Austin DeSanto placed second at 61 KG at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas to qualify for the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament. As the fifth seed DeSanto started the tournament with a decision and tech fall before scoring a 12-0 tech fall over World Bronze medalist Joe Colon.
DeSanto then defeated #1 seed and former World Team member Seth Gross 5-4 in the semifinals. DeSanto then dropped a 10-0 tech fall to #2 seed Vito Arujau in the finals, 10-0.
DeSanto will now compete at the 2023 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Colorado Springs on Saturday, May 20 at Discovery Canyon High School. The winner of the Challenge Tournament will face Arujau at Final X in the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on June 9-10.
The only three weights being contested at the the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament are those that Team USA did not place at during the 2022 World Freestyle Championships: 61 kg, 92 kg, and 125 kg.
Alex Marinelli went 7-2 at 79 KG to place fourth. Spencer Lee won his first three matches leading to the semifinals. Lee then withdrew from the tournament by injury default to place sixth at 57 kg.
HWC members Pat Lugo (65 kg), Jayden Eierman (70 kg), and Kyle Summers (86 kg) did not place. Current Iowa Hawkeye Cullan Schriever (61 kg) and Nelson Brands (79 kg) did not place.
Incoming recruit Ben Kueter had to withdraw for the tournament due to injury default at 97 kg. Kueter is in the outstanding Recruiting Class of 2023.
2023 U. S. Open results
Spencer Lee – 57 kg
No. 2 Spencer Lee tech fall Darrion Harris (California), 10-0 (0:26)
No. 2 Spencer Lee tech fall Sheldon Seymour (Lehigh Valley WC), 10-0 (0:53)
No. 2 Spencer Lee decision No. 7 Caleb Smith (North Carolina), 9-4
No. 3 Nick Suriano (SKWC) wins by forfeit over No. 2 Spencer Lee
Austin Assad (Ohio) wins by forfeit over No. 2 Spencer Lee
No. 6 Cooper Flynn (SERT) wins by forfeit over No. 2 Spencer Lee
Cullan Schriever 61 kg
Cullan Schriever dec. Michael Colaiocco (Pennsylvania RTC), 11-5
Daneil DeShazer (Gopher WC-RTC) tech fall Cullan Schriever, 13-3 (5:31)
Cullan Schriever dec. Julian Farber (Panther WC-RTC), 8-3
Joe Colon (TMWC) tech fall Cullan Schriever, 10-0 (4:11)
Austin DeSanto – 61 kg
No. 5 Austin DeSanto dec. Aden Valencia (California RTC/TMWC), 3-0
No. 5 Austin DeSanto tech fall John Babineau (Viking RTC), 10-0 (0:24)
No. 5 Austin DeSanto tech fall No. 4 Joe Colon (TMWC), 12-0 (1:58)
No. 5 Austin DeSanto dec. No. 1 Seth Gross (SKWC), 5-4
No. 2 Vito Arujau (Spartan Combat RTC) tech fall No. 5 Austin DeSanto, 10-0 (0:54)
Pat Lugo – 65 kg
No. 4 Pat Lugo dec. Kyle Rowan (Ohio), 6-5
No. 4 Pat Lugo tech fall Connor Thorpe (Panther WC-RTC), 10-0 (1:34)
No. 5 Ridge Lovett (SKWC) dec. Pat Lugo, 7-5
Jason Miranda (California) wins by forfeit over No. 4 Pat Lugo
Jayden Eierman – 70 kg
Jayden Eierman tech fall Kaleb Burgess (New York), 10-0 (0:41)
Jayden Eierman dec. Napolean Aniciete (Aniciete TC), 5-0
Jayden Eierman dec. No. 6 Caleb Henson (Southeast RTC/TMWC), 11-5
No. 3 Hayden Hidlay (Wolfpack WC/TMWC) tech fall Jayden Eierman, 10-0 (5:06)
Jayden Eierman tech fall Christian Monserrat (New England RTC), 12-2 (5:32)
No. 7 Jarod Verkleeren (Cavalier WC) wins by injury over Jayden Eierman
Nelson Brands – 79 kg
No. 10 Nelson Brands tech falls Kevin Dufresne (New Jersey), 10-0 (1:32)
No. 7 Michael Kemerer (Spartan Combat RTC) dec. No. 10 Nelson Brands, 9-4
No. 10 Nelson Brands tech falls Bilal Bailey (Harvey Twisters WC), 17-6 (2:55)
No. 10 Nelson Brands tech falls Mitch Willett (Oregon), 10-0 (0:29)
No. 9 Devin Skatzka (Spartan Combat RTC) dec. No. 10 Nelson Brands, 13-4
Alex Marinelli – 79 kg
No. 4 Alex Marinelli dec. Bilal Bailey (Harvey Twisters WC), 6-1
No. 4 Alex Marinelli dec. No. 13 DJ Washington (Indiana RTC), 6-2
No. 5 David McFadden (Pennsylvania RTC) dec. No. 4 Alex Marinelli, 10-6
No. 4 Alex Marinelli tech falls Carson Kharchla (Ohio RTC), 10-0 (3:59)
No. 4 Alex Marinelli dec. No. 9 Devin Skatzka (Spartan Combat RTC), 6-0
No. 4 Alex Marinelli wins by forfeit over No. 2 Carter Starocci (NLWC)
No. 5 David McFadden (Pennsylvania RTC) tech falls No. 4 Alex Marinelli, 10-0 (2:22)
Kyle Summers – 86 kg
Victor Marcelli (Cavalier WC) tech fall Kyle Summers, 10-0 (4:09)
Kyle Summers pinned Brett Perkins (Hawaii), 3:30
Kyle Summers tech falls Jaykob Mills (Texas RTC), 10-0 (1:50)
Nathan Haas (California) dec. Kyle Summers, 8-0
Ben Kueter – 97 kg
No. 5 Ben Kueter dec. Malik McDonald (Golden Pride WC), 12-8
No. 4 Samuel Mitchell (Bulls WC) wins by injury over No. 5 Ben Kueter
Marco Retano (La Grande Mat Club) wins by injury over No. 5 Ben Kueter
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