Black, DeSanto to compete in Greco-Roman in Sweden and Finland
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
A pair of U.S. Senior athletes are scheduled to compete in top Greco-Roman tournaments in Europe on two consecutive weekends, Otto Black of Colorado Top Team at 67 kg and Austin DeSanto of the Hawkeye WC at 60 kg.
They are scheduled to wrestle at the Haparanda Cup in Haparanda, Sweden on November 30, then the Haavisto Cup in Ilmajoki, Finland on December 7.
Black is one of the most talented and successful rising young stars on the Greco-Roman scene.
Black won a silver medal at the 2024 U20 World Championships, and was fifth at the 2021 U17 World Championships. He was also a 2024 U20 Pan American champion. He has won Junior and U20 national titles in Greco-Roman, as well.
“I am pleased that Otto is continuing his Greco-Roman career at the next level. He is an extremely talented wrestler. I can’t wait to see him compete on the Senior level,” said National Greco-Roman Coach Herb House.
DeSanto is giving Greco-Roman a try, after starting his Senior international career in freestyle. He recently attended a Senior Greco-Roman National Team Training Camp at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
In freestyle, DeSanto placed second in U.S. Open in Las Vegas in April 2023 and was fifth in Senior Nationals in Fort Worth, Texas in December 2023. He has won medals at international Senior freestyle events in France, Poland, Egypt and the United States. DeSanto was a four-time All-American for Iowa in college.
“Austin came to training camp, and he is an eager learner. He pushes himself hard. He will be a great asset if he keeps up with his Greco-Roman training,” said House.
On the tour, they will be coached by 2006 World champion Joe Warren, who has often coached Black in recent years and has been helping DeSanto in his Greco-Roman preparation.
HAPARANDA CUP
At Haparanda, Sweden, November 30
HAAVISTO CUP
At Ilmajoki, Finland, December 7
U.S. Greco-Roman Roster
60 kg – Austin DeSanto, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
67 kg – Otto Black, Parker, Colo. (Colorado Top Team)
Coach – Joe Warren, Monument, Colo.
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