Former Hawkeye NCAA champion earns title in first Pan Am appearance
TORONTO — Former University of Iowa national champion Brent Metcalf won a gold medal Friday at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto, Canada.
Metcalf defeated Cuba’s Franklin Maren, 8-2, in the 65 kg/143 lb. finals. He trailed 1-0 in the first two minutes following a push-out, but scored a takedown in the closing seconds of the first period 
and outscored Maren 6-1 in the second period to earn a gold medal in his first career Pan Am Games appearance.
Metcalf’s path to the finals included a 10-0 technical fall in the quarterfinals, and a 10-8 decision in the semifinals. He trailed Puerto Rico’s Franklin Gomez, 8-3, in the semifinals before scoring seven unanswered points and advancing to the gold medal match.
The United States also got a gold medal performance from Adeline Gray in women’s freestyle, and a silver medal effort from Angel Escobedo in men’s freestyle.
The Pan Am Games continue Saturday with Jordan Burroughs and Tervel Dlagnev aiming to defend their 2011 Pan Am gold medals. ESPN3 is providing a live stream of the event.
Metcalf returns to the mat Sept. 7-12 at the 2015 World Championships in Las Vegas.
Brent Metcalf (65 kg/143 lbs.)
Quarterfinals: Metcalf tech. fall Marbin Miranda Casasola (Guatemala), 10-0
Semifinals: Metcalf dec. Franklin Gomez (Puerto Rico), 10-8
Finals: Metcalf dec. Franklin Maren (Cuba), 8-2
