Former UNI Panther Joe Colon won gold at the Pan-American Championships this weekend adding to his list of medals on the international level. The defending world bronze medalist took down the defending World Champion in the first round of the tournament 9-3, and those were the only points Colon would surrender.
Dominating his other two opponents, Colon won by tech fall, 10-0, over both Juan Rodriguez Jovel (El Salvador) and Scott Schiller (Canada).
Up at 65 kilos, Sergeant Bluff-Luton alumnus Colton McCrystal also took home gold and also winning three matches. McCrystal had similar results to Colon, outscoring opponents 42-7 on his way to the top of the podium.
Team USA swept every weight this weekend, the first time in Pan Am history that had been done. Canada finished in second place while Cuba took third.
Pan-American Championship Results
57 kg: GOLD – Joshua RODRIGUEZ (USA) TF Oscar TIGREROS URBANO (COL), 10-0
61 kg: GOLD – Joe COLON (USA) SILVER – Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB)
65 kg: GOLD – Colton MCCRYSTAL (USA) TF Damian SOLENZAL LOPEZ (CUB), 12-1
70 kg: GOLD – Anthony ASHNAULT (USA) SILVER – Nicholas ROWE (CAN)
74 kg: GOLD – Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) dec. Jevon BALFOUR (CAN), 7-0
86 kg: GOLD – David TAYLOR III (USA) TF Pedro CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN), 10-0
97 kg: GOLD – Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB), injury default
125 kg: GOLD – Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA) TF Korey JARVIS (CAN), 10-0