Wrestling 21-22

[klehner]

Cornell recruit Vince Cornella (where else would he go?) won the U20 US Open at 65kg, beating many higher-ranked guys along the way.

Greg D. took fourth in the Senior Men's 57kg class; a great showing.

Next year:  Greg D, Vito, Vince, Yianni, Colton, Ramirez, Foca, Loew, Cardenas, Fernandes

[ugarte]

Cornell recruit Vince Cornella (where else would he go?) won the U20 US Open at 65kg, beating many higher-ranked guys along the way.

Greg D. took fourth in the Senior Men's 57kg class; a great showing.

Next year:  Greg D, Vito, Vince, Yianni, Colton, Ramirez, Foca, Loew, Cardenas, Fernandes

and that even assumes greg d. beats out ungar. embarrassment of riches.

[ugarte]

Lot of international qualifying going on. Day 1 of Final X, in Stillwater, was on June 3 and the US age group trials for the U20 and U23 teams started on June 3 as well.

At Final X, Vito Arujau lost 2-0 (12-2, 13-2) to multiple world/Olympic medalist Thomas Gilman. He's the alternate for Senior Worlds in Belgrade this September.
 

At the U23 trials, Philip Moomey, a Greco specialist and probably a great workout partner, won the 60kg title over the former U20 champ Max Black 2-0 (WBF, 8-0) and will represent the US at the world championships in Pontevedra, Spain this October.

At the U20 trials, Vince Cornella '26 came from behind to beat Oklahoma State's Carter Young 2-1 (3-4, 12-10, 4-1) and will represent the US at 65kg at the world championships in Sofia this August.

The U20 and U23 freestyle qualifiers are still going on. We do not have any wrestlers still alive in U20 (though Ethan Hatcher did beat the 1 seed at 86kg before losing a pair.) In U23, Greg Diakomihalis (57kg), Josh Saunders (65kg), Jonathan Loew (86kg) and Jacob Cardenas (92kg) are still alive in the QF. A lot of wrestlers are still alive in the consolation rounds, including Julian Ramirez, Chris Foca and Brendan Furman.

The second day of Final X qualifying, for the last 15 weights (across greco and men's and women's freestyle), is on June 8 at MSG. Yianni Diakomihalis (65kg) and Kyle Dake (74kg) will each have a best of three match for the chance to join Team USA in Belgrade.

[ugarte]

Learned today that by finishing second at Senior nationals, if Vito wants to take the U23 spot, he can. The broadcasters were assuming he would.

In the actual tournament, Jacob Cardenas won at 92kg, but may have his U23 spot taken (the same way Vito can take it) if Isaac Trumble wins his True Third* match at Final X on Wednesday.

Our other medalists:

57kg: Greg Diakomihalis - 3rd place
65kg: Jonathan Saunders - 6th place
86kg: Jonathan Loew - 4th place
86kg: Chris Foca - 6th place

*At World Team Trials, Nate Jackson beat Jay Aiello in the semis and Trumble in the finals. Because they both lost to the same guy, a "true third" match eliminates the luck of the draw. since both wrestlers only losses were to Jackson. If Aiello wins the True Third, Cardenas will hold his spot because only top 3 finishers at Senior Nationals can take an age-group slot they are eligible for and Aiello is 27 24 (the person who said 27 was kidding).

[klehner]

Learned today that by finishing second at Senior nationals, if Vito wants to take the U23 spot, he can. The broadcasters were assuming he would.

In the actual tournament, Jacob Cardenas won at 92kg, but may have his U23 spot taken (the same way Vito can take it) if Isaac Trumble wins his True Third* match at Final X on Wednesday.

Our other medalists:

57kg: Greg Diakomihalis - 3rd place
65kg: Jonathan Saunders - 6th place
86kg: Jonathan Loew - 4th place
86kg: Chris Foca - 6th place

*At World Team Trials, Nate Jackson beat Jay Aiello in the semis and Trumble in the finals. Because they both lost to the same guy, a "true third" match eliminates the luck of the draw. since both wrestlers only losses were to Jackson. If Aiello wins the True Third, Cardenas will hold his spot because only top 3 finishers at Senior Nationals can take an age-group slot they are eligible for and Aiello is 27.

Update:  Arujau will take the 57kg slot at U23; Aiello beat Trumble (in the final seconds) for true third, thus Cardenas will wrestle 92kg as well.

[ugarte]

Learned today that by finishing second at Senior nationals, if Vito wants to take the U23 spot, he can. The broadcasters were assuming he would.

In the actual tournament, Jacob Cardenas won at 92kg, but may have his U23 spot taken (the same way Vito can take it) if Isaac Trumble wins his True Third* match at Final X on Wednesday.

Our other medalists:

57kg: Greg Diakomihalis - 3rd place
65kg: Jonathan Saunders - 6th place
86kg: Jonathan Loew - 4th place
86kg: Chris Foca - 6th place

*At World Team Trials, Nate Jackson beat Jay Aiello in the semis and Trumble in the finals. Because they both lost to the same guy, a "true third" match eliminates the luck of the draw. since both wrestlers only losses were to Jackson. If Aiello wins the True Third, Cardenas will hold his spot because only top 3 finishers at Senior Nationals can take an age-group slot they are eligible for and Aiello is 27.

Update:  Arujau will take the 57kg slot at U23; Aiello beat Trumble (in the final seconds) for true third, thus Cardenas will wrestle 92kg as well.

After Aiello's big win for Cardenas, Yianni D. won (11-9, 14-4) for the 65kg title and Kyle Dake won (4-2, 2-1) to win at 79kg. So the final Cornell roster going to world championships:

U20 (August Sofia, Bulgaria)

65FS Vince Cornella '26

U23 (October Pontevedra, Spain)

57FS Vito Arujau '24
60GR Phillip Moomey '23
92FS Jacob Cardenas '25

Senior (September Belgrade, Serbia)

65FS Yianni Diakomihalis '23
74FS Kyle Dake '13

[cu155]

Ugarte, I think you mean Dake at 74kg

[ugarte]

Ugarte, I think you mean Dake at 74kg

uh... that's what i said. ;-)

[ugarte]

TBD but Yianni, because he's still U23 eligible, may take the U23 spot at 65kg as well, adding a trip to Spain to his passport regardless of what happens in Belgrade.

[Al DeFlorio]

Jordan Leen to become head coach at Brown: https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2022/June/13/Jordan-Leen-named-head-coach-at-Brown

[ugarte]

TBD but Yianni, because he's still U23 eligible, may take the U23 spot at 65kg as well, adding a trip to Spain to his passport regardless of what happens in Belgrade.

based on an email from coach Grey, yianni is taking the u23 spot. huge congrats to Jordan Leen. his title run was great.