On Tuesday, the United States Army World Class Athletes Program was informed that their wrestlers would not be able to compete in the 2022 Pan-American Championships next month in Acapulco, Mexico.
It was only four days ago when three of the Army’s Greco-Roman competitors earned placement on the Pan-American roster. Max Nowry (world #9, 5PM #1), Dalton Roberts (60 kg, world #20, 5PM #1), and Alex Sancho (67 kg, world #17, 5PM #1) all finished first in their respective weight categories this past Friday. The procedures for the tournament stipulated that the highest American placewinner in each bracket would make the roster; in addition, US athletes who earn Pan-Am medals will receive top seeds at the World Team Trials in May. As of press time, there are no changes to the World Team Trials procedures being considered in light of the circumstances.
Nowry will be replaced by Brady Koontz (TMWC/Ohio RTC, 5PM #3); standing in for Roberts is going to be Randon Miranda (Rise RTC, 5PM #4); and taking Sancho’s spot in the lineup is Hayden Tuma (Suples, 5PM #3). Koontz did not compete on Friday while Miranda finished third behind Roberts and Ildar Hafizov. Tuma was defeated by Sancho in the 67-kg final via leg foul disqualification. Though he missed the tournament, Koontz is getting the call because both athletes who placed below Nowry were fellow Army representatives Dalton Duffield and Cole Smith, and both are ineligible for the same reasons.
This is the second removal of Army/WCAP Greco-Roman wrestlers from an international trip in ’22. In January, eight Army athletes were scheduled to fly to Europe for a prolonged training experience that also included two tournaments. Less than a week prior to takeoff for Croatia, Army deemed the trip unsafe due to elevated security concerns. The second leg of that tour occurred in Bulgaria, which is close in proximity to Ukraine and Russia.
Miranda and Tuma won’t be new to Pan-Am competition. Tuma placed 7th (at 59 kg) in ’17; Miranda earned silver last year at 63 kilos. Nowry is a three-time titlist from the event, while Sancho owns a pair of bronze (’16, ’20) and Roberts’ only Pan-Ams appearance thus far was 5th (’19).
The ’22 Pan-American Championships are scheduled for May 5-6 with FLOWrestling offering the live broadcast stateside. The US will hold their preparation camp for the event beginning this week at the Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
Updated USA Pan-American Championships Roster
Greco-Roman competition begins on May 5
55 kg: Brady Koontz (TMWC/Ohio RTC, 5PM #3) — ’19 U23 World Team, ’18 Junior World Team, ’21 World Team Trials runner-up, ’19 Final-X runner-up
60 kg: Randon Miranda (Rise RTC, 5PM #4) — ’21 National Champion, 2X U23 World Team, 2X Junior World Team, 2X Thor Masters silver, ’18 US National Team
63 kg: Sammy Jones (NYAC, 5PM #1) — ’21 World Team, 3X National runner-up, ’22 Bill Farrell Memorial gold, ’16 Pan-American Championships bronze, ’14 University World bronze
67 kg: Hayden Tuma (Suples, 5PM #3) — 2X National Champion, ’17 World Team Trials runner-up, 2X Bill Farrell Memorial gold, 2X Junior World Team
72 kg: Patrick Smith (Minnesota Storm, 5PM #1) — 3X World Team, 3X Pan-American Championships gold, ’19 Pan-American Games gold, ’14 University World silver
77 kg: RaVaughn Perkins (NYAC, 5PM #3) — ’18 World Team, ’16 Olympic Trials Champion, ’14 World Team Trials Champion, 2X National Champion
82 kg: Ben Provisor (NYAC, world #14, 5PM #1) — 2X Olympian, 2X World Team, 4X National Champion, 2X Pan-American Championships gold, ’11 Pan-American Games silver
87 kg: Rich Carlson (Minnesota Storm, 5PM #3 at 82 kg) — ’14 Junior World Team, ’17 U23 World Team Trials runner-up
97 kg: G’Angelo Hancock (Sunkist, world #4, 5PM #1) — ’21 World bronze, ’20 Olympian, 4X World Team, ’20 Pan-American Championships gold, ’19 Pan-American Championships silver, ’17 Pan-American Championships bronze, ’19 Hungarian Grand Prix gold
130 kg: Tanner Farmer (NYAC/IRTC, 5PM #3) — ’20 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier Champion, ’22 Bill Farrell Memorial gold
Listen to “5PM51: Lining up with Tanner Farmer” on Spreaker.
Listen to “5PM50: Mr. Fantastic Benji Peak” on Spreaker.
Listen to “5PM49: Robby Smith on coaching, fatherhood and mentors” on Spreaker.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FIVE POINT MOVE PODCAST
iTunes | Stitcher | Spreaker | Google Play Music
