Voelker, Scott, Perez III secure titles at U23 Greco-Roman Nationals in Ohio

Action in Geneva, Ohio, at the U23 Nationals concluded on Friday evening as ten champions were crowned following a best-of-three championships series in Greco-Roman. Champions of this event have the chance to compete at the U23 Pan American Championships in Rionegro, Colombia, June 21-22.

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Wyatt Voelker, a 2023 U20 Greco-Roman World Team member, defeated 2023 U20 and U23 World Team member Michael Altomer in the finals at 97 kg to make his second-consecutive age-group World Team. In the first match, Voelker used a narrow 7-5 decision to lead the series 1-0 over Altomer. Round two saw Voelker pick up the series win in just thirty seconds with an 8-0 technical fall.

Jonathan Gurule secured the Nationals title at 63 kg, defeating 2023 U23 World Team member Phillip Moomey 2-1 in the best-of-three series. Gurule, who finished as the runner-up in this tournament last year, dropped the round one match to Moomey, 4-3. It was Gurule that rallied back to win the second and third matches to claim the series. In round two, he pulled out a 5-1 decision, scoring four points in the first period and holding on for the win. Gurule was able to shut Moomey out in round three, earning a 6-0 victory.

Two U23 Nationals champions did not participate in this tournament in 2023, but competed at the 2023 U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania. Justus Scott and Robert Perez III were members of the 2023 Senior National Team and elected to compete at the World Championships. Both Scott and Perez III arrived in Geneva ready to capture U23 titles and earn positions on the U23 Pan-American Championships team with the possibility of heading back to Albania for the 2024 U23 World Championships.

Scott, a two-time age-group World Team member and Army WCAP athlete, defeated 2024 Senior Pan American Championships bronze medalist Noah Wachsmuth 2-1 in the championship series at 72 kg. In the first match, Wachsmuth rattled off a series of turns for the 9-0 technical fall. Scott fired back in round two, claiming a 7-2 win. Round three saw Wachsmuth suffer an injury in the first period, ending the series while Scott led 4-0.

At 67 kg, Perez III bested Hunter Lewis two matches to none. Round one saw Perez III earn a 9-0 win with six of the nine points scored in the second period. He won the series in round two with a 4-0 victory.

Billy Sullivan, competing at 55 kg, defeated 2023 runner-up Davian Guanajuato in two matches in the championship series. Sullivan is Scott’s Army WCAP teammate and was coached by 2020 Olympian Ildar Hafizov during the tournament. In the first round, Sullivan picked up a 10-1 technical fall. He dropped behind early after Guanajuato scored one on a step out while attempting a throw, but was able to shut him down for the rest of the match.

Jakason Burks, a 2018 U17 World Team member, returned to competition after taking some time off and secured the title at 60 kg. Burks defeated Josh Kyle with two 8-0 technical fall victories in the best-of-three series. The Nebraska native wrestled collegiately at the Division II level for Central Missouri.

In the finals at 130 kg, Little Rock’s Keith Miley, a Missouri native, secured the title after defeating Bruce Wagers in two matches. Miley grinded out the tough victory in the first round, pulling ahead for the 17-6 technical fall. It was a close one in round two, as Miley was down 6-0 in the first period. He evened the score in thirty seconds, then pinned Wagers for the series win.

At 82 kg, Beka Melelashvili, a recent transfer from Georgia, won the U23 Nationals title after finishing ahead of the competition in the challenge tournament. Melelashvili’s best-of-three series opponent Adrian Artsisheuskiy wasn’t able to compete due to an injury, so his 3-0 day was enough for the title. In 2022, Melelashvili placed fifth at the U23 World Championships for Georgia.

Hunter Garvin fought from behind for the win in both of his best-of-three matches, capturing the series at 77 kg over Brendon Abdon. Garvin, who wrestles for Stanford at the NCAA level, dropped behind Abdon in the first period 3-0 before rallying to lead 8-4 and eventually pinning Abdon. In round two, Garvin secured a win in similar fashion, keeping the match close before pulling away in period two for the 8-4 decision.

In the championship series at 87 kg, Colorado’s Tyson Beauperthuy, who competes collegiately for Doane, secured a 2-0 series sweep over Macaron Kukowski. Beauperthuy used a 7-0 decision in round one to take a lead. He effectively claimed the Nationals title with an 8-0 technical fall in round two.

The U23 Nationals continue on Saturday with the start of Men’s freestyle. For full results and brackets, visit FloArena. Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #WrestleGeneva.