Realbuto takes World Championship stage in Serbia

Colin Realbuto at UWW Senior World Championships

Sept. 18-19, 2023
Belgrade, Serbia | Stark Arena
65-kilograms | Freestyle

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI's Colin Realbuto will return to the international stage on Monday as the Panther redshirt senior represents Italy at the United World Wrestling (UWW) Senior World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia in freestyle competition.

Wrestling in the 45-man, 65-kilogram bracket, Realbuto will have the opportunity to earn a spot for Italy for next summer's Olympic Games in Paris based upon his final placement. A total of 90 quotas for the Paris games will be allotted based on the results of this year's World Championships, being contested at Stark Arena. This will be Realbuto's second time representing Italy at the Senior World Championships, after competing at the 2021 edition of the event in Oslo, Norway.

The qualifying rounds for the 65-kilogram freestyle brackets will begin at 3:30 a.m. CT on Sept. 18, with the semifinals beginning later that morning at 10 a.m. CT. Consolations will begin on Sept. 19 at 3:30 p.m. CT with the finals at 11 a.m. CT on Tuesday.

Realbuto is slated to begin the qualifying round against Junjun Asebias (Micronesia).

A native of Somers, New York, Realbuto is a two-time NCAA qualifier at 149 pounds for the Panthers, compiling a 44-21 record in his three seasons at UNI. A 2020 transfer from Brown University, Realbuto placed fifth at the 2023 Big 12 Championships and earned the 15-seed at the NCAA Championships, his first via automatic qualification.

Realbuto racked up 20 victories during his redshirt junior season in 2022-23, which included four top-25 wins, headlined by an upset of third-ranked and eventual NCAA runner-up Sammy Sasso (Ohio State) at the Collegiate Duals in New Orleans. A decorated student-athlete, he is also a two-time First Team Big 12 All-Academic Team selection and a 2023 NWCA Scholar All-American.

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