Olympic Trials Session One Live Updates
We are live from the Bryce Jordan Center on the campus of Penn State University:
The first time the home crowd was notably loud was for Beau Bartlett in the first match of the day against Nahshon Garrett at 65 kg.
Right off the bat we’ve got Ohio State stars Joey McKenna and Jesse Mendez clashing. The current Buckeye took out the returning Trials finalist McKenna in round one.
Arizona State freshman Kaleb Larkin logs the first win of the event by lacing and teching Last Chance Qualifier champion Matt Kolodzik
The home fans got a glimpse of the future as incoming freshman Connor Mirasola shut down the dangerous David McFadden 4-0 at 86 kg.
Amani Jones gets a win via injury default over Carolina Moreno
Our first taste of current Penn State teammates competing; 74 kg Levi Haines vs Alex Facundo. Facundo gets the shutout win, 6-0.
The highly-anticipated matchup between Penn State four-time national champion Carter Starocci and Patrick Downey is underway. Downey held a lead in the early second period; however, Starocci kept pushing for a takedown then multiple leg laces to take the lead and bring the crowd to it's feet. 9-4 with a minute remaining. Starocci would add to his lead and win, 12-4.
The first Greco contest has started between Fritz Schierl and Ryan Epps at 87 kg. Though he held criteria, Ryan Epps got a late takedown to win 5-3.
In a battle of young phenoms, Ladarion Lockett jumps out to a huge lead on Meyer Shapiro with a takedown and three leg laces. An impressive 12-1 win for the high school junior Lockett.
A pair of Iowa collegiate stars squared off at 50 kg with William Penn's Mia Palumbo defeating Emilie Gonzalez 11-0.
In a bout between former heavyweights Oklahoma State freshman Christian Carroll edged Tony Cassioppi 6-6 at 97 kg.
The first fall of the tournament belongs to Taylor LaMont who pinned Billy Sullivan in the opening period at 60 kg in Greco-Roman.
He just entered the Last Chance Qualifier for fun.....Jaron Smith with a first round win over Gary Traub and advanced in the 125 kg men's freestyle bracket, 6-2.
We have three high schooler's on the mat at once with Jax Forrest, Luke Lilledahl, and Marcus Blaze wrestling simultaneously. The Pennsylvania crowd salute's Forrest after a tech over Liam Cronin. Nick Suriano survived Blaze 4-2. Lilledahl took out veteran Daniel DeShazer 3-2.
Great win for Tyler Eischens in Greco-Roman at 77 kg over Justus Scott.
9-2 win for Nick Lee over Alec Pantaleo in one of the better clashes of the day thus far.
There was plenty of concern about James Green at 65 kg. He held a 3-0 second period lead, but surrendered two takedowns and a turn to Jesse Mendez to lose 6-3.
What a match! Yianni Diakomihalis and Kaleb Larkin. Diakomihalis was close to converting a takedown with just over :20 seconds left the in the contest. Larkin held strong in the quadpod position and Yianni decided to try for a turn, which worked for exposure. Final score initially was 10-8 in favor of Diakomihalis before a brick throw. 12-8 is the final in favor of Diakomihalis.
Nittany Lion great Aaron Brooks faces future Penn State upperweight Connor Mirasola. Mirasola struck first with a takedown, but Brooks took control of the bout, 11-5. Mirasola was also able to get a pair of late points on exposure.
Hard-fought 3-2 win for Alex Dieringer over Mark Hall at 86 kg.
Brothers Chance Marsteller and John Stefanowicz are wrestling next to each other at the same time. Stefanowicz had a beautiful arm throw in an 8-0 tech. Marsteller won 6-0.
He fell twice to Aaron Brooks in the NCAA finals, but Trent Hidlay gets a win over Brooks' teammate Carter Starocci 6-4 to advance.
After a period, Alex Facundo leads Jordan Burroughs 2-2 on criteria. Facundo has the only takedown. Burroughs would rebound with two stepout points and another for a lost challenge to win, 5-3.
A second big win today for Jarrett Jacques. He started the day win a win over Vincenzo Joseph and now defeats Quincy Monday, 5-0.
Unfortunate injury on mat 1. Braxton Amos will have to default out against Diante Cooper.
Big win for Vayle Baker at 53 kg as she defeats Amy Mason 5-3 to advance to the challenge tournament semifinals.
2016 Olympic bronze medalist J'den Cox gets pushed by Oklahoma State freshman Christian Carroll, but prevails 1-1.
Haley's back! 2016 Olympian Haley Augello is into the challenge tournament semfinals with a solid 5-1 victory over Felicity Taylor.
In an All-ACC challenge tournament quarterfinal Jay Aiello gets the win over Mike Macchiavello, 8-4 at 97 kg.
Great first period for Alejandro Sancho/Jamel Johnson. 10-4 in favor of Sancho.
Thomas Gilman gives up to takedowns to high schooler Jax Forrest but still wins 5-4.
Two Franklin Regional (PA) High School graduates, Spencer Lee and Nico Megaludis meeting on mat 1. Lee gets the 8-0 win.
Nick Suriano won their NCAA finals matchup in 2019; however, Daton Fix gets the win here 5-1
A win for Yelena Makoyed over Precious Weiser in a loaded 76 kg women's freestyle weight class, 12-2
In a consolation bout, Beau Bartlett appeared to have the winning takedown over Joey McKenna; however, the call was challenged and the ruling was reversed giving McKenna the match.
