University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Former Panther Earns Pan-American Gold
4/22/2019 9:03:00 AM | Wrestling
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Former UNI wrestler, Joe Colon, captured the Pan-American gold medal at 61 KG over the weekend.
Colon, a former UNI All-American wrestler, lost to Yowlys Bonne Rodriquez of Cuba in the World Championships a year ago but defeated the Cuban yesterday on his way to his first Pan-American gold medal. Colon outscored his three opponents 29-3 in the round-robin tournament.
2019 marked the first time in the history of the Pan-American games where a single country won every weight class. The United States captured gold in all eight weight classes including six titles by tech fall.
Colon wrestled for the Panthers during the 2011-12 season and again in the 2013-14 season. Â Colon won the 2014 MAC Championships at 133 pounds and finished third in the NCAA Tournament as a senior. Colon finished his career with a .911 winning percentage (62-6) the highest career winning percentage all-time for a Panther.
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Pan-American Championship Results
57 kg: GOLD - Joshua RODRIGUEZ (USA) TF Oscar TIGREROS URBANO (COL), 10-0
61 kg: GOLD – Joe COLON (USA) SILVER – Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB)
65 kg: GOLD - Colton MCCRYSTAL (USA) TF Damian SOLENZAL LOPEZ (CUB), 12-1
70 kg: GOLD - Anthony ASHNAULT (USA) SILVER - Nicholas ROWE (CAN)
74 kg: GOLD - Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) dec. Jevon BALFOUR (CAN), 7-0
86 kg: GOLD - David TAYLOR III (USA) TF Pedro CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN), 10-0
97 kg: GOLD - Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB), injury default
125 kg: GOLD - Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA) TF Korey JARVIS (CAN), 10-0
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Colon, a former UNI All-American wrestler, lost to Yowlys Bonne Rodriquez of Cuba in the World Championships a year ago but defeated the Cuban yesterday on his way to his first Pan-American gold medal. Colon outscored his three opponents 29-3 in the round-robin tournament.
2019 marked the first time in the history of the Pan-American games where a single country won every weight class. The United States captured gold in all eight weight classes including six titles by tech fall.
Colon wrestled for the Panthers during the 2011-12 season and again in the 2013-14 season. Â Colon won the 2014 MAC Championships at 133 pounds and finished third in the NCAA Tournament as a senior. Colon finished his career with a .911 winning percentage (62-6) the highest career winning percentage all-time for a Panther.
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Pan-American Championship Results
57 kg: GOLD - Joshua RODRIGUEZ (USA) TF Oscar TIGREROS URBANO (COL), 10-0
61 kg: GOLD – Joe COLON (USA) SILVER – Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB)
65 kg: GOLD - Colton MCCRYSTAL (USA) TF Damian SOLENZAL LOPEZ (CUB), 12-1
70 kg: GOLD - Anthony ASHNAULT (USA) SILVER - Nicholas ROWE (CAN)
74 kg: GOLD - Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) dec. Jevon BALFOUR (CAN), 7-0
86 kg: GOLD - David TAYLOR III (USA) TF Pedro CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN), 10-0
97 kg: GOLD - Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB), injury default
125 kg: GOLD - Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA) TF Korey JARVIS (CAN), 10-0
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