Schmit, Ward, Welker Claim U20 Pan American Titles  

SANTIAGO, Chile – All three University of Iowa women’s wrestlers competing at the U20 Pan American Championships took home titles on Friday evening.

The Hawkeye wrestlers outscored their opponents 69-11, were a combined 12-0, and ended 11-of-12 matches early (eight via fall).

Freshman Ella Schmit pinned her way to gold at 65kg needing just 2:55 to dispatch her first three opponents. In her gold medal matchup against Gleymaris Beria Diaz of Venezuela, Schmit overcame a 6-5 deficit to end the match early winning in 5:22. Schmit was named the outstanding wrestler of the championship.

At 72 kg incoming Freshman Haley Ward went fall, decision, fall to set up a gold medal matchup with Paige Anne Maher of Canada. Ward defeated Maher, 8-4, to claim the 72kg championship.

Freshman Kylie Welker’s path to the 76kg finals went fall, forfeit, and tech. fall. She won her gold medal matchup with Aomi Riques Morales of Peru via tech. fall winning 10-0 in 0:34 seconds.

65kg – Ella Schmit (Bettendorf, Iowa), First Place 
WIN Evelyn Orta Gonzalez (Mexico), VFA, 1:14
WIN Jaeell Llontop Vasquez (Chile), VFA, 0:55
WIN Natalie Vecchio (Canada), VFA, 0:46
WIN Gleymaris Beria Diaz (Venezuala), VFA, 5:22

72kg – Haley Ward (Buckner, Missouri), First Place  
WIN Karla Castillo Garcia (Venezuela), VFA, 2:40
WIN Nubia Lorenzana Ballesteros (Mexico), VPO1, 8-1
WIN Melanie Sanchez Morales (Chile), VFA, 0:55
WIN Paige Anne Maher (Canada), VFA, 2:48

76kg – Kylie Welker (Franksville, Wisconsin), First Place  
WIN Maria De Almeida Dos Santos (Brazil), VFA, 0:20
WIN Karime Cortes Resendiz (Mexico), VFO
WIN Myah Phillips (Canada), VSU, 10-0
WIN Aomi Riques Morales (Peru), VSU, 10-0