MONTERREY, MEXICO — It was a golden opening day of Women’s Wrestling on May 9^th at the Pan-American (Pan-Am) Championships in Monterrey, Mexico with both Surrey, British Columbia’s Ana and Karla Godinez Gonzalez winning gold in their respective weight classes. The two gold medals highlighted a four-medal performance by Canadian wrestlers during the day.

Ana Godinez Gonzalez, who trains out of Burnaby Mountain WC, was in a round robin with five other competitors. She began her competition with an 11-0 win over Melanie Jimenez of Mexico. Next, she dispatched Leonela Gruezo of Ecuador 10-0. That advanced her to the semifinal where she met American Savannah Cosme. Godinez Gonzalez had another strong showing winning by fall to punch her ticket to the finals. In the finals, she matched up with Astrid Montero of Venezuela, where she earned another fall to claim the gold.

As for Karla Godinez Gonzalez, she won her medal at 55kg. She was in a round robin with three other competitors. The Burnaby Mountain WC member opened the event with a 10-0 win over Andrea Avelino of Mexico. She continued to dominate in her second-round match, picking up an 11-0 win over Geisa Raphael of Brazil. In the final, she faced American Louisa Schwab, who had also beaten the other two competitors in the weight class. Godinez Gonzalez finished the tournament without conceding a point winning the gold 10-0.

“It has been a while since I wrestled internationally and just in general,” said Ana Godinez Gonzalez, when asked about winning her third senior Pan-Am Championship. “It felt great to just get back on the mats. Winning on the same day as Karla was also great, I knew she would win!”

“Winning this Pan-Am Championship felt good,” added Karla Godinez Gonzalez. “I felt that I did what I had been working on, so I am proud of that. I am also so happy for Ana. She had a tight match in the finals, and I got a little nervous. I get more nervous watching her than competing myself, so when she won, I was so happy because it meant we had both won gold.”

Canada also picked up a pair of silver medals on the day. Komoka, Ontario’s Madi Parks earned hers at 50kg, while Ajax, Ontario’s Nyla Burgess got hers at 72kg.

Also in action were St. Catharines, Ontario’s Mia Friesen who finished fifth at 57kg and St. Catharines’ Vanessa Keefe who was sixth at 68kg.

Saturday will see the remaining Women’s Wrestling weight classes in action, along with the first three Men’s Freestyle.