Representing Team USA, Lindbergh High School alum Will Scherer earned a silver medal wrestling in the 2026 U20 Pan-American Championships on July 11. Scherer competed at 77 kilograms against the top Greco-Roman wrestlers from the Americas, all under the age of 20, having earned his spot to represent the country following a second-place finish at this year’s U20 Greco-Roman U.S. Open held in Las Vegas in April.

Greco-Roman wrestling is a form of the sport that differs from typical freestyle wrestling as Greco-Roman prohibits holds, trips and grabs below the waist. Scherer has been wrestling since he was 13 years old.

The sole wrestler in his weight class from the U.S., Scherer faced individuals from Colombia and Peru, winning against both competitors, before securing a spot in the finals against Brazilian Miguel Xavier Dos Santos. Scherer earned second place in the competition.

“I got to hear that Brazilian national anthem, and it stung a little bit, but it’s (going) to get me back in the weight room and training,” Scherer said. “Honestly, I just think it makes you hungry, to picture his face and him celebrating … I think if this doesn’t motivate you, you’re not alive. And if you’re not grateful for the opportunity to even wrestle in an event like this, you’re not a happy person. I’m not going to say I’m bitter about this, because I’m not … I’m very grateful for this experience.”