2019 Beat the Streets Grapple at the Garden bios
Share:
by USA Wrestling
2019 World Champion David Taylor will be squaring off with NCAA Champion Drew Foster at Grapple at the Garden
Here is some information on tonight's Beat the Streets Grapple at the Garden competitors.
High School girls 122 lbs.- Elleny Seda vs. Valentina Bailon
High School boys 138 lbs.- Jo Jo Aragona vs. Adam Busiello
Men’s Freestyle 57 kg
Nick Piccininni, East Setauket, N.Y. (Titan Mercury WC/Cowboy RTC)
College: Oklahoma State High School: East Setauket, NY. (Ward Melville) Born: December 16, 1996
• Fourth in 2016 UWW Junior World Team Trials
• Fourth in 2016 UWW Junior Nationals
• Sixth in 2018 U23 World Team Trials
• Fourth in 2017 NCAA Championships
• Fifth in 2019 NCAA Championships
• Four-time New York state high school champion for Ward Melville
Jack Mueller, Dallas, Texas (Cavalier WC)
College: Virginia High School: Dallas, Texas (Trinity Christian Academy), Kingston, Pa. (Wyoming Seminary) Born: September 23, 1997
• Fifth in 2018 U23 World Championships
• 2018 U23 World Team Trials champion
• Third in 2015 UWW Junior World Team Trials
• Fourth in 2017 UWW Junior World Team Trials
• Second in 2019 NCAA Championships for Virginia
• Sixth in 2017 NCAA Championships
• Four-time Prep School National champion in high school
Women’s freestyle 62 kg
Mallory Velte, Sacramento, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC)
College: Simon Fraser Univ. High School: Sacramento, Calif. (Christian Brothers) Born: March 4, 1995
• 2018 World bronze medalist
• 2018 Final X champion
• 2017 U.S. World Team member
• Second in 2016 World Team Trials at 60 kg
• 2018 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• 2018 U.S. Open runner-up
• Third in 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials
• 2016 Canada Cup champion
• 2016 and 2017 University Nationals champion
• Third in 2017 U.S. Open
• Three-time WCWA national champion for Simon Fraser (2016, 2017, 2018)
• Fifth in the 2013 Junior World Championships
• Two-time California state high school champion
Linda Morais (Canada)
Born: July 31, 1993
• 2016 World bronze medalist
• 2016 and 2018 World University champion
• 2016 Commonwealth Championships champion
• Seventh in 2017 World Championships
• Ninth in 2018 World Championships
Men’s Freestyle 70 kg
James Green, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska WTC)
College: Nebraska High School: Willingboro, N.J. Born: Dec. 19, 1992
• 2017 World silver medalist
• 2015 World bronze medalist
• 2018 World Team member
• 2018 Final X champion
• 2014 University World silver medalist
• 2016 World Cup champion
• 2017 U.S. Open champion
• Three-time Grand Prix of Spain champion (2015-17)
• Four-time NCAA All-American for Nebraska (2012-15)
• 2014 Big Ten champion
Anthony Ashnault, South Plainfield, N.J. (Scarlet Knight WC)
College: Rutgers High School: South Plainfield, N.J. Born: June 25, 1995
• 2019 Pan American Championships champion
• 10th in 2014 University World Championships
• 2014 University Nationals champion
• Fourth in 2015 UWW Junior World Team Trials
• 2019 NCAA champion for Rutgers
• Four-time NCAA All-American (6th – 2017, 4th -2016, 8th – 2015), first in Rutgers history
• First four-time undefeated New Jersey state high school champion for South Plainfield HS
Men’s Freestyle 97 kg
Kyle Snyder, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC
College: Ohio State High School: Olney, Md. (Our Lady of Good Counsel); Colorado Springs, Colo. (Coronado) Born: Nov. 20, 1995
• 2016 Olympic champion
• Two-time World champion (2015, 2017)
• 2018 World silver medalist
• 2013 Junior World Champion
• 2014 Junior World bronze medalist
• Two-time Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix champion (2017, 2018)
• 2015 Pan American Games champion
• Two-time Pan American Championships champion (2017, 2018)
• 2016 World Cup champion
• 2015 U.S. Open champion
• Three-time NCAA champion and four-time finalist for Ohio State
