First NMU Greco-Roman Wrestlers to win titles
MONTERREY, Mexico – Max Black and Payton Jacobson of the Northern Michigan Greco-Roman Wrestling team made history on Thursday, becoming the first two to win gold for the institution at the 2025 Pan-American Championships.
Max Black (60 kg) went a perfect 4-0 in his matches to secure gold. He was dominant in his first two rounds with tech fall wins of 8-0 and 14-5. In the semifinal against Yonaiker Cravo Martinez of Venezuela, he was tested but held his ground for a 3-1 victory. In the final, Black showcased his dominance again with a 9-0 tech fall win over Alexis Rodriguez Hernandez of Mexico.
Jacobson (87 kg) lost his opening match 7-5 to Luis Avendano Rojas of Venezuela, putting him behind the eight-ball early. Because the bracket was pooled before being divided for the semifinal, the 2024 Paris Olympian still had another crack at advancing. He would do just that, winning the next three matches by 8-0 tech fall over Carlos Espinosa Castro of Peru, 5-3 over Sodrokov Kodzokov of Brazil, and another 8-0 tech fall over Ariel Alfonso Rodriguez of Honduras.
Jacobson then rematched with Rojas in the final, where the NMU standout was able to achieve a much different outcome with a 6-0 shutout victory for the title.
60 kg: Max Black (NYAC/NTS) – GOLD
WON Pedro De Souza Rodrigues (BRA) 8-0, TF
WON Andres Gonzalez Andrade (PAN) 14-5, TF
WON Yonaiker Cravo Martinez (VEN) 3-1
WON Alexis Rodriguez Hernandez (MEX) 9-0, TF
87 kg: Payton Jacobson (NYAC/NTS) – GOLD
LOSS Luis Avendano Rojas (VEN) 7-5
WON Carlos Espinosa Castro (PER) 8-0, TF
WON Sodrokov Kodzokov (BRA) 5-3
WON Ariel Alfonso Rodriguez (HON) 8-0, TF
WON Luis Avendano Rojas (VEN) 6-0
