Dodgeville High School graduate Haakon Peterson is a gold medalist once again, winning the 74kg (163.14 lbs.) Freestyle Division for Team USA in the U20 Division in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Peterson is a four-time Wisconsin State Wrestling Champion for Dodgeville and future University of Michigan Wolverine.
Peterson defeated Canada’s Ali Karout by tech fall, 10-0 to claim the title. He beat Rafel Omar Garcia Morales of Brazil 4-2 in the semifinals and Kevin Frabci Aleman Gomez of El Salvador 9-2 in the quarterfinals.
The championship is Peterson’s third Pan-Am gold medal, after winning two gold medals at the 2021 U15 Pan-Am Games in Mexico.
Peterson is shown dominating an opponent in Brazil on the way to his championship. Photo by Bret Peterson.