Walters Captures 92kg Pan American Gold in Peru
6/12/2026 1:48:00 PM | Wrestling
LIMA, Peru -- University of Michigan wrestling redshirt freshman Hayden Walters captured 92kg freestyle gold at the U23 Pan-American Championships on Thursday (June 11) at the Videna Velodrome. It was Walters' first international medal.
Walters, who claimed a U23 National title less than two weeks earlier, posted a 4-0 record over the one-day tournament and posted a 7-2 win over Puerto Rico's Lorenzo Pellot-Vazquez in the championship final. He scored on three takedowns, including a go-behind on the edge in the opening minute then pulled away with two single-leg scores in the second period.
Walters also picked up a pair of tech fall victories, including a 10-0 semifinal win over Peru's Mauricio Sanchez Villa with a takedown and four gut wrenches in just 33 seconds.
Redshirt freshman Brock Mantanona and incoming freshman Haakon Peterson are slated to compete at the U20 Pan-American Championships next month in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
