Escobedo and Metcalf Headed to Pan American Games

A pair of wrestlers with Iowa ties will compete for Team USA at the Pan American Games later this month in Toronto, Canada. The Pan American Games are only held once every four years, and only the Olympic weights (57, 65, 74, 86, 97, and 125 kg) will be contested for Men’s freestyle.

USA is sending what is mostly considered the “A” freestyle team, which is led by two-time World Champion and Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs (74 kg), who captured a gold back in the 2011 Games. Also looking to defend their 2011 gold medals is 2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert (86 kg) and 2014 World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev (125 kg).

Both former Hawkeye Brent Metcalf (65 kg) and Cyclone Wrestling coach Angel Escobedo (57 kg) will be making their Game’s debut for Team USA. Metcalf recently made his fourth World Team by defeating Jordan Oliver last month in Madison at the World Team Trials. Metcalf made the World Team in 2010, which was one year prior to the previous Pan American Games. You can hear Metcalf give his thoughts on the Games here.

Hawkeye Wrestling Club’s Tony Ramos just made his second straight World Team at the lightest weight class, becoming the first American to accomplish the feat since Henry Cejudo pulled it off in 2007-2008. Ramos took out fellow Iowan Joe Colon in the Trials to claim his spot, and had made comments how he had his eyes on redemption against Cuban Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez. All of that is now scratched as Escobedo, who took fifth for USA back in 2013 will be subbing in for Ramos.

The other American competing is Kyle Snyder (97 kg), who is a two-time Junior World medalist. Snyder has really burst on to the scene in 2015 when he unseated Olympic champion Jake Varner by besting him at both the U.S. Open and the Trials.

The Games will be held July 15-18 and ESPN3 is expected to have the live webcast of the event. Both Escobedo and Metcalf will compete on July 17th at the event, with the other four Men’s freestyle weight classes competing on the final day.

EVENT SCHEDULE

July 15 – Greco-Roman 59 kg, 66 kg, 75 kg, 85 kg
July 16 – Greco-Roman 98 kg, 130 kg; Women’s freestyle 48 kg, 53 kg, 58 kg
July 17 – Women’s freestyle 63 kg, 69 kg, 75 kg; Men’s freestyle 57 kg, 65 kg
July 18 – Men’s freestyle 74 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg