Friday April 3rd 2026
On Thursday April 2nd, U17 Cadet National Team would begin their competition in Panama City, Panama. The tournament would also have a training camp attached to it in the second week. Vitalie Clima (FS 65 kg) of the Montreal Wrestling Club NTC was Quebec’s only representative for the competition and was accompanied by Coach Rob Moore, a veteran of many international competitions.
Vitalie’s tournament would begin with a Qualification match against Juan Carlos Luna Lopez from Nicaragua. Vitalie would win the match comfortably by Grand Superiority (10-0) and would move on to the Quarter-Finals to face Joaquin Alberto Chacon Junior of the United States of America. The match would be a close one, with the score being 1-0 after the first half. Vitalie would end up losing on points (7-2) and would have to wait to see if he would advance to the Repechage. Chacon Junior would lose his Semi-Final match to Jovani Isaias Solis of Puerto Rico by Grand Superiority (11-0), which meant that Vitalie would not advance to the Repechage. Vitalie would finish the tournament in 7th place overall.
As it becomes increasingly difficult to qualify for the Pan-American Championships, Vitalie should be commended for making it on to the Canadian Team and good luck at your future events.