From left, Jack Conroy, Newtown’s Antonio Arguello, Milford’s Kayla Batres and Newington’s Braylon Gonzalez. Arguello, Batres and Gonzalez all participated at the Pan American Championships in Panama. (Photo courtesy South Side Wrestling Club)
Three Connecticut wrestlers were competing at the U15 Pan American Championships in Panama City, Panama this weekend with all three winning medals in their respective weight classes.
Milford’s Kayla Batres won a gold medal in women’s freestyle at 50 kilograms (110 pounds), helping the United States win the Pan American championship.
Newington’s Braylon Gonzalez, who wrestles for Xavier, was part of Team Puerto Rico and finished second at 57 kg (125 pounds) in Greco Roman. Newtown’s Antonio Arguello (68 kg/149 pounds) competed for El Salvador and finished third in freestyle.
All three wrestlers train with South Side Wrestling Club in Bridgeport.
Batres, a freshman at Greens Farms Academy in Westport, won three matches beating two wrestlers from Mexico and one from Puerto Rico, outscoring her three opponents by a combined score of 31-1. She beat Aneishka Santos Baez of Puerto Rico to win the gold medal. Batres was one of nine Americans to win gold in freestyle. Batres also beat Mexico’s Dana Chavez Martinez, 10-0 by tech fall in 33 seconds.
Milford’s Kayla Batres won a gold medal at the Pan American Championships in Panama. (Photo courtesy South Side Wrestling Club)
Team USA won the girls U15 title with 240 points with Ecuador finishing second with 120 points.
Gonzalez finished second, falling to American Austin Collins from Wray, Colorado in the gold medal match, 8-0 by tech fall in 2:53. In the Greco Roman competition, the Americans were first with 225 points followed by Mexico (153) and Puerto Rico (148). He finished 3-1 in the tournament.
Jack Conroy, the head coach at Greens Farms Academy in Westport, was an assistant coach with Team USA. He is also a coach at South Side Wrestling Club.
