Photo by: Sam Janicki
Rivera Places at 2021 Pan-American Championships
May 31 | Wrestling
GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA – Sebastian Rivera finished fifth wrestling for Team Puerto Rico over the weekend at the 2021 Pan-American Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The 2021 All-American advanced to the championship semifinals competing at 65kg.
Rivera earned back-to-back wins over Alexis Magal (Mexico) and Agustin Destribats (Argentina) to begin the championships, with his 6-1 VPO1 result over Destribats, an Olympic qualifier, earning him a trip to the semifinals. Rivera bowed out of the tournament with a loss to Joey McKenna (USA) in the semifinals and a loss to Albaro Camacho (Dominican Republic) to place fifth.
Rivera wrapped up his first season with Rutgers wrestling with his third All-America honor after he finished fourth at the 2021 NCAA Championships in St. Louis. The two-time Big Ten Champion finished 12-3 during the abbreviated 2021 campaign and led the Scarlet Knights with a perfect 4-0 mark and team-high 15 points in dual action. Rivera has produced 84 victories during his collegiate career.
Under the guidance of head coach Scott Goodale, Rutgers closed the 2021 season with three All-Americans in the same year for the first time in program history, as Rivera (fourth), John Poznanski (fourth) and Jackson Turley (eighth) all earned All-America honors at the 2021 NCAA Championships in St. Louis. Along with two-time NCAA qualifiers Michael VanBrill (149) and Billy Janzer (197), RU produced 13 victories at nationals en route to a 13th-place finish with 37.5 team points.
Final Results
65kg: Sebastian Rivera (fifth, 2-2)
Sebastian Rivera VSU Alexis Magal (Mexico), 10-0 (0:45)
Sebastian Rivera VPO1 Agustin Destribats (Argentina), 6-1
Joey McKenna (USA) VSU Sebastian Rivera, 10-0 (1:37)
Albaro Camacho (Dominican Republic) VSU Sebastian Rivera, 10-0 (0:32)
Rivera earned back-to-back wins over Alexis Magal (Mexico) and Agustin Destribats (Argentina) to begin the championships, with his 6-1 VPO1 result over Destribats, an Olympic qualifier, earning him a trip to the semifinals. Rivera bowed out of the tournament with a loss to Joey McKenna (USA) in the semifinals and a loss to Albaro Camacho (Dominican Republic) to place fifth.
Rivera wrapped up his first season with Rutgers wrestling with his third All-America honor after he finished fourth at the 2021 NCAA Championships in St. Louis. The two-time Big Ten Champion finished 12-3 during the abbreviated 2021 campaign and led the Scarlet Knights with a perfect 4-0 mark and team-high 15 points in dual action. Rivera has produced 84 victories during his collegiate career.
Under the guidance of head coach Scott Goodale, Rutgers closed the 2021 season with three All-Americans in the same year for the first time in program history, as Rivera (fourth), John Poznanski (fourth) and Jackson Turley (eighth) all earned All-America honors at the 2021 NCAA Championships in St. Louis. Along with two-time NCAA qualifiers Michael VanBrill (149) and Billy Janzer (197), RU produced 13 victories at nationals en route to a 13th-place finish with 37.5 team points.
Final Results
65kg: Sebastian Rivera (fifth, 2-2)
Sebastian Rivera VSU Alexis Magal (Mexico), 10-0 (0:45)
Sebastian Rivera VPO1 Agustin Destribats (Argentina), 6-1
Joey McKenna (USA) VSU Sebastian Rivera, 10-0 (1:37)
Albaro Camacho (Dominican Republic) VSU Sebastian Rivera, 10-0 (0:32)
Players Mentioned
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