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Iowa State University Athletics
Seven Cyclones To Compete at U20 US Open
04.26.2023 | Men's Wrestling
AMES, Iowa – Seven Cyclones are set to compete at the US Open this weekend in Las Vegas.
Paniro Johnson, MJ Gaitan, Evan Frost, Manny Rojas, Connor Euton, as well as signees Tate Naaktgeboren and Blake Gioimo will vie for U20 US Open titles.
U20 Nationals is the first step in making the Junior World Team as the winner of this event will earn an automatic berth to the best-of-three wrestle-off series against the World Team Trials challenge tournament champion in June.
What: US Open
Where: South Point Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas
When: April 29-30
Watch: FloWrestling
Brackets: https://bit.ly/421UUGO
ISU U20 Freestyle Entries
57 kg – Blake Gioimo
65 kg – Evan Frost
70 kg – Paniro Johnson
70 kg – Connor Euton
74 kg – Manny Rojas
79 kg – MJ Gaitan
86 kg – Tate Naaktgeboren
U20 Freestyle Competition Schedule
April 29 - Noon // Prelims, Quarterfinals, Consolation
April 29 - 6 p.m. // Semifinals, Consolation
April 30 - Noon // Consolation, Consolation Semifinals
April 30 - 7 p.m. // Medal Matches
All times central
Johnson (70 kg), Rojas (74 kg), Gaitan (79 kg) and Naaktgeboren (86 kg) were all listed as title contenders in FloWrestling's U20 preview.
Johnson, fresh off an 18-6 collegiate season and NCAA Championships berth, placed second at the U20 US Open last year. He heads to Las Vegas with hopes of finishing on top of the podium after falling to Mitchell Mesenbrink in the finals a year ago.
A Super 32 Challenge Champion and 170-pound Junior National Champion, Rojas was one of the most highly touted freshmen in his recruiting class. He posted a 13-3 record for Iowa State in his redshirt season.
Gaitan is a 2021 Greco Junior National Champion and a silver medalist at last summer's U20 Pan-American Championships. The talented youngster went 4-4 in his redshirt season for ISU but has shown plenty of big-move potential that could see him go far at the Open.
Naaktgeboren, who will join the Cyclones for the 2023-24 season, will throw his hat in the ring at 86 kg. The Linn-Mar product checked in as No. 27 recruit nationally on MatScouts' final Class of 2023 Big Board. He is a four-time Iowa High School State finalist and a two-time state champion.
The entire tournament will be streamed live on Flo Wrestling.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Wrestling
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Thursday, April 16
Saturday, March 21
Friday, March 20
Friday, March 20
