GENEVA, Ohio – Oklahoma State wrestler Dustin Plott continued his stellar year this weekend, winning the 79 kg bracket at the U23 World Team Trials at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio.

 

As the U23 Freestyle national champion, Plott could have the opportunity to represent Team USA at the 2022 U23 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain in October, pending the result of the true third match between Penn State’s Carter Starrocci and Vincenzo Joseph at Final X New York on June 8. 

 

The sophomore from Tuttle, went 7-0 in the tournament, outscoring his opponents by a combined score of 66-16. Seeded second in the weight class, he advanced to the semifinals of the bracket by way of technical falls in each of his first three matches and a 3-0 decision over Nick Incontrera. Facing Harvard’s Philip Incoglaria in the semifinals, Plott faced a 10-3 deficit with just over 90 seconds remaining in the match, but stormed back to score the final nine points of the bout and earn a 12-10 victory to clinch a berth in the finals. 

 

The Cowboy faced a familiar opponent in the best two-of-three series as Drexel’s Michael O’Malley toed the line opposite Plott. A 6-3 winner over O’Malley in OSU’s dual against the Dragons, Plott swept O’Malley in the Trials finals, winning 6-2 and 8-0. 

 

Oklahoma State had another finalist at 57 kg as Trevor Mastrogiovanni advanced to the finals to face Anthony Noto. In the first match, Mastrogiovanni got out to an early 6-0 lead in the first period and was able to hold off a comeback attempt from Noto to take a 7-6 decision and the series lead. Mastrogiovanni’s offense would be stifled by Noto the rest of the series as the Lock Haven freshman would claim the second match, 4-0, and the deciding third match, 4-2.

 

Four Cowboys produced a successful showing in the U20 World Team Trials on Saturday. Carter Young advanced to the best two-of-three finals round at 65 kg through a tough road as the third seed, that included wins over a pair of NC State wrestlers in top-20 recruit in the class of 2022, Jackson Arrington, and NCAA qualifier, Ryan Jack. Vince Cornella awaited Young in the finals after earning an automatic berth by winning the U20 U.S. Open Championship. Young took a 4-3 decision in the first match, but could not put away Cornella, as the Cornell signee would take the final two matches against Young, 12-10 and 4-1.

 

OSU signee, Jordan Williams (70 kg), along with freshmen Kyle Haas (92 kg) and Teague Travis (65 kg) each posted 2-2 records for the weekend with Williams and Haas being eliminated in the consolation semifinals, while Travis suffered his second loss in the consolation round of four. 

 

Along with Plott and Mastrogiovanni, eight more Cowboys were competing in the U23 World Team Trials on Saturday and Sunday. Daniel Manibog made a run to the quarterfinals of the 70 kg bracket before falling to OU’s Jacob Butler, 18-7, and eventually placing seventh in the bracket. 

 

Heavyweights Luke Surber and Konner Doucet each lost bouts with 2022 NCAA All-Americans in the round of 64 and were eliminated in the second consolation round of eight, one win short of placement at the tournament. At 86 kg, true freshman Trevor Dopps went 1-2, winning his opening bout before dropping decisions to Minnesota’s Jarred Krattiger and West Virginia’s Dennis Robin.

 

Reece Witcraft won his first three matches by tech fall at 65 kg, scoring 32 points, while holding his opponents scoreless. He would drop to the consolation bracket following a loss to 2021 All-American, Clay Carlson, and finish his tournament with a 3-2 record. Andrew Bloemhof (65 kg) and Cooper Birdwell (61 kg) each went 2-2 in their brackets, while Chance McLane dropped both of his bouts at 74 kg.