The following is a press release from Iowa State Athletics Communications:
LAS VEGAS – Three Cyclones finished on the podium at the 2023 US Open in the U20 division at the Southpoint Hotel & Casino over the weekend. Paniro Johnson had an impressive weekend and placed third at 70 kg Freestyle while incoming Cyclones Tate Naaktgeboren and Blake Gioimo found the podium as well. Naaktgeboren placed seventh in 86 kg Freestyle and third in 87 kg Greco-Roman while Gioimo finished eighth in 55 kg Greco-Roman.
Johnson, the No. 6 seed, went 7-1 on the weekend and made a run to the semifinals which included four-straight tech falls to begin the tournament. He fell to No. 10 Antrell Taylor in the semifinals before defeating No. 12 John Wiley and No. 4 Daniel Cardenas on the back side to finish third.
Naaktgeboren began his weekend with a run to the semifinals in the U20 87 kg Greco-Roman bracket before eventually finishing third. In 86 kg Freestyle, Naaktgeboren reached the quarterfinals before suffering his first loss. Overall, he went a combined 9-3 over the weekend with seven tech falls.ADVERTISING
Gioimo went 3-3 in the 55 kg Greco-Roman bracket. He reached the championship Round of 16 before falling to the back side and eventually placing eighth. He defeated No. 1 seed Stefton Douglas, 3-3 VPO1, to get on the podium. In Freestyle action, Gioimo, reached the Consis Round of 16 in the 57 kg bracket. Gioimo, who logged a 3-2 record in the tournament, lost his first match but battled hard on the back side before falling to Joshua Vazquez.
Several other Cyclones competed in the tournament as well. Connor Euton went 3-2 in the 70 kg Freestyle bracket and reached the Round of 32. MJ Gaitan posted a 4-2 record at 79 kg freestyle and reached the quarterfinals where he suffered a close 6-5 loss to No. 1 seed Rocco Welsh.
At 65 kg Freestyle, Evan Frost drew the No. 2 seed Kannon Webster in the first round and fell to the consolation side early. Frost then rattled off three-straight wins on the back side, including a pair of tech falls, before bowing out in the Consis Round of 32.
RESULTS
U20 Greco-Roman
55 kg – Blake Gioimo, 8th Place
87 kg – Tate Naaktgeboren, 3rd Place
U20 Freestyle
57 kg – Blake Gioimo, DNP
65 kg – Evan Frost, DNP
70 kg – Paniro Johnson, 3rd Place
70 kg – Connor Euton, DNP
79 kg – MJ Gaitan, DNP
86 kg – Tate Naaktgeboren, 7th Place
