Bouzakis Wins U.S. Open Title at 61kg
4/30/2023 11:11:56 PM | General, Wrestling
COLUMBUS, Ohio-Nic Bouzakis, a redshirt freshman with the Ohio State wrestling team, won the U20 Freestyle U.S. Open title in the 61kg bracket Sunday. He won seven matches and outscored opponents 71-8 along the way.
In addition to Bouzakis, several current and former Buckeyes performed well at the 2023 U.S. Open in Las Vegas this week.
Nick Boykin took second in the 97kg Senior Greco bracket with a 3-1 record.
Sammy Sasso, the runner up at 149 pounds at the 2023 NCAA Championship and the 2023 Big Ten Champion at that same weight, took second in the senior freestyle 70kg bracket.
In the U20 freestyle competition, redshirt freshman Brendan McCrone battled back in the consolation bracket to take fourth at 57kg.
Jesse Mendez, who earned All-America status as a true freshman with the Buckeyes at 133, took third at 65kg in the U20 Freestyle bracket.
Incoming freshman Rocco Welsh advanced to the finals of the 79kg U20 freestyle bracket as the No. 1 seed with five-consecutive victories after an opening round bye. He finished second after a loss to Gabriel Arnold (Level Up WC) in the finals, 3-2.
Former Buckeyes Joey McKenna advanced to the finals in the 65kg Senior Freestyle bracket. He fell in the title bout to Nick Lee (Nittany Lion WC), 10-5.
Kollin Moore also made it to the finals in the 92kg Senior Freestyle bracket. He squared off against Michael Macchiavello (Wolfpack WC), who defeated the former Buckeye, 12-2.
Brady Koontz, another former Buckeye, won the 55kg Senior Greco bracket with a 9-0 win over Dalton Duffield (Army).
Â
Buckeyes at the U.S. Open
Nick Boykin in the 97 kg Senior Greco competition at the U.S. Open
Rnd. Of 32: Bye
Rnd. Of 16: Defeated Daniel Miller (Marines) VPO1, 8-6
Quarters: Defeated Brandon Marshall (Big Game WC), 9-0, 3:16
Semifinals: Defeated Christian Dulaney (NY AC), VPO1, 7-5
Finals: Lost to Josef Rau (TMWC), VSU1, 10-1, 3:42
Â
Sammy Sasso in the 70kg Senior Freestyle competition at the U.S. Open
Rnd. of 64: Bye
Rnd. of 32: Defeated Sylvia Pace (NYCRTC), VFA, 6-0, 1:02
Rnd. of 16: Defeated Cameron Harrell (Maryland), VFA, 11-4, 2:12
Quarters: Defeated Ed Scott (Wolfpack WC), VSU1, 14-4 5:17
Semifinals: Defeated Jarrett Jacques (Tiger Style WC), VPO1, 9-2
Finals: Lost to Tyler Berger (Nebraska), VPO1, 10-9
Â
Bryce Hepner in the 74kg Senior Freestyle competition at the U.S. Open
Rnd. of 64: Defeated Ian Sandoz (Texas), VSU, 10-0, 0:57
Rnd. of 32: Lost to Vincenzo Joseph (SKWC), VSU1, 17-6, 5:47
Cons 32 #2: Bye
Cons 16 #1: defeated Kolbi Caffey (Carbondale WC), VSU1, 14-4
Cons 16 #2: defeated Peter Pappas (George Mason), VPO1, 4-4
Cons 8 #1: defeated Elijah Cleary (Titan Mercury WC), VPO, 3-0
Cons 8 #2: Lost to Joey Lavallee (Lehigh Valley WC), VSU, 10-0
Â
Carson Kharchla in the 79kg Senior Freestyle competition at the U.S. Open
Rnd. of 64: Bye
Rnd. of 32: Defeated Devan Hendricks (Knights RTC), VSU, 10-0, 1:14
