The showcase tournament this weekend was the Pan-American Championships which were held for the first time in Canada in the city of Ottawa. Three Quebec athletes from the Montreal Wrestling Club/NTC and one the Tristar Wrestling Academy competed in the event, which precedes the Pan-Am Olympic Qualifiers next week.

In the Greco-Roman event in the 97 kg division Thomas Rahontsiiosta Barreiro (Tristar Wrestling Academy) withdrew due to injury and did not place.

Guseyn Ruslanzada prepares to engage

In the Freestyle event, Scott Schiller (Montreal Wrestling Club/NTC) wrestling in the 61 kg, lost in the finals to Tyler Lee Graff from the United States to take the Silver medal.

Scott Schiller vs. Tyler Lee Graff

Wrestling at 65 kg, Vincent De Marinis (Montreal Wrestling Club/NTC) would lose a tough first match to eventual Bronze medalist, Agustin Alejandro Destribats of Argentina. Destribats would lose in the semi-final, thereby eliminating Vincent from the tournament.

Vincent De Marinis vs. Agustin Alejandro Destribats

Finally in the 79 kg division, Guseyn Ruslanzada (Montreal Wrestling Club/NTC) would finish off his Round-Robin with a 1-1 record to also win a Silver medal, losing to Jason Michael Nolf of the United States and beating Victor Eduardo Hernandez Luna of Mexico by points (6-6).

Guseyn Ruslanzada vs. Jason Michael Nolf

Guseyn Ruslanzada vs. Victor Eduardo Hernandez Luna

Both Guseyn and Scott’s results helped Canada to finish off as the second best team for the tournament, behind the United States. Congratulations to our Quebec athletes this past weekend for their strong results!

Team Montreal Wrestling Club / NTC