UNI wrestling: Land, Rinken earn All-American status at U20 U.S. Open

LAS VEGAS --- Six members of the UNI wrestling team took to the mats at Las Vegas' South Point Hotel & Casino over the weekend for the 2024 U20 U.S. Open, with a pair of young Panther standouts securing All-American status.

Representing the Panther Wrestling Club, Cory Land clinched the Greco-Roman title at 60 kilograms in dominating fashion with three victories in under one minute, including a 7-2 win over Elijah Cortez (Daniel Cormier Wrestling Club) in the finals. Land finished as runner-up in the same weight class a year ago at the event and secures a spot at this year's U20 World Team Trials to be held May 31-June 2 in Geneva, Ohio. U.S. Open champions also earn automatic qualification for the U20 Pan American Championships in Lima, Peru this summer, July 11-13.

In addition to his Greco-Roman title, Land also placed sixth at 61 kilograms in freestyle competition, reaching the quarterfinal round with three victories in less than a minute.

Garret Rinken, fresh off his freshman season at UNI, placed eighth in the 57 kilogram freestyle bracket, reaching the quarterfinal round with victories in his first three matches of the tournament. After a 10-1 loss to California's Isaiah Quintero, Rinken bounced back in the consolation brackets with a 9-2 win against Alan Koehler (Nebraska Wrestling Training Center) before dropping his final two bouts of the tournament. Rinken will join Land in Geneva this summer at the U20 World Team Trials in Geneva by virtue of his podium finish.

Elsewhere in freestyle competition, Bowen Downey (57 kilograms) posted a 3-2 record, including two wins in the consolation brackets, while Brandon Paez (57 kilograms) also notched three victories, headlined by a 10-0 victory by submission over Bobbi Cisneros (California) in his opening match.

Garret Funk (70 kilograms) split his four freestyle matches, defeating Charlie Fifield (Illinois) by an 8-4 score in his opening bout and Zach Davis (California) by forfeit in the consolations. Izzy Moreno (74 kilograms) went 4-2 in his tournament in the desert, capturing three consecutive wins in the consolation bracket over Gaitlin Wilson and Francisco Ayala (Mustang Wrestling Club) and Cael Robb (Pinnacle Wrestling Club).

Full match results for UNI wrestlers at the U20 U.S. Open are listed below.

UNI WRESTLERS AT U20 U.S. OPEN

U20 Greco-Roman

Cory Land (60 kg) - 1st Place

W - Hayden Tyler Ancheta (San Francisco Wrestling), 9-0 VSU [0:49]
W - Ty Annoura (Clear Lake HS), 8-0 VSU, [0:32]
W - Cale Seaton (Big Game Wrestling), 8-0 VSU [0:39]
W - Elijah Cortez (Daniel Cormier WC), 7-2 VP01

U20 Freestyle

Bowen Downey (57 kg) - DNP

W - Markell Mitchell (Wrestling Factory of Cleveland), 11-0 VSU [1:31]
L - Max Gallagher (Pennsylvania RTC), 12-1 VSU-1 [3:52]
W - Revin Dickman (Contenders Wrestling), 13-2 VSU-1 [2:47]
W - Jeremiah Wachsmuth (Cobra All-Stars), 8-6 VP01
L - Ronnie Ramirez (Walnut HS), 15-4 VSU1 [5:52]

Garret Rinken (57 kg) - 8th Place

W - Brodie Christmas (Ironclad WC), 14-4 VSU-1 [5:12]
W - Mack Mauger (Team Idaho WC), 6-0 VPO
W - Daniel Guanajuato (Jackrabbit WC), 11-5 VP01
L - Isaiah Quintero (California), 10-1 VP01
W - Alan Koehler (Nebraska WTC), 9-2 VP01
L - Aaron Seidel (Stellar Trained Wrestling), 10-0 VSU [2:53]
L - Isaiah Cortez (Daniel Cormier WC), 6-2 VP01

Brandon Paez (57 kg) - DNP

W - Bobby Cisneros (California), 10-0 VSU [0:20]
W - Hayden Mills (Nebraska WTC), 8-7 VP01
L - Seth Mendoza (SPAR Wrestling), 11-0 VSU [3:00]
W - Spencer Moore (Tar Heel WC), 9-2 VP01
L - Marcello Milani (Spartan Combat RTC), 2-2 VP01

Cory Land (61 kg) - 6th Place

W - Cole Rogers (Three Forks HS), 10-0 VSU [0:22]
W - Caleb Park (Central Coast RTC), 10-0 VSU [0:50]
W - Dawson Johnson (CrassTrained), 10-0 VSU [0:31]
L - Cael Hughes (Cowboy RTC), 11-10 VP01
W - Sam Herring (Bishop McCort HS), 17-6 VSU-1 [4:46]
W - Zan Fugitt (Nixa HS), 10-0 VSU [0:55]
L - Jake Hockaday (Contenders Wrestling), 5-4 VP01
L - Kyison Garcia (Nittany Lion WC), Inj. def.

Garrett Funk (70 kg) - DNP

W - Charlie Fifield (Illinois), 8-4 VP01
L - Jude Randall (Bellator Pro Deus Wrestling), 15-8 VP-1
W - Zach Davis (California), FFT
L - James Chance (Patriot Elite WC), 14-3 VSU-1 [2:26]

Izzy Moreno (74 kg) - DNP

W - Kale Roth (Dubuque RTC), 13-2 VSU-1 [1:28]
L - Jared Keslar (Pittsburgh WC), 13-8 VP01
W - Gatlin Wilson (Mustang WC), 11-0 VSU [1:09]
W - Francisco Ayala (Mustang WC), 17-11 VP-1
W - Cael Robb (Pinnacle WC), 12-4 VP01
L - Cameron Steed (Tiger Style WC), 11-0 VSU [2:10]

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