Rau, Koontz top DIII performances at US Open

Final Brackets and Video (Flowrestling)

Brady Koontz and Joe Rau won Greco-Roman titles at last week’s US Open in Las Vegas to lead the DIII contingent in the event. Koontz, who wrestled the second half of this season at Dubuque after transferring from Ohio State, won all three of his matches at 55kg to earn his spot in Final X. It was the first national title for Koontz who finished 7th at the 2023 NCAA DIII Championships. Rau won his third US Open championship, winning all four of his matches at 97kg. Rau has wrestled in two world championships and was the 2016 Olympic Trials champion in a weight class the U.S. did not qualify for the Rio games. Koontz and Rau will meet the winner of the World Team Trials Challenge tournament at Final X on June 10th in Newark, New Jersey.

Also placing in Greco-Roman were Dylan Koontz at 60kg, Mike Fuenffinger at 63kg, Darryle Aiello of Dubuque at 130kg, and Donny Longendyke of Augsburg at 130kg. All four have qualified for the World Team Trials Challenge tournament set to take place May 20-21 in Colorado Springs.

In Freestyle, former UW-Whitewater wrestler Michael Tortorice finished 8th at 57kg and was the only DIII placewinner in that event. Hayden Bates (Heidelberg), Brian Vutianitis (Cortland), and 2023 NCAA runner-up Matt Lackman (Alvernia) each won three or more matches.

Greco-Roman
55kg Brady Koontz, Dubuque – 1st place, 3-0, advances to Final X
60kg Dylan Koontz, Dubuque – 4th place, 3-2
60kg Peter Del Gallo, Southern Maine – 1-2
63kg Mike Fuenffinger, Augsburg – 4th place, 3-2
72kg Zarik Anderson, Dubuque – 1-2
72kg Eddie Smith, Loras – 2-2
77kg Garrett Johnson, Dubuque – 0-2
87kg Richard Carlson, UW-La Crosse – 1-2
87kg Tyler Hannah, UW-Platteville – 3-2
97kg Joe Rau, Elmhurst – 1st place, 4-0, advances to Final X
130kg Darryl Aiello, Dubuque – 7th place, 3-2
130kg Tom Foote, Williams – 1-2
130kg Donny Longendyke, Augsburg – 6th place, 2-1 (MFF to 6th after semi loss)

Freestyle
57kg Michael Tortorice, UW-Whitewater – 8th place, 3-3
61kg Cade Hornback, Coe – 0-2
61kg Peter Del Gallo, Southern Maine – 1-2
65kg Hayden Bates, Heidelberg – 3-2
70kg Ryan Fleck, Chicago – 1-2
70kg Cody Welker, UW-Oshkosh – 1-2
74kg Zarik Anderson, Dubuque – 2-2
74kg Elroy Perkin, UW-Whitewater – 1-2
74kg Brian Vutianitis, Cortland – 3-2
74kg Matthew Lackman, Alvernia – 4-2
74kg Jessy Diaz, Dubuque – 1-2
79kg Jaison White, Ithaca – 0-2
97kg Duncan Lee, Central – 1-2
125kg Cullen Quick, Luther – 0-2