Gophers alum and two-time NCAA Champion Tony Nelson (’14) took home the 125kg gold medal at the 2020 Pan-American Championships on Monday.
Nelson won three straight matches before getting an injury default in the gold medal match over Amarveer Dhesi of Canada. Nelson’s run began with a 2-2 criteria win before a 4-0 shutout in the following round and a semifinal pin in 70 seconds to advance. He was one of six American champions on the day.
Former Gopher wrestler Pat Smith won a Greco-Roman silver medal on Saturday going 3-1.
The Americans dominated the competition winning team titles in Freestyle, Greco-Roman, and Women’s Freestyle.
Team USA will stick in Ottawa this week for the Pan-Am Olympic Qualifer where the top-two from each weight will qualify their weight-class for Tokyo 2020.
125 kg: Tony Nelson – Gold
Round of 16: Oscar Pino Hinds (Cuba), 2-2
Quarterfinals: Zach Merrill (Puerto Rico), 4-0
Semifinals: Brandon Augiano Flores (Mexico), fall 1:10
Finals: Amarveer Dhesi (Canada), injury default
77 kg: Pat Smith – Silver
Round of 16: Yosvanys Pena Flores (Cuba), 3-1
Quarterfinals: Angelo Marques Moreira (Brazil), 12-3
Semifinals: Jair Cuero Munoz (Colombia), 4-4
Finals: Yosvanys Pena Flores (Cuba), 3-1
Check out Gopher Wrestling at gophersports.com and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
View More College News
Click Here: Fjallraven Kanken Art Spring Landscape Backpacks