Arujau gets revenge on Decatur to set up best-of-three Junior World Team Trials finals

ROCHESTER, Minn. – Fueled by upsets, the 2018 Junior World Team Trials best-of-three finals are set for Saturday afternoon. Leading the way with standout performances in the challenge finals was Vitali Arujau at 61 kg, Andrew Alirez at 65 kg and Gable Steveson at 125 kg.

Below is a breakdown of each challenge finals match.

57 kg challenge finals- Heinselman over Bianche

Best of three finals- Heinselman vs. Courtney.
At 57 kg, Malik Heinselman controlled the action in an 8-2 victory over Paul Bianchi. The pair wrestled in the U.S. Open semifinals, where Heinselman was victorious with a 10-0 technical fall. In the best-of-three finals, Heinselman will have another rematch as he faces Brandon Courtney. Courtney defeated Heinselman 10-3 in the Open finals.

61 kg challenge finals- Arujau over Decatur

Best of three finals- Arujau vs. Gomez
At 61 kg, Vitali Arujau got the satisfaction of avenging an ugly 10-0 technical fall he suffered at the hands of Jordan Decatur at the U.S. Open. Heading into the second period down 2-0, Arujau made up for lost ground, scoring quickly off a big double-leg takedown on the edge of the mat. Once he got started, he couldn’t be stopped, putting together a flurry of scores to win, 8-2.  When asked what the difference was this time around, Arujau responded:

“In Vegas I was coming off a really long stretch of not really competing too hard,” Arujau said. “I took a redshirt year this year and mostly just went to open tournaments. The level of competition was pretty good, but it wasn’t at where I was before I started my college season. Since last time, I’ve had some really strong competitors come and help me, one being Nodirjon Safarov. He’s good friends of ours. He came in and I wrestled him for a straight week. I got my technique down and was really able to stay through those positions that I was having trouble in. That was the main difference between this time and last time. I was prepared.”

Arujau will face Austin Gomez in the finals, the two did not meet at the U.S. Open.

65 kg challenge finals Alirez over Lee

Best of three finals- Alirez vs. Demas
65 kg had one of the most unexpected results of the tournament as high school junior Andrew Alirez took out Penn State All-American Nick Lee, 10-0. Alirez scored quickly, converting a single-leg takedown directly into a leg lace, which eventually ended the match. Alirez will have Dom Demas in the best of three finals. The two did not meet at the U.S. Open.

When asked about wrestling college All-Americans as a high school junior, Alirez replied:

“I have a pretty brutal mentality. When I go in I think when you catch somebody in the street you don’t get to pick their age and weight, so I just go out there and fight and see how it goes.”

70 kg challenge finals- Berge over Carr

Best of three finals- Berge vs. O’Connor
At 70 kg Brady Berge emerged victorious in a back-and-forth nail biter with David Carr. After a relatively mundane first period resulting in a 2-1 lead for Carr, things got moving in the second. Carr scored another takedown to extend his lead to 4-1. Berge scored two step outs to make it 4-4 with a minute left in the match and criteria still favoring Carr. Carr was then called for fleeing the hold making it 5-4 in favor of Berge. Berge tacked on two more points on a go-behind off a Carr shot. Carr scored a step out with short time remaining, but it wasn’t enough and Berge claimed the 7-6 victory. Berge will have a rematch with Austin O’Connor in the best-of-three finals. O’Connor defeated him in the Open finals, 2-2, on criteria.

74 kg challenge finals- Lewis over Marinelli

Best of three finals- Lewis vs. Moody
After a fifth-place performance at the U.S. Open, Mekhi Lewis looked like a man on a mission, winning the Trials Challenge Tournament. To reach the finals he knocked off top seed, Cadet World bronze medalist Travis Wittlake. In the finals he another tall order taking on Iowa’s All-American Alex Marinelli. Lewis scored two quick takedowns and held on to outlast Marinelli, 6-5. In the finals he has another Iowa wrestler Jeremiah Moody. Moody defeated Lewis in the semifinals of the open, 8-6.

