Panther wrestling: Voelker wins national title at U.S. Open

LAS VEGAS --- UNI's Wyatt Voelker and Cory Land claimed spots on the podium as nine Panthers took to the mats at the U.S. Open Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas representing the Panther Wrestling Club.

Voelker, who wrapped up his freshman season with the Panthers this winter, earned first place in the U20 Greco-Roman's 87-kilogram weight class.

The top-seed in the Greco-Roman bracket, Voelker earned a pair of shutout victories in his first two matches, before defeating Jarrett Stoner (Rockwall Training Center) in a 13-4 decision in the semifinals, and an 11-2 decision over Jack Darrah (Missouri) in the finals.

Voelker also competed in the 86-kilogram freestyle bracket, where he placed fourth.

Land, the top-seed in the 60-kilogram Greco-Roman competition, cruised into the quarterfinals with three straight 8-0 decisions. Reaching the championship bout with a 7-2 win over Teegan Vasquez (Kalispell Wrestling Club), Land would fall in the finals to Max Black (NMU-National Training Center), 8-0.

By virtue of their podium finishes, both Voelker and Land qualify for the U.S. World Team Trials for U20 Greco-Roman competition in June in Geneva, Ohio.

Ryder Downey (70-kilograms) picked up a pair of wins to open freestyle competition, including a 13-6 decision over 9-seed Braden Stauffenberg (Illinois). Downey would go on to finish in sixth place.

Jared Simma placed seventh in the 79-kilogram freestyle bracket as the 5-seed, opening the tournament with consecutive 10-0 decisions over Brodie Porter (Charleston Regional Training Center) and Will Harmon (Juab Wrestling Club). Simma would secure seventh place with a 12-1 decision against Ethan Riddle (Askren Wrestling Academy).

Downey, Simma and Voelker all advance to the U20 Freestyle World Team Trials with their top-eight finishes.

In the senior freestyle division, John Gunderson won his first three matches of the tournament in the 92-kilogram competition with an 11-0 decision over Zachary Peterson (Viking RTC) and 8-seed Michael Battista (Cavalier Wrestling Club) 8-6, en route to an eighth-place finish. Connor Thorpe, Evan Yant and Julian Farber all secured a pair of wins each in their respective brackets.

A pair of former Panthers also took to the mats in Las Vegas, with two-time Big 12 champion Taylor Lujan also finished seventh in the 79-kilogram senior freestyle bracket, and former All-American Joe Colon taking fifth in the 61-kilogram senior freestyle competition.

UNI WRESTLERS AT THE U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

U20 GRECO ROMAN

Wyatt Voelker (87 kg)

W – Tyson Irby Brownson (Aniciete Training Club), 8-0
W – Talmage Carman (Mustang Wrestling Club), 9-0
W – Jarrett Stoner (Rockwall Training Club), 13-4
W – Jack Darrah (Missouri), 11-2

Cory Land (60 kg)

W – Ricky Bell (Beaver Dam Wrestling RTC), 8-0
W – Massey Odiotti (Illinois), 8-0 MD
W – Ruben Calderon (Cy-Select Wrestling Inc.), 8-0
W – Teegan Vasquez (Kalispell Wrestling Club), 7-2
L – Max Black (NMU-National Training Center), 8-0

U20 FREESTYLE

Wyatt Voelker (86 kg)

W – Joshua Cordio (X-Calibur Athletics Wrestling Club), 13-2
W – Martin Prieto (Minnesota), 11-0 MD
W – Evan Bates (Wildcat Wrestling Club), 9-3
L – Max McEnelly (Waconia Wrestling Club), 3-1
W – Benjamin Mower (Oklahoma), 10-0
W – Justin Rademacher (All-Phase Wrestling Club), 10-0
W – Clayton Whiting (Tiger Style Wrestling Club), 13-10
L – Brayden Thompson (Cowboy RTC), 3-2

Ryder Downey (70 kg)

W – Braden Stauffenberg (Illinois), 13-6
W – Kade Law (Boilmaker RTC), 4-1
L – Nicco Ruiz (Sunkist Kids), 9-4
W – Michael Gioffre (Cavalier Wrestling Club), 12-0
W – Kalbe Larkin (Arizona), 8-8
W – Maxwell Petersen (Bison Wrestling Club), 10-3
W – Jackson Arrington (Wolfpack Wrestling Club), 12-10
L – Daniel Cardenas (Colorado), 6-2

Jared Simma (79 kg)

W – Brodie Porter (Charleston Regional Training Center), 10-0
W – Will Harmon (Juab Wrestling Club), 10-0
W – Lucas Uliano (Boone RTC), 12-8
L – Noah Mulvaney (Askren Wrestling Academy), 20-10
W – Evan Canoyer (Spartan Combat RTC), 14-4
L – Joshua Barr (Team Donahoe Wrestling Club), 16-6

Garrett Funk (61 kg)

W – Spencer Moore (Tar Heel Wrestling Club), 8-2
W – Joey Buttler (Whiteland Wrestling Club), 8-7
W – Ricky Bell (Beaver Dam Wrestling RTC), 10-0
W – Gabe Whisenhunt (Beaver Dam Wrestling RTC), 10-1
W – Bubba Wright (Kansas), 10-0
L – Markel Baker (George Mason), 7-0

SENIOR FREESTYLE

Julian Farber (61 kg)

L – Joshua Rodriguez (Nittany Wrestling Club), 10-0
W – Cade Hornback (Illinois), 11-1
W – Nico Provo (Connecticut) 9-0
L – Cullan Schriever (Hawkeye Wrestling Club), 8-4

Connor Thorpe (65 kg)

W – Daniel DeRoiser (Nebraska Golden Eagles Wrestling Club), 18-5
W – Caleb Vallotton (Foothill HS Wrestling), 6-0
L – Patrico Lugo (Hawkeye Wrestling Club), 10-0
L – Cody Foote (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 6-4

John Gunderson (92 kg)

W – Zachary Peterson (Viking RTC), 11-0
W – Michael Battista (Cavalier Wrestling Club), 8-6
L – Kollin Moore (Ohio RTC), 10-0
W – Tyler Kocak (George Mason), 11-1
L – Morgan McIntosh (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club), 12-2

Evan Yant (74 kg)

W – Ty Chittum (Virginia), 10-0
L – Collin Purinton (Sunkist Kids), 11-0
W – Dylan Pickering (Colorado), 10-0
W – James Bowers (Oregon), 11-0
L – Elijan Cleary (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club), 4-4

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