Two Virginia Cavaliers wrestlers placed at the U.S. World Team Trials and Freestyle Nationals in Geneva, Ohio, according to a May 31 announcement from the program.
Emmitt Sherlock took fourth place at 70kg in the U20 Trials after going 3-2 for the event. Sherlock advanced through the consolation bracket by winning three consecutive matches before competing in the third-place match. Nick Sanko finished fifth at the U23 Freestyle Nationals, starting with five straight wins to reach the semifinals before moving into the consolation bracket, where he went 1-1 to secure his placement.
Mason Stefanelli and Wynton Denkins both finished just short of placing, each posting a 4-2 record during their respective competitions. The Cavaliers had ten total wrestlers competing across different weight classes: Aiden Allen, Jayce Paridon, Macon Ayers, Dom Baker, Dylan Newsome, and Jack Lesher joined Sherlock, Sanko, Stefanelli, and Denkins on the roster.
Detailed results show Sherlock lost narrowly in his quarterfinal but won subsequent matches against Maximus Dhabolt (15-10), Isreal Ibarra (technical fall), and Sullivan Ramos (11-6) before dropping a close decision to Elliott Humphries for third place. In U23 action at 70kg, Sanko opened with victories over Jack Tongel (technical fall), Marley Washington (fall), Kane Naaktgeboren (technical fall), Anderson Heap (8-6 decision), and Maddox Shaw (3-2 decision). He then fell to Brandt Harer by technical fall in the semifinals before earning fifth place over Cutter Sheets with a technical fall victory.
Other competitors saw mixed results: Denkins won four matches, including two technical falls; Stefanelli also picked up four wins; Allen competed at 65kg; Ayers secured two victories; Baker notched two wins as well; Newsome advanced through early rounds with two technical falls; Lesher reached R16 but was sidelined due to injury.
