Penn State wrestlers Mitchell Mesenbrink and Rocco Welsh each secured gold medals at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games held in Asuncion, Paraguay on August 22. Their victories contributed to a strong international showing for Penn State, as all seven of its wrestlers who competed abroad this week earned medals, including four golds, one silver, and two bronzes.
Mesenbrink took first place in the 74 kg weight class. He began his run with an 11-0 technical fall over Argentina’s Arnoldo Proboste in the quarterfinals. He followed up with another 11-0 technical fall against Ricardo Oyoque Vasquez of Venezuela to advance to the finals. In the championship match, he defeated Cuba’s Orisiandy Perdomo Brooks by a score of 10-0, completing a perfect tournament run.
Welsh captured gold in the 86 kg category. He started with a technical fall against Juan Cardozo Ibata of Colombia in the quarterfinals. Welsh continued with an 11-2 technical fall over Brazil’s Max Franca Magalhaes de Almeida to reach the final. In the title bout, he beat Cuba’s Geannis Garzon Tamayo with a score of 5-2.
Both wrestlers’ achievements added to Penn State’s recent success at international events after five Nittany Lions medaled earlier in the week at the U20 World Championships in Bulgaria.
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