79 kg challenge finals- Labriola over Smith

Best of three finals- Labriola vs. Brooks
Mikey Labriola rolled through tough competition today with a 7-0 win over Trent Hidlay in the semifinals and a 16-5 tech over Ethan Smith in the challenge tournament finals. In the best-of-three finals he will be looking at a rematch with Cadet World champion Aaron Brooks. Brooks won 14-3 in the U.S. Open finals against Labriola.

86 kg challenge finals- Norfleet over Bonaccorsi

Best of three finals- Norfleet vs. Deprez
In a wild back-and-forth match, Kordell Norfleet came out on top of Nino Bonaccorsi, 13-12. This sets up a rematch with U.S. Open champion Louie Deprez. Norfleet and Deprez had a high-flying open semifinal, which ended 13-13 in Deprez’s favor.

92 kg challenge finals- Borst over Woodley

Best of three finals- Borst vs. Warner
John Borst bested a very game Jake Woodley, 7-6, to advance to the best-of-three finals. Borst beat Woodley, 3-2, in the U.S. Open semifinals, before falling, 10-0, to Jacob Warner in the championship match. He will have another crack at Warner in the finals tomorrow.

97 kg challenge finals- Elam over Miller

Best of three finals- Elam vs. Kerkvliet.
Zach Elam put on a dominating 14-4 performance over Quinn Miller, setting up a rematch with U.S. Open champion and Cadet World champion Daniel Kerkvliet. Kerkvliet earned a 10-0 tech fall over Elam in the open finals.

125 kg challenge finals- Steveson over Cassioppi

Best of three finals- Steveson vs. Gremmel.
Gable Steveson dominated the tournament as expected. Rolling over one of the top heavyweight prospects in the country, Tony Cassioppi, 12-2, in the finals. In the best-of-three finals, he will face U.S. Open champion Gannon Gremmel. 

2018 FREESTYLE WORLD TEAM TRIALS

at Rochester, Minn., May 18-20

Junior men’s freestyle

Best-of-three finals matchups
57 kg: Brandon Courtney (Arizona State) vs. Malik Heinselman (Titan Mercury)
61 kg: Austin Gomez (Cyclone RTC) vs. Vitali Arujau (New York AC)
65 kg: Dominic Demas (OKRTC) vs. Andrew Alirez (Northern Colorado WC)
70 kg: Austin O’Connor (Tar Heel WC) vs. Brady Berge (Nittany Lion WC)
74 kg: Jeremiah Moody (University of Iowa) vs. Mehki Lewis (SERTC-VT)
79 kg: Aaron Brooks (Titan Mercury/EAP) vs. Michael Labriola (Sunkist Kids)
86 kg: Lou DePrez (BWC) vs. Kordell Norfleet (Sunkist Kids)
92 kg: Jacob Warner (University of Iowa) vs. John Borst (SERTC-VT)
97 kg: Daniel Kerkvliet (Pinnacle) vs. Zach Elam (Team Central WC)
125 kg: Gannon Gremmel (Cyclone RTC) vs. Gable Steveson (Minnesota Storm)

Semifinal results
57 kg: Malik Heinselman (Titan Mercury) dec. Paul Bianchi (Bison Wrestling Club), 8-2
61 kg: Vitali Arujau (New York AC) dec. Jordan Decatur (Ohio Lightning Seasons), 8-2
65 kg: Andrew Alirez (Northern Colorado WC) tech. fall Nick Lee (Nittany Lion WC), 10-0
70 kg: Brady Berge (Nittany Lion WC) dec. David Carr (Titan Mercury), 7-5
74 kg: Mehki Lewis (SERTC-VT) dec. Alex Marinelli (University of Iowa), 6-5
79 kg: Michael Labriola (Sunkist Kids) tech. fall Ethan Smith (Ohio State-Unattached), 16-5
86 kg: Kordell Norfleet (Sunkist Kids) dec. Nino Bonaccorsi (Pittsburgh), 13-12
92 kg: John Borst (SERTC-VT) dec. Jacob Woodley (Oklahoma RTC), 7-6
97 kg: Zach Elam (Team Central WC) tech. fall Quinn Miller (University of Virginia), 14-4 
125 kg: Gable Steveson (Minnesota Storm) tech. fall Anthony Cassioppi (ISI), 12-2