University of Minnesota Athletics
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/ Men's Gymnastics
‘U’ Athletes Earn Six Medals at 2019 Pan American Games
8/13/2019 10:08:00 AM | Athletics, Men's Gymnastics, Men's Track & Field, Softball, Women's Swimming & Diving, Women's Track & Field, Wrestling
MINNEAPOLIS – Five athletes with ties to the University of Minnesota combined to win six medals at the 2019 Pan American Games over the last two weeks in Lima, Peru.
The final medal tally for the Gophers contingency included two gold medals (Pat Smith, Sarah Bacon), two silver medals (Bacon, Sara Groenewegen) and two bronze medals (Sean Donnelly, Justin Karstadt).
Minnesota swimming & diving's Sarah Bacon led the way with a pair of diving medals for the United States, opening the competition with a silver medal in the three-meter synchro (290.10) with partner Brooke Schultz before adding a gold medal a day later in the one-meter springboard (284.10). The two-time NCAA champion and reigning Big Ten Diver of the Year added a fifth-place finish in the three-meter springboard (317.30) to close out the event.
Gopher Wrestling alum Pat Smith also added a gold medal – his fourth Pan American Games title – in Greco-Roman wrestling's 77-kilogram weight class. Smith, whose titles in 2015, 2016 and 2017 came at a higher weight class, edged Wuilexis Rivas of Venezuela in the championship bout with a 3-2 decision as Smith scored all of his points in the final period. He earned a 4-1 decision over Colombia's Jair Cuero Munoz in the quarterfinals before defeating Mexico's Emmanuel Benitez Castro 5-1 in the semifinals.
Gopher Softball alum Sara Groenewegen guided Canada to a silver medal in women's softball while finishing among the top-10 pitchers in earned run average (seventh at 1.87) and strikeouts (tied for sixth with 18). Groenwegen opened the tournament with a perfect game – striking out 10 in an 8-0 rout of Venezuela during the preliminary round – and later added two shutout innings of relief work to close out the preliminary round in a 4-0 victory over Mexico. She started both of Canada's games during the medal round – a 3-2 win over the U.S. in the semifinals and a 3-1 loss to the U.S. in the grand final – but did not earn a decision in either contest.
Minnesota Track & Field alum Sean Donnelly picked up a bronze medal in the men's hammer throw. Donnelly posted his best attempt of the competition with a throw of 74.23 meters (243-06 ft.), finishing as the top American at the competition.
Gopher Men's Gymnastics alum Justin Karstadt continued his busy summer in Lima by helping Canada bring home its first team Pan Am medal since 1999 with a bronze medal. He also qualified for the pommel horse and parallel bars finals, where he took seventh and sixth place, respectively. Karstadt and Team Canada kicked off action in Subdivision 1 of the team competition. Canada faced off against Brazil, Argentina and Mexico and scored 246.725, just behind Brazil, as Subdivision 2 began. Team USA managed to best Canada in Subdivision 2, but couldn't top Brazil, allowing Canada to hold on to medal position and claim third place. Karstadt competed all-around for Canada in the team final and finished in the top 10 on two events: pommel horse (13.900) and parallel bars (13.900) to qualify for finals in both. He also finished ninth in the all-around race with a final score of 78.950 en route to the team's bronze medal.The Pan Am pommel horse final took place on Tuesday afternoon, where Karstadt placed 12.366 for seventh place. The artistic gymnastics competition concluded on Wednesday with the men's vault, parallel bars and high bar finals. Karstadt, who recently took silver at Canadian Nationals on the event, competed in the No. 2 spot on parallel bars and came away with 13.233 for sixth place.
Meanwhile, Gopher Volleyball alums Samantha Seliger-Swenson, Hannah Tapp and Sarah Wilhite were in action for the U.S. in women's volleyball as Team USA finished seventh at the Pan American Games. Tapp led all players with an average of 0.94 blocks per set while Wilhite led the U.S. in scoring with 46 points (38 kills, three blocks, five aces).
The final medal tally for the Gophers contingency included two gold medals (Pat Smith, Sarah Bacon), two silver medals (Bacon, Sara Groenewegen) and two bronze medals (Sean Donnelly, Justin Karstadt).
Minnesota swimming & diving's Sarah Bacon led the way with a pair of diving medals for the United States, opening the competition with a silver medal in the three-meter synchro (290.10) with partner Brooke Schultz before adding a gold medal a day later in the one-meter springboard (284.10). The two-time NCAA champion and reigning Big Ten Diver of the Year added a fifth-place finish in the three-meter springboard (317.30) to close out the event.
Gopher Wrestling alum Pat Smith also added a gold medal – his fourth Pan American Games title – in Greco-Roman wrestling's 77-kilogram weight class. Smith, whose titles in 2015, 2016 and 2017 came at a higher weight class, edged Wuilexis Rivas of Venezuela in the championship bout with a 3-2 decision as Smith scored all of his points in the final period. He earned a 4-1 decision over Colombia's Jair Cuero Munoz in the quarterfinals before defeating Mexico's Emmanuel Benitez Castro 5-1 in the semifinals.
Gopher Softball alum Sara Groenewegen guided Canada to a silver medal in women's softball while finishing among the top-10 pitchers in earned run average (seventh at 1.87) and strikeouts (tied for sixth with 18). Groenwegen opened the tournament with a perfect game – striking out 10 in an 8-0 rout of Venezuela during the preliminary round – and later added two shutout innings of relief work to close out the preliminary round in a 4-0 victory over Mexico. She started both of Canada's games during the medal round – a 3-2 win over the U.S. in the semifinals and a 3-1 loss to the U.S. in the grand final – but did not earn a decision in either contest.
Minnesota Track & Field alum Sean Donnelly picked up a bronze medal in the men's hammer throw. Donnelly posted his best attempt of the competition with a throw of 74.23 meters (243-06 ft.), finishing as the top American at the competition.
Gopher Men's Gymnastics alum Justin Karstadt continued his busy summer in Lima by helping Canada bring home its first team Pan Am medal since 1999 with a bronze medal. He also qualified for the pommel horse and parallel bars finals, where he took seventh and sixth place, respectively. Karstadt and Team Canada kicked off action in Subdivision 1 of the team competition. Canada faced off against Brazil, Argentina and Mexico and scored 246.725, just behind Brazil, as Subdivision 2 began. Team USA managed to best Canada in Subdivision 2, but couldn't top Brazil, allowing Canada to hold on to medal position and claim third place. Karstadt competed all-around for Canada in the team final and finished in the top 10 on two events: pommel horse (13.900) and parallel bars (13.900) to qualify for finals in both. He also finished ninth in the all-around race with a final score of 78.950 en route to the team's bronze medal.The Pan Am pommel horse final took place on Tuesday afternoon, where Karstadt placed 12.366 for seventh place. The artistic gymnastics competition concluded on Wednesday with the men's vault, parallel bars and high bar finals. Karstadt, who recently took silver at Canadian Nationals on the event, competed in the No. 2 spot on parallel bars and came away with 13.233 for sixth place.
Meanwhile, Gopher Volleyball alums Samantha Seliger-Swenson, Hannah Tapp and Sarah Wilhite were in action for the U.S. in women's volleyball as Team USA finished seventh at the Pan American Games. Tapp led all players with an average of 0.94 blocks per set while Wilhite led the U.S. in scoring with 46 points (38 kills, three blocks, five aces).
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