Cali, Columbia, May 27, 2000 - Former Penn State wrestlers Kerry McCoy and Matt White won gold medals over the weekend at the 2000 Pan American Freestyle Championships in Cali, Columbia.

McCoy, a Nittany Lion coaching assistant and former two-time NCAA champion, helped lead the United States to the team title as he pinned the Dominican Republic's Gamalier Coats in the gold-medal match at 286 pounds. McCoy claimed one of two individual titles for the U.S. team as five other U.S. wrestlers brought home silver medals. Former Nittany Lion and Lock Haven graduate Cary Kolat claimed the U.S.'s other title at 139.75 pounds. Both Kolat and McCoy won U.S. National Championships earlier this year and will be No. 1 seeds at the upcoming U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Dallas, Texas, June 22-24.

McCoy's biggest win of the tournament came in the semi-final round as he downed 1998 World Champion Alexis Rodriquez of Cuba. McCoy is making a strong charge toward the Olympics as he has defeated the last two world champions this year. He beat 1999 champion Stephen Neal in the U.S. Nationals final.

Another former Nittany Lion claimed a surprising victory at the championships as Matt White, a team captain in 1992-93, claimed gold for Puerto Rico at 187.25 pounds. White, who battled numerous injuries while at Penn State and has been living in Puerto Rico the last several years, pinned the U.S.'s Charles Burton in the gold-medal match.