Senior World Team members Max Black (60 kg, NYAC/NTS) and Payton Jacobson (87 kg, NYAC/NTS), along with Aydin Rix-McElhinney (77 kg, Northern Colorado WC) and two-time U20 World bronze Aden Attao (130 kg, Beaver Dam RTC), powered a flourishing USA performance at the Junior Pan-American Games that translated to a team title.
The Junior Pan-Am Games, held in Asuncion, Paraguay on Wednesday, rendered yet another glimpse at the talent pool which resides on the younger spectrum in the US. In addition to the four tournament champions, Team USA also received bronze-medal showings from U23 National champs Brennan Van Hoecke (67 kg, Arkansas RTC) and Keenan Wyatt (97 kg, Knights WC).
For Black — who earlier in the spring earned gold at the Senior continental championships, as well — it was a runaway blockbuster. Black delivered wins via technical superiority in all three of his contests, outscoring his opposition 27-1 in the process. Attao was likewise dominant in his latest Greco-Roman outing. Other than a 3-1 decision nod over Luis Talavera Luna (VEN), he finished each opponent, including a pin against Brazilian Wesley Barrios Das Dores just over :30 into the opening period.
Rix-McElhinney, who has steadily improved over the past three seasons, sailed through his bracket with a tech (vs. Josue Alvarez Sintuj, GUA) and two cruise-control decisions against Nilson Sinisterra Angulo (COL) and Darfel Parada Camacaro (VEN), respectively. ’24 Olympian Jacobson shut down Brian Ruiz Marin (VEN) 5-1 before edging Cuban Cristian Pelegrino Estalella 3-1, but dismantled Diego Macias Torres (MEX) 9-0.
Van Hoecke — who won a continental title at the U15 level back in ’18 — dropped an 11-11 shootout to Yonat Velez Martinez (CUB) but pocketed a :21 fall over Angelo Café de Oliveira (BRA); meanwhile, Wyatt was nipped 4-3 by Mexico’s Dorian Trejo Olguin — but defeated Eblan Gonzalez Valdes (CUB) 11-4. The bronze medal for Wyatt is his first from an international tournament.
Team USA finished in 1st place with 130 points — 32 points more than 2nd place Venezuela. Mexico finished 3rd with 70 points.
2025 Junior Pan-American Games
August 20 — Asuncion, PAR
TEAM USA RESULTS
60 kg: Max Black (NYAC/NTS) — GOLD
WON Patrick Rodriguez Quinto (ECU) 8-0, TF
WON Christopher Verastegui Aguilar (COL) 10-1, TF
WON Angel Segura Tellez (MEX) 9-0, TF
67 kg: Brennan Van Hoecke (Arkansas RTC) — BRONZE
LOSS Yonat Velez Martinez (CUB) 11-11 (criteria)
WON Angelo Cafe De Oliveira (BRA) via fall
77 kg: Aydin Rix-McElhinney (Northern Colorado WC) — GOLD
WON Josue Alvarez Sintuj (GUA) 10-0, TF
WON Nilson Sinisterra Angulo (COL) 7-0
WON Darfel Parada Camacaro (VEN) 5-1
87 kg: Payton Jacobson (NYAC/NTS) — GOLD
WON Brian Ruiz Marin (VEN) 5-1
WON Cristian Pelegrino Estalella (CUB) 3-1
WON Diego Macias Torres (MEX) 9-0, TF
97 kg: Keenan Wyatt (Knights WC) — BRONZE
LOSS Dorian Trejo Olguin (MEX) 4-3
WON Eblan Gonzalez (CUB) 11-4
130 kg: Aden Attao (Beaver Dam RTC) — GOLD
WON Wesley Barrios Das Dores (BRA) via fall
WON Nicolas Araya Tapia (CHI) 10-0, TF
WON Juan Herrera De La Rosa (MEX) via injury default
WON Jose Nunez Encarnacion (DOM) 9-0, TF
WON Luis Talavera Luna (VEN) 3-1
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