DeSanto Finishes as 61 kg Runner-Up at U.S. Open

LAS VEGAS – Former University of Iowa All-American Austin DeSanto finished as the runner-up at 61 kg at the U.S. Open Championships at the South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa.

DeSanto knocked out a pair of seeded wrestlers en route to the finals, tech falling fifth-seeded Joe Colon, 12-0 in 1:58, in the quarterfinals before edging top-seeded Seth Gross, 5-4, in the semifinals.

The Pennsylvania native squared off against second-seeded Vito Arujau in the championship bout, falling by a 10-0 technical fall in 54 seconds. DeSanto went 4-1 on the week, outscoring his opponents, 30-14.

Former Hawkeye Alex Marinelli placed fourth at 79 kg, posting a 5-2 record in the tournament. Marinelli advanced to the quarterfinals with a pair of decisions before falling 10-6 to fifth-seeded David McFadden in the quarterfinals.

The Ohio native battled back to win three matches – a 10-0 tech fall in 3:59 over Carson Kharchla, a 6-0 decision over No. 9 Devin Skatzka and a forfeit win over No. 2 Carter Starocci – before falling a second time to McFadden – 10-0 in 2:22 – in the third-place match.

Spencer Lee was the third Hawkeye to place, finishing sixth at 57 kg. Lee made quick work of his first two opponents, tech falling Darrion Harris, 10-0 in 26 seconds, and Sheldon Seymour, 10-0 in 53 seconds – to advance to the quarterfinals. He then followed it up with a 9-4 win over No. 7 seed Caleb Smith to advance to the semis.

Lee withdrew from the tournament following the quarterfinal bout after being physically unable to continue.

Hawkeye sophomore Cullan Schriever and Pat Lugo went 2-2 at 61 kg and 65 kg, respectively. Jayden Eierman won his first three matches to advance to the quarterfinals at 70 kg, before finishing the week 4-2, and Nelson Brands won three matches in the tournament.

The U20 division begins Saturday at noon (CT) with eight Hawkeyes competing. FLO will stream the tournament live.

Spencer Lee – 57 kg
No. 2 Spencer Lee tech fall Darrion Harris (California), 10-0 (0:26)
No. 2 Spencer Lee tech fall Sheldon Seymour (Lehigh Valley WC), 10-0 (0:53)
No. 2 Spencer Lee decision No. 7 Caleb Smith (North Carolina), 9-4
No. 3 Nick Suriano (SKWC) wins by forfeit over No. 2 Spencer Lee
Austin Assad (Ohio) wins by forfeit over No. 2 Spencer Lee
No. 6 Cooper Flynn (SERT) wins by forfeit over No. 2 Spencer Lee

Cullan Schriever – 61 kg
Cullan Schriever dec. Michael Colaiocco (Pennsylvania RTC), 11-5
Daneil DeShazer (Gopher WC-RTC) tech fall Cullan Schriever, 13-3 (5:31)
Cullan Schriever dec. Julian Farber (Panther WC-RTC), 8-3
Joe Colon (TMWC) tech fall Cullan Schriever, 10-0 (4:11)

Austin DeSanto – 61 kg
No. 5 Austin DeSanto dec. Aden Valencia (California RTC/TMWC), 3-0
No. 5 Austin DeSanto tech fall John Babineau (Viking RTC), 10-0 (0:24)
No. 5 Austin DeSanto tech fall No. 4 Joe Colon (TMWC), 12-0 (1:58)
No. 5 Austin DeSanto dec. No. 1 Seth Gross (SKWC), 5-4
No. 2 Vito Arujau (Spartan Combat RTC) tech fall No. 5 Austin DeSanto, 10-0 (0:54)

Pat Lugo – 65 kg
No. 4 Pat Lugo dec. Kyle Rowan (Ohio), 6-5
No. 4 Pat Lugo tech fall Connor Thorpe (Panther WC-RTC), 10-0 (1:34)
No. 5 Ridge Lovett (SKWC) dec. Pat Lugo, 7-5
Jason Miranda (California) wins by forfeit over No. 4 Pat Lugo

Jayden Eierman – 70 kg
Jayden Eierman tech fall Kaleb Burgess (New York), 10-0 (0:41)
Jayden Eierman dec. Napolean Aniciete (Aniciete TC), 5-0
Jayden Eierman dec. No. 6 Caleb Henson (Southeast RTC/TMWC), 11-5
No. 3 Hayden Hidlay (Wolfpack WC/TMWC) tech fall Jayden Eierman, 10-0 (5:06)
Jayden Eierman tech fall Christian Monserrat (New England RTC), 12-2 (5:32)
No. 7 Jarod Verkleeren (Cavalier WC) wins by injury over Jayden Eierman

Nelson Brands – 79 kg
No. 10 Nelson Brands tech falls Kevin Dufresne (New Jersey), 10-0 (1:32)
No. 7 Michael Kemerer (Spartan Combat RTC) dec. No. 10 Nelson Brands, 9-4
No. 10 Nelson Brands tech falls Bilal Bailey (Harvey Twisters WC), 17-6 (2:55)
No. 10 Nelson Brands tech falls Mitch Willett (Oregon), 10-0 (0:29)
No. 9 Devin Skatzka (Spartan Combat RTC) dec. No. 10 Nelson Brands, 13-4

Alex Marinelli – 79 kg
No. 4 Alex Marinelli dec. Bilal Bailey (Harvey Twisters WC), 6-1
No. 4 Alex Marinelli dec. No. 13 DJ Washington (Indiana RTC), 6-2
No. 5 David McFadden (Pennsylvania RTC) dec. No. 4 Alex Marinelli, 10-6
No. 4 Alex Marinelli tech falls Carson Kharchla (Ohio RTC), 10-0 (3:59)
No. 4 Alex Marinelli dec. No. 9 Devin Skatzka (Spartan Combat RTC), 6-0
No. 4 Alex Marinelli wins by forfeit over No. 2 Carter Starocci (NLWC)
No. 5 David McFadden (Pennsylvania RTC) tech falls No. 4 Alex Marinelli, 10-0 (2:22)

Kyle Summers – 86 kg
Victor Marcelli (Cavalier WC) tech fall Kyle Summers, 10-0 (4:09)
Kyle Summers pinned Brett Perkins (Hawaii), 3:30
Kyle Summers tech falls Jaykob Mills (Texas RTC), 10-0 (1:50)
Nathan Haas (California) dec. Kyle Summers, 8-0

Ben Kueter – 97 kg
No. 5 Ben Kueter dec. Malik McDonald (Golden Pride WC), 12-8
No. 4 Samuel Mitchell (Bulls WC) wins by injury over No. 5 Ben Kueter
Marco Retano (La Grande Mat Club) wins by injury over No. 5 Ben Kueter