• Three-time Prep School national champion for Our Lady of Good Counsel
Nishan Randhawa (Canada)
Born: December 5, 1997
• 2015 Junior World bronze medalist
• Seventh in 2017 Junior World Championships
• Two-time Canadian U23 World Team member
• Third in 2017 Pan American Senior Championships
• 2016 and 2017 Pan American Junior champion
• 2013 Canadian Cadet World Team member
Men’s freestyle - 125 kg
Nick Gwiazdowski, Raleigh, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC/Wolfpack RTC)
College: North Carolina State, Binghamton High School: Duanesburg, N.Y. Born: December 30, 1992
• 2017 and 2018 World bronze medalist
• 2018 Final X champion
• 2017 U.S. Open champion
• 2018 and 2019 Pan American Championships champion
• 2016 Bill Farrell International Champion
• Two-time Grand Prix of Spain champion (2015, 2017)
• Third in 2018 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix (Russia)
• Two-time NCAA champion and three-time finalist for NC State
• Four-time NCAA All-American, also All-American for Binghamton as a freshman
• Two-time New York state high school champion
Derek White, Edmond, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC/Cowboy RTC)
College: Oklahoma State, Nebraska High School: Edmond, Okla. (Edmond North) Born: August 9, 1995
• Fourth in 2019 U.S. Open
• 2019 NCAA runner-up for Oklahoma State
• Third in 2013 Junior Nationals
• Two-time Oklahoma state high school champion and one-time runner-up for Edmond North
Women’s freestyle - 53 kg
Becka Leathers, Chapel Hill, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC/Tarheel RTC)
College: Grays Harbor CC, Oklahoma City High School: Choctaw, Okla. Born: November 19, 1996
• 2017 World bronze medalist
• Second in 2018 Final X
• 2018 U.S. Open champion
• 2017 World Team Trials champion
• 2015 Junior World bronze medalist
• 2017 Pan American Championships champion
• 2017 Dave Schultz Memorial International champion
• 2017 University Nationals champion
• Second in 2017 U.S. Open
• Three-time UWW Junior Nationals champion (2014-16)
• 2016 WCWA national champion for Oklahoma City
• Four-time USA Wrestling Junior Folkstyle National champion
Diana Weicker (Canada)
Born: May 26, 1989
• 2018 World bronze medalist
• 2018 Commonwealth Games champion
• Third in 2019 Pan American Championships
• 2017 Canadian Senior World Team member
• 2017 Canada Cup champion
Men’s freestyle - 61 kg
Joe Colon, Fresno, Calif. (Titan Mercury WC/Valley RTC)
College: Northern Iowa, Iowa Central CC High School: Clear Lake, Iowa Born: Jan. 22, 1991
• 2018 World bronze medalist
• 2018 Final X runner-up
• 2018 and 2019 Pan-American gold medalist
• 2018 U.S. Open champion
• Second in 2018 Alexander Medved Prizes (Belarus)
• 2018 Dave Schultz Memorial International champion
• Second in 2015 World Team Trials
• Third in 2014 NCAA Championships for Northern Iowa
• 2010 NJCAA national champion for Iowa Central CC
• Two-time Iowa state high school champion
Nick Suriano, Paramus, N.J. (Scarlet Knight WC)
College: Rutgers, Penn State High School: Oradell, N.J. (Bergen Catholic) Born: April 12, 1997
• 2019 NCAA champion for Rutgers, the school’s first NCAA champion
• Second in the 2018 NCAA Championships for Rutgers
• 2107 NCAA qualifier for Penn State
• 2017 Midlands champion
• Four-time New Jersey state high school champion for Bergen Catholic
Men’s Freestyle - 86 kg
David Taylor, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
College: Penn State High School: St. Paris, Ohio (Graham) Born: Dec. 5, 1990
• 2018 World champion
• Three-time U.S. Open champion (2015, 2017, 2018)
• 2017 and 2018 World Cup champion
• 2018 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix champion (Russia)
• 2018 Pan American Championships champion
• Third in 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials
• Two-time U.S. World Team Trials runner-up (2014, 2017)
• Third in 2013 World University Games
• Two-time Grand Prix of Spain champion (2015, 2016)
