Weeks Before Paris Olympics, Team USA Tears Apart Competition in U15 Pan American Wrestling Championships

While the country’s senior wrestling stars concentrate on the last lap for the Paris Olympics, it looks like the USA’s future is also in safe hands. Like tradition, the Pan American Champions have always been a bountiful affair for the USA, and this time, it’s the juniors who are racking in the exploits. The U15 Pan American Wrestling Championships are proving to be an extraordinary tournament for the American delegation, and it’s just one more day before the festivities begin at home.

At the end of the first day of the tournament, Team USA sits comfortably atop the charts. While the 2024 Games are understandably at the center of the world’s attention right now, taking a moment to hail the country’s future stars should also be on the to-do list of all fans at the moment.

A recent article by The Mat has shared news of the stunning performances the country’s U15 wrestlers put forth in El Salvador last night. At the Cuna del Mágico González, Keegan Bassett and Chase Karenbauer made waves by winning every contested match by pin or technical fall. Bo Bassett’s younger brother was obviously one of the main attractions of the event, and he didn’t disappoint. On the other hand, Karenbauer allowed his opponents only four points in three bouts while he nabbed 31.

Mario Hutcherson, Mateo Gallegos, Camryn Howard, Evan Restivo, and several others also bagged gold medals, helping the USA to record an impressive 245 points on Day 1 of the tournament.

Now, the focus shifts to the women wrestlers who will take to the mat tomorrow, with the same male Greco-Roman delegation to resume action on Saturday for the freestyle segment of the tournament. With the Paris Games only weeks away, the U15 PanAm Championships will undoubtedly end with even more hype among fans to see how their seniors handle things at the French capital later this year.

The battle for the top of the podium will begin at the Paris Olympics soon

The success of the U15 wrestlers is most likely to be replicated on the banks of the Seine, considering the talent pool that’s headed to the 2024 Olympics. Among them, 97kg’s prodigal son Kyle Snyder will look to add more Olympic accolades to his trophy cabinet. But he isn’t the only one in search of glory on the grand stage. Five-time World Championships gold medalist Kyle Dake (74kg) will once again lend his expertise and wisdom to the national team as his quest for the maiden Olympic gold continues. Team USA’s hopes in the 86kg category rely solely on four-time NCAA champ and Penn State’s star wrestler Aaron Brooks, who secured his spot in the team by taking out the 2020 Olympic gold medalist David Taylor at the Team Trials.

Sarah Hildebrandt, Helen Maroulis, Kayla Miracle, and Amit Elor are arguably some of the best female wrestlers in the world right now, and their 2024 PanAm Championships exploits should prove the claim. With them on the team, the USA should rest assured that a few medals will be heading home from the European metropolitan without much trouble.

Which country or wrestler do you think is the biggest obstacle to USA’s Olympic hopes? Tell us more in the comments.