Junior Men's Freestyle World Team Trials Finals set

Vito Arujau placed fourth at the Senior Open, but will be competing in the Junior World Team Trials finals. Photo by Justin Hoch.

The 2019 Junior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament has concluded. The winners of the Challenge Tournament will face the winners of the 2019 U.S. Open tomorrow to decide who will represent Team USA in Estonia this August. 
The only exception is at 125 kg, where the U.S. Open Champion Anthony Cassioppi opted not to compete. The final tomorrow will be between Trent Hillger and Mason Parris who won their semifinal matches today.
The 57 kg matchup will feature Vito Arujau and Open champion Malik Heinselman. Arujau competed in the Senior division of the Open and placed fourth. He won by technical fall in all of his matches in the Challenge Tournament.
At 61 kg, it will be Open Champion Gabe Tagg squaring off with Jaime Hernandez. Hernandez defeated Roman Bravo-Young 10-5 in the Challenge Tournament finals, avenging a 9-4 loss from the Open. Hernandez just finished his sophomore year at the University of North Carolina and Tagg is an incoming Tar Heel recruit.
Keegan O’Toole won the 65 kg division at the Challenge Tournament and will face Yahya Thomas for the World Team spot. O’Toole took seventh at the Open where he lost to Thomas on criteria, 4-4.
Brayton Lee emerged from the Challenge Tournament defeating Cadet World bronze medalist Jacori Teemer and Nebraska redshirt, Peyton Robb. Lee was a finalist at the Open and will have a rematch with Sam Sasso to earn a World Team spot. Sasso won 10-0 at the Open.
Shane Griffith teched his way through the tournament at 74 kg. He made the 79 kg finals at the Open, losing to Aaron Brooks in the finals. Down at his more competitive weight class, he will have Cadet World bronze medalist David Carr in the finals.
After a fourth place finish at the Open, Parker Keckeisen finished top dog in the Challenge Tournament. He will have returning Junior World silver medalist Aaron Brooks in the finals. Brooks defeated Keckeisen 10-0 at the Open
Victor Marcelli won the Challenge Tournament at 86 kg. In the semifinals he avenged a 10-1 Open loss to Zachary Braunagle, 6-6. In the finals he will have Open champion Trent Hidlay.
At 92 kg Brandon Whitman took him the Challenge Tournament title. He will Lucas Davison in the best-of-three finals. Davison defeated Whitman in the Open semifinals, 10-0.
Tanner Sloan was another wrestler who teched his way through the tournament. The 97 kg Challenge Tournament champion will face Sam Schuyler in the finals. Schuyler defeated Sloan in the Open finals 17-13.
The best-of-three finals begin tomorrow at 1:30 pm EST on Flowrestling.


Best-of-three Finals
57 kg: Vitali Arujau (FLWC) vs. Malik Heinselman (tOSU)
61 kg: Jaime Hernandez (THWC) vs. Gabe Tagg (EAP)
65 kg: Keegan O'Toole (AWA) vs. Yahya Thomas (NWU)
70 kg: Brayton Lee (MNRTC) vs. Sam Sasso (tOSU)
74 kg: Shane Griffith (CRTC) vs. David Carr (CRTC)
79 kg: Parker Keckeisen (AWA) vs. Aaron Brooks (TMWC/EAP)
86 kg: Victor Marcelli (OHWC) vs. Trent Hidlay (WWC)
92 kg: 92 kg: Brandon Whitman (THWC) vs. Lucas Davison TMWC)
97 kg: Tanner Sloan (JWC) vs. Sam Schuyler (BWC)
125 kg: Trent Hillger (Unattached) vs. Mason Parris (CKWC)


Challenge Tournament Finals Results
57 kg: Vitali Arujau (Finger Lake WC) TF Michael Colaiocco (Unattached), 12-0 1:25
61 kg: Jaime Hernandez (Tar Heel Wrestling Club) dec Roman Bravo-young (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club), 10-5
65 kg: Keegan O'Toole (Askren Wrestling Academy Lake Country) TF Lucas Revano (Unattached), 10-0 5:08
70 kg: Brayton Lee (Minnesota Regional Training Center) dec Peyton Robb (Nebraska Wrestling Training Center), 17-8
74 kg: Shane Griffith (California Regional Training Center (CRTC)) TF Danny Braunagel (Illinios RTC), 13-2 4:16
79 kg: Parker Keckeisen (Askren Wrestling Academy North Shore) dec Jake Allar (Minnesota Regional Training Center), 7-6
86 kg: Victor Marcelli (Old Hickory Wrestling Club) dec Jack Jessen (Chicago Regional Training Center/Wildcat WC), 9-6
92 kg: Brandon Whitman (Tarheel Wrestling Club) dec Jakob Woodley (Unattached), 5-3
97 kg: Tanner Sloan (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club) TF Kyle Lightner (Scarlet Knights Wrestling Club), 11-0 3:32
125 kg Semifinals Results
Trent Hillger (Unattached) TF Zachary Knighton-ward (Blue & Gold Wrestling Club), 10-0 1:42
Mason Parris (Cliff Keen Wrestling Club) dec John Borst (Unattached), 7-4