Vito Arujau

Vitali Arujau (born June 1, 1998) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler. In freestyle, he is a US National bronze medalist, two-time age-group World silver medalist and a UWW Cadet US National champion. As a folkstyle wrestler, Arujau is an NCAA All-American and EIWA runner-up out of Cornell University and a four-time NYSPHSAA champion with a 216-1 record as a high schooler. As of May 16, 2020, he is ranked #21 in the NCAA pound-for-pound rankings and #3 in the 125-pounds rankings.[1][2]

Vito Arujau
Personal information
Full nameVitali Arujau
National teamAmerican
Born (1998-06-01) June 1, 1998
Syosset, New York
ResidenceIthaca, New York
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight57 kg (126 lb)
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportWrestling
Event(s)Freestyle and folkstyle
College teamCornell Big Red
ClubNew York RTC
Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
Coached byRob Koll
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing  United States
US National Championships
2019 Fort Worth57 kg
Junior World Championships
2019 Tallin57 kg
Cadet World Championships
2016 Tbilisi 58 kg
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing the Cornell Big Red
Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association
2019 Vestal125 lb

High School

Arujau attended Syosset High School in Syosset, New York. He started wrestling in the varsity team as an eight grader (13'-14') and placed second in the state tournament that year, after losing to eventual teammate Yianni Diakomihalis in the 99-pounds finals.[3] After his setback in the state finals, he never lost a single match in his high school career and ended up with a 216-1 record and four NYSPHSAA titles.[4]

University

When he was a two-time state champion (14'-15'), Arujau committed to Cornell University and made his way there after his legendary run as a four-time state champion.[5]

2018-19

Freshman; Started off competing at 133 pounds and went 5-1 before moving down to 125 pounds.[6] After moving down, he compiled 26 wins (17 with bonus points) and 3 more losses.[7] In the post-season, he made his way to the finals of the EIWA Conference Championships, where he lost to Pat Glory in a tight 8-10.[8] As the eight seed at the NCAA's, he defeated his first two opponents via major decision before falling to Northwestern's Sebastian Rivera, the top seed. He rebounded in the consolation bracket, earning victories over the fourteenth, fourth and second seeds (the latter being Nick Piccininni) but lost once again to Rivera[9] to place fourth and earn All-American honors.[10]

2020-21

Sophomore; After redshirting 19'-20', Arujau will return to the NCAA in this season and he is likely to compete at 133 pounds.[11]

Freestyle

Cadet & Junior

As an age-group level wrestler, Arujau was a two-time World Silver medalist and a UWW and USAW National Champion.[12][13]

Senior & U23

2018

Arujau made his senior freestyle debut at the U23 Nationals in early June. He won all of his seven matches and outscored the opposition 90 points to 5, including technical fall victories over the accomplished wrestlers Roman Bravo-Young and Nick Piccininni.[14] He was then expected to compete at the U23 World Championships[15], but was forced to pull out.[16]

2019

He made his return at the US Open in late April. He reached the quarterfinals with a series of victories but was defeated by that year's Pan American Games champion Daton Fix. He reached the bronze medal match with wins over the eight and third seeds but was finally defeated by eventual US National champion Zane Richards.[17]

At the end of the year, he competed at the US Nationals of December. He reached the semifinals with three wins (one of them over Nick Suriano) before losing to the heavily decorated and winner of the championship Spencer Lee. In the consolation bracket, he defeated one more opponent and earned the third place finish after Suriano forfeited the final match.[18]

2020

Arujau was scheduled to compete at the 20' US Olympic Team Trials on April 4 at State College, Pennsylvania.[19] However, the event was postponed for 2021 along with the Summer Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving all the qualifiers unable to compete.[20]

Arujau wrestled Rutgers' Sammy Alvarez on July 25th, at FloWrestling: Dake vs. Chamizo.[21] He defeated Alvarez by technical fall in the second period.[22]

Personal life

Vitali is one of the three sons of the accomplished Russian wrestler Vugar Orujov.[23]

Freestyle record
Senior Freestyle Matches
Res. Record Opponent Score Date Event Location
FloWrestling: Dake vs. Chamizo at 140lb
Win 18-4 Sammy Alvarez TF 16-5 July 25, 2020 FloWrestling: Dake vs. Chamizo

Austin, Texas

2020 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix 16th at 57kg
Loss 17-4 Aleksandr Sabanov 11-12 January 23 - 26, 2020 2020 Ivan Yarygin Golden Grand Prix

Krasnoyarsk, Russia

2019 US Nationals at 57 kg
Win 17-3 Zach Sanders TF 10-0 December 20 - 22, 2019 2019 Senior Nationals - US Olympic Trials Qualifier

