2019 Cadet and U23 World Team Trials

Akron Upsets: U23 Freestyle - Session 1

Akron Upsets: U23 Freestyle - Session 1

Upsets from the first session of the U23 freestyle world team trials in Akron, Ohio.

Jun 1, 2019 by Andrew Spey
Akron Upsets: U23 Freestyle - Session 1
Almost every U23 freestyle weight class in Akron has round of 126 pigtail matches, so despite only having wrestled through the round of 64 so far today, there has been a lot of great action here in the Stile Athletic Field House. Below are some of the noteworthy upsets we spied in FloArena from the first session of wrestling.

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Almost every U23 freestyle weight class in Akron has round of 126 pigtail matches, so despite only having wrestled through the round of 64 so far today, there has been a lot of great action here in the Stile Athletic Field House. Below are some of the noteworthy upsets we spied in FloArena from the first session of wrestling.

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57 KG: Nicolas Aguilar, Rutgers over Liam Cronin, Indiana (link)

Aguilar is expected to take over the 125-pound starting job for Rutgers next season and has a high ceiling, but managed only a 7-7 record while redshirting as a true freshman. He was still able to take out rising redshirt junior and recently crowned 55 KG Greco-Roman U23 world team member Liam Cronin in the round of 64. 


61 KG: Cole Manley, Lock Haven over #2 Taylor LaMont, Utah Valley (link)

Cole Manley stunned the second seed and 60 KG Greco-Roman U23 runnerup Taylor LaMont in the round of 64. Manley countered a double from LaMont and stuck him in the first period. LaMont subsequently picked up a yellow card for not shaking Manely's coaches' hands after the match. 


74 KG: Kolby Ho, George Mason over #3 Austin Kraisser, Campbell (link)

We probably should have stated earlier that in all these matches, calling them upsets is subjective, and Ho over Kraisser as an upset is certainly debatable. Nevertheless, Kraisser was the #3 seed, and he was sent to the consolation round earlier than expected by the unseeded Ho in the round of 64 via a razor thin 9-9 criteria win.


74 KG: Evan Barczak, Drexel over #6 Taleb Rahmani, Pittsburgh (link)

Taleb Rahmani is a three-time national qualifier for the Panthers of Pitt. Evan Barczak has yet to qualify for the big dance during his stint as a Drexel Dragon. Bu that didn't stop Barczak from taking out Rahmani in the round of 64 with a takedown in the final 5 seconds of the match. 


79 KG: Jacob Oliver, Edinboro (NCAA R32) over #5 Ethan Smith, Ohio State (link)

Jacob Oliver qualified for the NCAAs as a freshman but wasn't able to win a match. Ethan Smith made it to the round of 16 at the tourney, and had the credentials to earn a #5 seed at the U23 team trials. But it was all Oliver in their round of 64 matchup, with Oliver teching Smith in the first. 


86 KG: Kyle Davis, Sacred Heart over Corey Hazel, Lock Hazel (link)

Hazel went 2-2 at the NCAAs last March and was at one point ranked as high as #9 in the top 20. He was stopped in the round of 64 by Kyle Davis of Sacred Heart in a high flying back and forth 19-16 match. 


86 KG: Jackson Hemauer, Fresno State over #2 Matt Finesilver, Duke (link)

Like Liam Cronin, Matt Finesilver made the U23 Greco-Roman world team yesterday (at 87 KG) but then lost his first match of the freestyle competition. Jackon Hemauer teched the second-seeded Finesilver in the first period. Finesilver was also seeded 13 spots ahead of Hemauer in the 2019 NCAA Championships. 


125 KG: Jeric Kasunic, American over #8 Drew Kasper, Duke (link)

The Blue Blood Wrestling Club suffered another upset when the eighth-seeded Drew Kasper was taken out by the unseeded Jeric Kasunic with a footsweep and pinfall in the first 20 seconds of their round of 64 match.