Wrestling: 2 Mahanoy grapplers capture gold at U.S. Open

Mahanoy Area wrestlers Arturo Reyes, left, and John Cambra IV won national championships recently at the U.S. Open. (Submitted Photo)

LAS VEGAS — In an achievement rarely seen at any level of youth-high school wrestling, two athletes from the Mahanoy Area School District captured national titles in freestyle competition at the prestigious U.S. Open, putting their small Pennsylvania community on the national wrestling map.

John Cambra IV, a fourth-grade standout, claimed the UWW Futures Freestyle National Championship at 33 kilograms, earning gold in his first-ever appearance at the event. Competing against top talent from across the country, Cambra displayed composure, advanced technique and confidence well beyond his years.

“This was his first U.S. Open, and he said it was his favorite tournament,” his father and coach John Cambra III said. “To see him compete at that level and enjoy every moment of it — it means everything. We’ll definitely be back.”

The young Cambra also embraced the full experience of the national stage, competing alongside high-level athletes he looks up to and gaining valuable exposure early in his career. His coach, Chance Marsteller, also won gold at 79 kg.

Joining them at the top of the podium was Arturo Reyes, a Mahanoy Area freshman, who captured the 15U 62 kg Freestyle U.S. Open Championship. Reyes battled through a deep bracket filled with elite competition, showcasing both skill and determination throughout the tournament.

What makes Reyes’ title run even more remarkable is what he overcame just days before. While competing in Greco-Roman at the event, Reyes suffered a significant mouth injury that resulted in fractures to multiple front teeth, leaving him in severe pain. Despite the setback, he made the decision to continue competing — and over the next two days, fought through adversity to claim the freestyle national title.

His performance was a testament to toughness and resilience, embodying the grit often associated with the sport at its highest levels.

Both Cambra and Reyes dedicate themselves year-round to improving their craft. They train with the Mat Assassins Wrestling Club in Avoca and the Stellar Trained Wrestling Club in Reading, where they consistently meet top-level partners and coaching.

For a single district like Mahanoy Area to produce two freestyle U.S. Open national champions in the same year is extraordinarily rare. The U.S. Open is considered one of the most competitive tournaments in the country and a proving ground for future stars in the sport.

Beyond the medals, the trip to Las Vegas was filled with memorable moments, growth and the kind of experience that shapes young athletes for years to come.

With both wrestlers still early in their careers, this historic accomplishment may just be the beginning for Mahanoy Area wrestling.