NCAA wrestling championships: How Long Island wrestlers fared on Day 1
Cornell wrestler Vito Arujau, right, wrestles Penn State's Roman Bravo-Young, left, in the 133 lbs. finals match during the NCAA Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla. Credit: AP/Sue Ogrocki
Vito Arujau of Cornell won both of his matches at 133 pounds by major decision in the first two rounds of the 94th NCAA Division I championships at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Thursday.
Arujau, the defending national champion at 125 pounds, defeated Gable Strickland (Lockhaven), 17-4, in the first round and defeated Domenic Zaccone (Campbell), 11-1, in the second round.
The three-time All-American from Syosset won the world freestyle championships last summer. A left knee injury has hampered him this season, resulting in him falling to the No. 6 seed.
Arujau will face No. 3 seed Kai Orine (North Carolina State) in the quarterfinals at 11 a.m. on Friday.
Jacori Teemer of Arizona State used a double-leg takedown in overtime to secure a 4-1 win in sudden victory over Cael Swensen (South Dakota State) in the second round to advance to Friday’s quarterfinals.
Teemer, from Long Beach, won both of his matches at 157 pounds. He defeated Matty Bianchi (Little Rock), 7-3, in the first round.
The two-time All-American did not compete in last year’s tournament because of a torn pectoral muscle.
Teemer, the No. 2 seed, will face No. 10 Jared Franek (Iowa) in the quarterfinals on Friday morning.
LIU’s Anthony D’Alessio, the No. 32 seed at 184 pounds, won a first round bout over Tomas Brooker (Appalachian State) via a 10-8 decision. He then lost in the second round.
Bayport-Blue Point’s Max Gallagher (Penn, 125), North Babylon’s Tony Negron (Arizona State, 184) and Center Moriches’ Jordan Titus (West Virginia, 141) and Keaton Kluver (Hofstra, 285) all lost in the first round and will compete in the consolation rounds.
