UNI wrestling: Voelker advances to UWW World Championships

GENEVA, Ohio --- UNI rising sophomore Wyatt Voelker punched his ticket to his first career World Championships on Friday as the Manchester, Iowa native claimed the U20 Greco-Roman title at the U.S. World Team Trials at 87 kilograms.

Voelker defeated Tate Naaktgeeboren (Big Game Wrestling) in a best-of-three bout series for the 87 kilogram title with a pair of commanding 10-1 and 8-1 technical falls. The young Panther also took home fourth place in the U20 92 kilogram freestyle competition, after picking up a pair of wins in the consolation bracket. Voelker, who won 14 matches in his first season at UNI and claimed a U.S. Open title last month, will now compete at the United World Wrestling Championships this August in Warsaw Poland.

Also competing in the U20 World Team Trials, Jared Simma took part in the 79 kilogram field, notching a late victory over Noah Mulvaney (Askren Wrestling) to finish in seventh place. Ryder Downey also made his World Team Trial debut at 70 kilograms, opening the weekend with a 14-4 win over Matthew Sarbo (Pennsylvania), before finishing in eighth place.

This weekend's competition in Geneva also served as the national championships for U23 wrestlers, which saw a handful of Panthers take to the mats. Both Julian Farber and Garrett Funk went to work in the 61 kilogram bracket, with Farber reaching the quarterfinal round with wins over John Babineau (Pinnacle Wrestling) and Foster Cardinale (Spartan Combat RTC) en route to a fourth place finish. Funk, meanwhile scored a pair of early wins, before bouncing back after a quarterfinal loss to beat both Tristan Lujan (Michigan Wrestling) and Kase Mauger (Brunson UVRTC).

Connor Thorpe opened the 65 kilogram freestyle competition with three straight wins to begin his weekend before falling in the quarterfinals and consolations. Christian Minto grabbed an opening round win over George Mason's Laranzo Rajaonarivelo in the 74 kilogram field, then followed up a second round loss with five straight victories in the consolation bracket before falling to Ohio's Padraic Gallagher, 7-6. Evan Yant (74 kilograms) split his four matches on the weekend, opening with a 10-0 shutout of Ramiro Guerrero (Olivet Wrestling), and a 10-6 win over Nathan Haubert (Pennsylvania) in the consolations. Jack Thomsen, a recent transfer to the UNI roster, also picked up a pair of wins in the 74 kilogram bracket over Anthony Erickson (Missouri) and Luke Gayer (SKWC RTC).

Kalob Runyon went 2-2 in Ohio with an opening round victory against Brennon Braud (Ohio) and a consolation win against Cody Donnelly (Jackrabbit Wrestling), 12-0. John Gunderson also snagged a pair of wins in the consolations over Nikolas Miller (Blue & Gold Wrestling), 10-0 and Nolan Springer (Buffalo Valley RTC), 15-6.

UNI RESULTS

U20 GRECO ROMAN WORLD TEAM TRIALS

Wyatt Voelker (87 kg)

W - Tate Naaktgeeboren (Big Game Wrestling), 10-1
W - Tate Naaktgeeboren (Big Game Wrestling), 8-1

U20 FREESTYLE WORLD TEAM TRIALS

Wyatt Voelker (87 kg)

L - Cole Mirasola (Askren Wrestling), 7-4
W - Colden Dorfman (Cavalier Wrestling), 16-6
W - Gabe Sollars (Indiana RTC), 10-0
L - Cole Mirasola (Askren Wrestling), 13-3

Jared Simma (79 kg)

L - Matthew Singleton (Wolfpack Wrestling), 13-3
L - Tate Picklo (Oklahoma RTC), 11-0
W - Noah Mulvaney (Askren Wrestling), 0-0

Ryder Downey (70 kg)

W - Matthew Sarbo (Pennsylvania), 14-4
L - Kyle Dutton (Arkansas RTC), 10-0
W - Jackson Arrington (Wolfpack Wrestling), 10-2
L - Ethan Stiles (Illinois), 14-4
L - Beau Mantanona (Coachella Valley Wrestling), 11-9

U23 FREESTYLE NATIONALS

Garrett Funk (61 kg)

W - Anthony Hughes (Lawrence North Wildcat Wrestling), 14-3
W - Ethan Qureshi (California), 10-6
L - Cullan Schriever (Iowa), 14-3
W - Tristan Lujan (Michigan Wrestling), 5-2
W - Kase Mauger (Brunson UVRTC), 6-0
L - Alex Almeyda (Pennsylvania RTC), 10-0

Julian Farber (61 kg)

W - John Babineau (Pinnacle Wrestling), 10-0
W - Foster Cardinale (Spartan Combat RTC), 15-4
W - Kase Mauger (Brunson UVRTC), 14-4
L - Cullan Schriever (Iowa), 13-6
W - Chase Liardi (Blue & Gold Wrestling), 10-0
W - Derrick Cardinal (Jackrabbit Wrestling), 13-7
W - Dominick Serrano (Northern Colorado Wrestling), 13-2
L - Cullan Schriever (Iowa), 11-0

Connor Thorpe (65 kg)

W - Sam Harris (Georgia), 10-0
W - Kyle Hauserman (Pennsylvania RTC), 11-9
W - Jordan Soriano (Pennsylvania RTC), 16-6
L - Cole Matthews (Pittsburgh Wrestling), 12-2
L - CJ Composto (Pennsylvania RTC), 14-4

Christian Minto (74 kg)

W - Laranzo Rajaonarivelo (George Mason), 9-4
L - Max Brignola (Lehigh Valley Wrestling), 2-2
W - John Altieri (Clarion RTC), 10-0
W - Gavin Cagle (Cavalier Wrestling), 17-7
W - Hunter Shaut (Bulls Wrestling), 13-0
W - Evan Yant (Panther Wrestling), 11-2
W - Jack Thomsen (Panther Wrestling), 11-1
L - Padraic Gallagher (Ohio), 7-6

Evan Yant (74 kg)

W - Ramiro Guerrero (Olivet Wrestling), 10-0
L - Jared Keslar (Young Guns Wrestling), 12-9
W - Nathan Haubert (Pennsylvania), 10-6
L - Christian Minto (Panther Wrestling), 11-2

Jack Thomsen (74 kg)

W - Anthony Erickson (Missouri), 14-8
W - Luke Gayer (SKWC RTC), 16-5
L - Cael Swensen (Jackrabbit Wrestling), 8-0
L - Christian Minto (Panther Wrestling), 11-1

Kalob Runyon (92 kg)

W - Brennon Braud (Ohio), 11-0
L - Silas Allred (Nebraska Wrestling TC), 10-0
W - Cody Donnelly (Jackrabbit Wrestling), 12-0
L - Jack Wilt (Lehigh Valley Wrestling), 6-3

John Gunderson (92 kg)

L - Massoma Endene (Burg TC), 9-6
W - Nikolas Miller (Blue & Gold Wrestling), 10-0
W - Nolan Springer (Buffalo Valley RTC), 15-6
L - Nicholas Willham (Indiana RTC), 2-1

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