Northwestern University Athletics
Pariano Leads Freestyle Squad to Cadet Pan-Am Championships Title
8/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Aug. 10, 2011
Cadet Pan Am Championships Recap -- TheMat.com
CAMPECHE, Mexico -- Under the direction of Northwestern head coach Drew Pariano, the United States freestyle team captured the overall team championship and brought home nine medals -- including five golds -- from the 2011 Cadet Pan American Championships in Campeche, Mexico last weekend.
"We are developing a more international style and this tournament effectively allowed us to test our match strategies," Pariano said. "We still need to learn when to attack and when to control our mat position. The entire U.S. contingent -- the athletes as well as the support staff -- were motivated to win gold medals."
Overseeing the entire U.S. delegation at the event was Brian Giffin, leader of the Beat the Streets youth wrestling program in Chicago.
"The Cadet program is a vital part of the development of our nation's top wrestlers," Giffin said. "This trip to Pan Am's was a strong step to helping us prepare tomorrow's Olympic and World Champions for their journey."
Before departing for Campeche, Pariano conducted a one-week intensive training camp in Chicago to prepare his team for elite-level freestyle competition. The American Greco Roman team matched Pariano's freestyle team by also winning the team championship along with four gold medals.
In his first year as head coach of Northwestern, Pariano led his alma mater to one of the dual best seasons in program history, going 18-2 with a 6-2 mark in the Big Ten and wins over ranked opponents from Illinois, Wisconsin, Purdue and Pittsburgh. The Wildcats maintained that momentum in the NCAA Championships as Pariano coached three of his five NCAA qualifiers to All-American status, placing NU in a tie for 13th nationally.
Read a complete recap of the Cadet Pan Am Championships by visiting TheMat.com, home page of USA Wrestling, linked at the top of the page.
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