Cornell is now up to four Big Red grapplers on the World Team (2 U23 freestyle, 1 U23 Greco-Roman, 1 Junior World freestyle) with two more in the mix for the Senior Team after Max Dean and Chas Tucker punch their tickets to Budapest. #YellCornell https://t.co/8E1rOfDDzH
— Cornell Big Red (@CornellSports) June 3, 2019
AKRON, Ohio -- A pair of Cornell wrestlers earned their spots on the United States' Under 23 World Team with championship performances this weekend, as rising senior Chas Tucker (61kg) and junior Max Dean (86kg) made the freestyle team, joining alongside Andrew Berreyesa (82kg) on the Under 23 Greco-Roman team and Vito Arujau (57kg) on the Junior World Team. Kyle Dake and Yianni Diakomihalis will also have an opportunity to make the Senior World Team at Final X.
Tucker ran through Micki Phillippi of the Pittsburgh Wrestling Club in the finals, taking the best-of-three series with a 4-0 win in the first match followed by a 10-0 shutout in the clincher. Dean rallied from an 8-0 deficit in the second period of the semifinals for a wild 10-9 win over Nino Bonaccorsi, then swept Devin Skatzka of the Minnesota Story 10-0 and 14-2 inside of 90 seconds in each of his two finals matches. Dean will represent the USA in Budapest in September.
Additionally, Ben Honis reached the semifinals at 97kg on his way to sixth place in freestyle. Cornell was also represented by Michael Venosa (65kg), Mike Russo (65kg), Matthew Russo (70kg), Adam Santoro (74kg) and Brendan Furman (125kg) at the tournament. Santoro lost in the blood round to just miss making the podium.