Fort Worth, Texas

Loss 16-3 Spencer Lee TF 4-14
Win 16-2 Nick Suriano 2-2
Win 15-2 Zach Sanders TF 10-0
Win 14-2 Desmond Moore TF 10-0
2019 US Open 4th at 57 kg
Loss 13-2 Zane Richards 2-8 April 24 - 27, 2019 2019 U.S Open Wrestling Championships

Las Vegas, Nevada

Win 13-1 Zach Sanders TF 11-1
Win 12-1 Josh Rodriguez 3-2
Loss 11-1 Daton Fix TF 8-18
Win 11-0 Jesse Delgado 14-10
Win 10-0 Britain Longmire TF 11-0
2018 US U23 World Team Trials at 61kg
Win 9-0 Roman Bravo-Young TF 10-0 June 5, 2018 2018 UWW U23 World Team Trials

Akron, Ohio

Win 8-0 Roman Bravo-Young TF 15-4
2018 US U23 Nationals at 61kg
Win 7-0 Roman Bravo-Young 2-0 June 1 - 3, 2018 2018 UWW Cadet And U23 Nationals and WTT Qualifiers

Akron, Ohio

Win 6-0 Nick Piccininni TF 10-0
Win 5-0 Joe Nelson TF 10-0
Win 4-0 Rahsun Lawrence TF 10-0
Win 3-0 Jeffrey Jokerst TF 11-0
Win 2-0 Tony DeCesare TF 10-0
Win 1-0 Warren Stanfield TF 14-1

NCAA record
NCAA Championships Matches
Res. Record Opponent Score Date Event
2019 NCAA Championships 4th at 125 lbs
Loss 5-2 Sebastian Rivera 3-8 March 21-23, 2019 2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
Win 5-1 Nick Piccininni 5-1
Win 4-1 Ronnie Bresser 8-5
Win 3-1 Sean Fausz MD 11-3
Loss 2-1 Sebastian Rivera 2-6
Win 2-0 RayVon Foley MD 12-2
Win 1-0 Malik Heinselman MD 12-2

Stats


Season Year School Rank Weigh Class Record Win Bonus
2019 Freshman Cornell University #5 (4th) 125 31-4 88.57% 54.29%
Career 31-4 88.57% 54.29%

Collegiate awards & records

Freestyle awards and honors
  • 2019
    • US Nationals (57 kg)
    2018
    • US U23 World Team Trials (61 kg)
    • US U23 Nationals (61 kg)

References
  1. "P4P". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  2. "125". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  3. BV (2016-03-03). "#4 & #1: Yianni & Greg Diakomihalis Both Win NYS Titles for State Champion Hilton". New York Wrestling News. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  4. "Sarra: Vito Arujau in a league of his own". Newsday. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  5. BV (2015-03-29). "A Great Weekend: Vito Arujau Commits to Cornell & Wins National Title (and MOW)". Associated Wrestling Press. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  6. LLC, ACS. "Vitali Arujau (Cornell) Profile". www.wrestlestat.com. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  7. "Vito Arujau - 2020-21 - Wrestling". Cornell University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  8. "2019 EIWA Wrestling Championship – Finals Results – Tech-Fall". Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  9. Falk, Steven. "NCAA wrestling championships 2019: Sebastian Rivera comes back to finish third". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  10. "Meet the 80 All-Americans at the 2019 NCAA wrestling tournament | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  11. "Way Too Early Lineup Look: 2020-21 Cornell Big Red". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  12. "Arujau finishes with silver at Junior Worlds, 3 more Americans reach finals". InterMat. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  13. BV (2015-07-23). "Arujau Wins Cadet Freestyle National Championship With Tech Fall in the Finals". New York Wrestling News. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  14. NYWN (2018-06-07). "U23 New York Recap". New York Wrestling News. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  15. Willis, Michael (2018-06-05). "Meet Your Men's Freestyle U23 World Team". Support USA Wrestling. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  16. "Three lineup changes made to U23 Freestyle World Team". Team USA. October 3, 2018.
  17. Smith, Earl (2019-04-27). "2019 US Open Senior Men's Freestyle Final Results and Placewinners". The Open Mat. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  18. "2019 Senior Nationals Men's Freestyle – Final Results". iawrestle.com. 2019-12-23. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  19. Goodwin, Cody. "Wrestling: Iowa's Spencer Lee wins Senior Nationals, qualifies for 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials". Hawk Central. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  20. Goodwin, Cody. "USA Wrestling announces that 2020 Olympic Trials are postponed". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  21. "Vito Arujau And Sammy Alvarez Will Wrestle On July 25th". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  22. "Dake vs Chamizo Match Notes". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
  23. Hamilton, Andy. "Meet the USA men's freestyle Junior World Team members". Trackwrestling. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
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