• Two-time NCAA champion for Penn State (2012, 2014)
• Two-time Dan Hodge Trophy recipient, as nation’s best college wrestler (2012, 2014)
• Four-time NCAA finalist
• 2018 United World Wrestling Freestyle Wrestler of the Year
• Four-time Ohio state high school champion
Drew Foster, Burlington, Iowa (Panther RTC)
College: Northern Iowa High School: Burlington, Iowa (Mediapolis) Born: March 12, 1996
• 2019 NCAA champion for Northern Iowa
• Two-time Big 12 champion
• 2019 Midlands champion
• Second in Iowa state high school championships for Mediapolis
Men’s freestyle - 92 kg
J’den Cox, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC/OTC)
College: Missouri High School: Columbia, Mo. (Hickman) Born: March 3, 1995
• 2018 World champion
• 2016 Olympic Games bronze medalist
• 2017 World bronze medalist
• 2016 World Olympic Games Qualifier champion (Mongolia)
• 2018 U.S. Open champion
• Three-time NCAA champion for Missouri (2014, 2016-17)
• Four-time NCAA All-American
• Four-time Mid-American Conference champion (2014-17)
• Four-time Missouri state high school champion
Patrick Brucki, Orland Park, Ill. (NJRTC)
College: Princeton High School: Orland Park, Ill. (Carl Sandberg) Born: Dec. 1, 1998
• Fourth in 2019 NCAA Championships for Princeton
• Third in 2016 Junior Nationals
• 2017 Illinois state high school champion
Men’s freestyle - 65 kg
Yianni Diakomihalis, Rochester, N.Y. (TMWC/Finger Lakes RTC)
College: Cornell High School: Rochester, N.Y. (Hilton) Born: April 11, 1990
• 2019 U.S. Open champion and Outstanding Wrestler
• Two-time Cadet World champion (2015, 2016)
• Third in 2016 and 2017 UWW Junior Nationals
• 2018 and 2019 NCAA champion for Cornell
• Four-time New York state champion
Bajrang Punia (India)
Born: February 12, 1994
• 2018 World silver medalist
• 2017 and 2019 Asian Championships champion
• 2018 Commonwealth Games champion
• 2016 and 2017 Commonwealth Championships champion
• 2017 U23 World silver medalist
• Fifth in 2015 World Championships
Men’s freestyle - 74 kg
Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska WTC)
College: Nebraska High School: Atco, N.J. (Winslow Township) Born: July 8, 1988
• 2012 Olympic Champion (2012)
• Four-time World champion (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017)
• Third in 2014 and 2018 World Championships
• Two-time U.S. Olympic Team member (2012, 2016)
• Two-time Pan American Games champion (2011, 2015)
• Six-time World Cup champion (2012-2015, 2017-18)
• Three-time U.S. Open champion (2011, 2013, 2014)
• Two-time Pan American Championships champion (2014, 2016)
• Two-time NCAA champion for Nebraska (2009, 2011) and three-time All-American
• 2011 Dan Hodge Trophy winner, as nation’s top college wrestler (2011)
• 2006 New Jersey state high school champion
Ben Askren, Wauwatosa, Wis.
College: Missouri High School: Hartland, Wis. (Arrowhead) Born: July 18, 1984
• Seventh in 2008 Olympic Games
• 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials champion
• 2008 U.S. Open champion
• 2005: Pan American Championships champion
• 2010 Dave Schultz Memorial International champion
• 2007 New York AC Holiday International champion
• Fifth in 2006 and 2007 U.S. World Team Trials
• Sixth in 2006 U.S. Open
• Two-time NCAA champion and four-time NCAA finalist at the Univ. of Missouri
• 2006 and 2007 Hodge Trophy winner
• Two-time Wisconsin state champion for Arrowhead High School (2000-01)
• MMA – current UFC fighter, ranked No. 5 at Welterweight
• MMA – past One FC champion, past Bellator champion
Read More#
Melelashvili clinches Greco-Roman gold, six other U.S. wrestlers power into Senior Pan American finals
Blades, Jimenez, Nette shine in finals, Welker named women’s freestyle OW at 2025 CLAW U.S. Open Championships
Media Reports: Freestyle National Team member and NCAA runner-up Sammy Sasso reportedly sh...
Drury, Matthews and Voelker pulled into repechage in Greco-Roman at U20 World Championships
