SANTIAGO, Chile – Incoming University of Iowa freshmen Gabe Arnold won a Pan American Gold medal at 79 kg on Saturday at Centro Nacional de Entrenamiento Olimpico, competing for Team USA.
The Hawkeyes earned another medal when redshirt freshman Bradley Hill claimed the silver medal at 125 kg.
Arnold dominated en route to the gold, going 33-0 without allowing a point. The Kennesaw, Georgia, native posted back-to-back 11-0 technical falls in his first two matches over wrestlers from Venezuela and Puerto Rico, setting up the title bout against Canada’s Connor Church. Arnold led 1-0 at the break before opening up his offense with two takedowns, two exposures and a step out to win 11-0.
Hill went 2-1 in his three matches in the four-man round robin bracket. The Bettendorf, Iowa, native tech falled Mexico’s Luis De La Rosa Arteaga, 10-0, in his first bout and Brazil’s Wesley Barros Das Dores in his third bout. In the second bout, the match ended tied at four, but Canada’s Karanveer Mahil was victorious by criteria.
The United States team won the team title, claiming nine individual gold medals (and finished in the top two) in all 10 weight classes. Team USA went 34-1 with 30 of the wins coming by technical fall or pins.
Gabe Arnold – 79 kg – Gold Medal
Win by technical fall over Darfel Parada Camacaro (Venezuela), 11-0
Win by technical fall over Kevin Olavarria Montilla (Puerto Rico), 11-0
Win by technical fall over Connor Church (Canada), 11-0
Bradley Hill – 125 kg – Silver Medal
Win by technical fall over Luis De La Rosa Arteaga (Mexico), 10-0
Loss by criteria against Karanveer Singh Mahil (Canada), 4-4
Win by technical fall over Wesley Barros Das Dores (Brazil), 10-0