Rnd. of 16: Lost to Alex Dieringer (Cliff Keen WC), VPO, 5-0
Cons 16 #2: Defeated Andrew Cerniglia (Navy WC), VPO1, 17-8
Cons 8 #1: Defeated Muhamed McBryde (NYAC), VPO1, 5-5
Cons 8 #2: Lost to Alex Marinelli (Hawkeye WC), VSU, 10-0, 3:59
Â
Brendan McCrone in the 57kg U20 Freestyle competition at the U.S. Open
Rnd. of 128: lost to Nicolar Rivera (Wisconsin RTC), VSU1, 12-1, 2:20
Cons 64 #2: Defeated Nicholas Curley (Massachusetts), VSU1, 15-4, 2:00
Cons 32 #1: Defeated Kola Johnson (Utah), VFA, 6-0, 0:56
Cons 32 #2: Defeated Tanner Spalding (Compound Wrestling), VFA, 8-0, 2:46
Cons 16 #1: Defeated Dante Rigal, (New York), VFA 10-0, 2:12
Cons 16 #2: Defeated Nolan Wertanen (Cliff Keen WC), VSU, 10-0, 0:53
Cons 8 #1: Defeated Jacob Houpt (Quest), VFA, 6-0, 1:05
Cons 8 #2: Â Defeated Aaron Lucio (Michigan West WC), VFA, 2-0, 0:20
Cons 4: Defeated Dominic Mendez (Righetti HS), VFA 6-0, 1:32
Cons Semis: Defeated Cael Nacdeo (Central Pa.), VIN
Third Place: Lost to Nicolar Rivera (Wisconsin RTC), VSU, 10-0, 2:32
Â
Nic Bouzakis in the 61kg U20 Freestyle competition at the U.S. Open
Rnd of 128: Defeated Raymond Lopez (California), VSU 10-0, 0:42
Rnd of 64: Defeated Mason Kernan (Young Guns Wrestling Club), VSU, 10-0, 1:16
Rnd of 32: Defeated Wyatt Richter (Ohio), VSU, 10-0, 0:31
Rnd of 16: Defeated Sergio Vega (Cyclones Wrestling), VSU, 10-0, 1:34
Quarters: Defeated Cesar Avelar (Grindhouse WC), VSU, 10-0, 0:55
Semifinals: Defeated Jace Rhodes (Hawkeye WC), VSU, 10-0, 1:40
Finals: Defeated Kale Petersen (Sebolt), VPO1, 11-8
Â
Jesse Mendez in the 65kg U20 Freestyle competition at the U.S. Open
Rnd Of 128: Defeated Kael Brisker (Southeastern WC), VSU, 10-0, 1:52
Rnd Of 64: Defeated vs Jayden Scott (New York), VPO1, 3-2
Rnd Of 32: Defeated Kal Miller (Dmv Rtc), VSU1, 12-2, 4:48
Rnd of 16: Defeated Jacob Mann (New Jersey RTC), VSU, 11-0, 0:24
Quarters: Defeated Dylan Chappell (Buffalo Valley RTC), VPO1, 11-8
Semifinals: Lost to Kannon Webster (Illinois), VP01, 5-3
Cons Semis: Defeated Pierson Manville (M2 TC), VPO1, 4-3
Third Place: Defeated Cole Brooks (OK RTC), VSU, 12-0
Â
Gavin Brown in the 70kg U20 Freestyle competition at the U.S. Open
Rnd of 128: Defeated Ethan Wonser (North Dakota), VSU, 10-0, 1:01
Rnd of 64: Defeated Dylan Kamps (Three Forks HS), VSU, 11-0, 0:39
Rnd of 32: Defeated Koa Ruiz (West Coast RTC), VFA, 10-2, 2:08
Rnd of 16: Lost Jordan Williams (Cowboy RTC), VSU1, 12-2, 5:37
Cons 8 #1: Lost to Nick Sanko (Cavalier WC), VSU1, 12-2, 1:29
Â
Seth Shumate in the 86kg U20 Freestyle competition at the U.S. Open
Rnd Of 64: Defeated Kole Mulhauser (New York), VPO1, 12-7
Rnd Of 32: Defeated Michael Bartush (Buffalo Valley RTC), VSU, 10-0, 0:41
Rnd of 16: Lost to Leonard Pinto (Nebraska WTC), VPO1, 12-11
Cons 16 #2: Defeated Andrew Wenzel (Illinois), VFA, 0-0, 0:30
Cons 8 #1: Defeated Cannon Potts, (Deschutes), VSU 10-0, 1:13
Cons 8 #2: Lost to Tate Naaktgeboren (Big Game WC), VPO1, 7-6
Â
#GoBucks
Â
