OTTAWA— Wrestling Canada Lutte (WCL) is pleased to announce the athletes, coaches and team staff that will represent Canada at the 2022 Junior (U20) Pan-American (Pan-Am) Championships, July 8-10 in Oaxtepec, Mexico.

“Wrestling Canada Lutte is proud to be sending a strong contingent of athletes to the U20 Pan-American Championships in Mexico.” said Chris Woodcroft, WCL High Performance Director. “The group has a diverse array of international experiences with all athletes coming off outstanding performances at our National Wrestling Trials.  We are looking forward to seeing them compete against the best in the Americas and are confident that for many of them, this will be a steppingstone to the World Championships.”

The team was selected based on results at the 2022 Canadian Wrestling Trials in Edmonton. Out of the 20 wrestlers competing, 19 won their weight class at the Trials and were crowned national champions.

Not only will the team members be looking to claim a medal at the Pan-Ams, but they will also be vying for a spot on the World Championship team. The U20 World Championships will be held Aug. 15-21 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Notable competitors on the women’s team includes Ajax’s Nyla Burgess who just last year captured gold at the 2021 Junior Pan-Ams. Burgess, who trains out of Team Impact WC, is also a two-time Cadet Pan-Am bronze medalist. She will compete in the 72kg weight class. Joining Burgess is another multi-time continental medalist, Edmonton’s Vianne Rouleau. Rouleau, from Edmonton WC, captured silver at the 2019 and bronze at the 2018 Cadet Pan-Am championships.

On the men’s side, they will be led by a pair of recent junior Pan-Am medalists in Karan Gill and Amaan Gulacha. Gill, from Surrey, B.C. and Burnaby Mountain WC, won silver in 2021 at the Junior Pan-Ams in Mexico at 92kg. This year, he will be looking to capture the gold that eluded him. As for Gulacha, from Hamilton and Brock WC, he was a bronze medalist just last year at the Junior Pan-Ams as well at 70kg. He will look to improve on that this year at 74kg.

2022 Junior Pan-American Championships Team

Accompanying the team are the coaching staff and team officials. The group includes: Owen Dawkins, Martine Dugrenier, Heather Sweezey, Ken Burgess and Isabelle McLean-Smith.  Bobby Keomany and Candice Warren will also represent Canada as an official.

For complete tournament information, visit the tournament website at: https://uww.org/event/pan-american-championships-15