replacing nine-time Olympic medalist Helen Maroulis. Mota-Pettis is competing for a bronze medal at the U23 World Championships. 

On the other hand, Erin Golston, another fresh face added by USA Wrestling, will compete for 50 kg at the Pan American Games. Veteran Competitor, Golston will take up this opportunity by replacing a four-time age-group world medalist, who is competing for a silver medal at the U23 Wrestling championships, Audrey Jimenez. 

Apart from these two women wrestlers, Nahshon Garrett is the other fresh face added to the list of participants at the Pan American Games. He will participate in the event after replacing World Team Member Nick Lee. Although Nahshon Garrett wrestles on the mat in the 61 kg category, he will participate in the 65 kg category at the Pan American Games. However, why has the USA taken up such a decision to add these fresh faces and what impact could they make at the Pan Am Games 2023?

What sets these wrestlers standout in the competition?

All the fresh faces added by USA wrestling feature caliber to perform exceptionally well. On the top of the list is Garret at the no.2 position on the national team as he was defeated by Vito Arujau in the showdown at Final X. Apart from this, he has a collection of two bronze medals. Even though the Pan American Games 2023 will be his first event, he is among the top contenders known as favorites for gold. 

Moreover, Mota-Pettis already added gold at the Pan American Championships in the weight category of 59 Kg earlier this year. Thus, she is the top priority of USA wrestling. Similarly, Golston is ranked at the 3rd position on the U.S. National Team and features a silver medal from Pan American Championship 2019.

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Overall, the last-minute addition of fresh faces to USA Wrestling’s roster for the 2023 Pan American Games has injected intrigue into the event. Extending from Xochitl Mota-Pettis to Nahshon Garrett, emerging talents seek an opportunity to enter thrilling battles and increase their chances of gold. USA wrestling’s decision is a bold move that holds the potential to make Pan American Games a success for Team USA. But the question is: Is changing these wrestlers at the last moment worth it?

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