Many of the nation’s top wrestlers descended upon Las Vegas this weekend for the U.S. Open. New York wrestlers certainly made an impact, with placers in both the men’s and women’s freestyle and Greco Roman competitions. In addition, the Empire State had success in the FILA Juniors tournaments that also took place in the same location. (For more on the Juniors competition, see here.)
Perrelli, Photo by BV
Going all the way to the finals was former Cornell All-American Frank Perrelli at 55 kg. Perrelli entered the event as the #7 seed, but won his first three bouts over Britain Longmire, Zach Sanders and Ben Kjar to earn his spot in the championship contest. In that match, top seeded Obe Blanc came out on top.
Also making the podium in freestyle were a number of coaches with ties to New York. At 66 kg, Columbia assistant Adam Hall took fourth while American assistant Kyle Borshoff (a former Section 5 star) grabbed seventh. In that same bracket, Army graduate Philip Simpson was sixth.
In addition, a pair of coaches notched seventh place (Hofstra’s Dan Vallimont at 74 kg and Army’s Enock Francois at 84 kg) while Duanesburg High School graduate (and current North Carolina State grappler) Nick Gwiazdowski was also seventh, at 120 kg.
In Greco, a pair of former New York high schoolers – Dmitry Riabchinsky of New Utrecht and Jason Chudzinski of Colonie – placed in the lightweights. Riabchinsky was fifth at 55 kg while Chudzinski took eighth at 60. Meanwhile, Army graduate Jon Anderson picked up bronze at 74 kg.
In women’s action, Carlene Sluberski recorded a third place finish at 51 kg while Jenna Burkert was fourth at 59. Joining them on the medal stand was Mary Westman, who was sixth at 72.
U.S. Open
Men’s Freestyle
55 kg: Frank Perrelli (NYAC/FLWC, Cornell graduate) – 2nd place
66 kg: Adam Hall (NYAC, Columbia assistant coach) – 4th place
66 kg: Philip Simpson (Army WCAP, Army graduate) – 6th place
66 kg: Kyle Borshoff (DCAC, Pittsford) – 7th place
74 kg: Dan Vallimont (Blue & Gold WC, Hofstra assistant coach) – 7th place
84 kg: Enock Francois (West Point WC, Army assistant coach) – 7th place
120 kg: Nick Gwiazdowski (NYAC, Duanesburg) – 7th place
Greco
55 kg: Dmitry Riabchinsky (NYAC/USOEC, New Utrecht) – 5th place
60 kg: Jason Chudzinski (USEOC, Colonie) – 8th place
74 kg: Jon Anderson (Army WCAP, Army graduate) – 3rd place
Women’s Freestyle
51 kg: Carlene Sluberski (NYAC, Fredonia) – 3rd place
59 kg: Jenna Burkert (NYAC, Rocky Point) – 4th place
72 kg: Mary Westman (Jimmie Wrestling Club, Cattaraugus) – 6th place
