OMAHA, Neb. – A pair of Utah Valley University wrestlers earned podium finishes on Sunday at the 2020 U23 Nationals and UWW Junior Nationals in freestyle competition in Omaha, Nebraska, as redshirt senior Demetrius Romero placed fifth at 79 kg at U23 Nationals and junior Isaiah Delgado finished sixth at 61 kg at Junior Nationals. 
 
The freestyle podium finishes came just two days removed from when UVU redshirt junior Taylor LaMont (60 kg) and former Wolverine Dylan Gregerson (63 kg) both won titles at the 2020 U23 Nationals in Greco-Roman competition. 
 
"We were happy with the overall performance of the team. Demetrius and Isaiah wrestled a lot of tough matches and competed great. Taylor looked really good as well before we had to pull him out because of an injury," head UVU wrestling coach Greg Williams said. "Our staff was also very impressed with the attitude of our freshmen. They did some really good things this weekend. The tournament provided all of our guys with some great information moving forward. It's been a long time since we last competed and we can use this experience to better prepare for our duals starting in January."
 
In his first competition since sustaining a knee injury last November, the two-time UVU NCAA qualifier and 2019 Big 12 champion Romero looked to pick up where he left off by recording two quick victories over South Dakota State's Kelby Hawkins (10-0) and Iowa State's Maxwell Southard (11-8) to advance to the quarterfinals. After falling to Minnesota's Jake Allar, he then responded by recording back-to-back wins over Thomas Flitz (Unattached, 6-0) and Michael Battista (Cavalier WC, 10-0) to advance to the consolation semifinals. 
 
After dropping a consolation semifinal contest to Muhamed Mcbryde (Buffalo WC), Romero then met up with Iowa's Myles Wilson in the fifth-place bout. Romero didn't disappoint, as he made quick work of his Iowa Hawkeye counterpart by pulling out a 10-0 technical fall first-period victory (2:41). 
 
With the fifth-place finish, Romero finished the 2020 U23 Freestyle Nationals with an impressive 5-2 record. 
 
At Junior Nationals, Delgado too earned a podium finish after reeling off four consecutive victories and advancing to the semifinal round at 61 kg. After opening with a 10-0 tech fall win over Eric Westbrook (Unattached), Delgado then defeated Drew Woodley of Iowa State (9-5) and followed that up with a big 16-6 win over South Dakota State's Zach Price to move on to the quarterfinals. Delgado then kept the winning streak alive with a 12-2 victory over Chris Kim (Cliff Keen WC), to meet up with 2020 NCAA qualifier Ridge Lovett of Nebraska in the semifinal round.
 
After falling to Nebraska's Lovett, Delgado then found himself in the consolation semifinals against Samuel Hillegas (Southeast RTC). Hillegas came out on top in a high-scoring 16-9 contest to head Delgado to the fifth-place match. While wrestling for fifth, Delgado then fell by tech fall to Missouri's Trey Crawford to end his 2020 Junior Nationals journey with a sixth-place finish and a 4-3 record. 
 
UVU redshirt junior Taylor LaMont, who won U23 Greco-Roman Nationals at 60 kg earlier this weekend on Friday, too reached the quarterfinals at U23 Freestyle Nationals, but had to exit the tournament on Sunday morning via medical forfeit after sustaining an injury in his second win of the weekend over Randon Miranda of New York Athletic Club on Saturday. LaMont was 2-0 in the freestyle competition with a 12-2 tech fall over Jordan Kelber of Nebraska and a 6-4 come-from-behind decision over Miranda that featured a trio of takedowns in the final period to pick up the victory before having to take a pair of medical forfeits on Sunday. 
 
Sophomore Chase Trussell too performed well at U23 Freestyle Nationals by advancing to Sunday after winning a trio of consecutive bouts in the consolation bracket at 125 kg. After suffering an opening defeat, Trussell picked up wins over Octavio Alejandre (Choker Wrestling Club, 12-2), Daniel Conley (New York City RTC, 10-0) and a win by forfeit over two-time NCAA qualifier Demetrius Thomas from Pitt. The Wolverine heavyweight then had his tournament outing come to a close on Sunday morning with a 3-2 record after dropping a hard fought 2-0 contest to Zach Schrader (Unattached). 
 
At Junior Nationals, freshman Danny Snediker too had a strong performance at 74 kg in freestyle by advancing to Sunday's competition after picking up three straight wins in the consolation rounds on Saturday. Snediker, who finished his 2020 Junior Nationals run with a 3-2 outing, then had his tournament come to a close on Sunday morning with a 10-4 setback to Wisconsin's Joshua Otto. 
 
Seven other Wolverine grapplers competed in UWW Junior Freestyle Nationals over the weekend but had their runs come to a close on Saturday. Dawson Collins (57 kg), Kase Mauger (57 kg), Tyson Humpherys (61 kg), Stockton O'Brien (65 kg), Jaxon Garoutte (70 kg) and Kekana Fouret (74 kg) led the group by all picking up a pair of victories and finishing with 2-2 outings, while transfer Chris Fasano (79 kg) finished with a 1-2 showing. 
 
Nine more UVU wrestlers took part in U23 Freestyle Nationals in Omaha but too had their tournaments come to a close on Saturday. Kainalu Estrella (61 kg), Ty Smith (61 kg), James Emmer (65 kg) and RJ Bingham (70 kg) all recorded wins at the national event by each going 1-2, while Spencer Heywood (74 kg), Ashton Seely (86 kg), Tanner Shields (86 kg), Payson Anderton (125 kg) and Jayden Woodruff (125 kg) finished with 0-2 showings.  
 
Earlier in Greco-Roman competition on Friday, both LaMont and former Wolverine and current Brunson UVRTC competitor Dylan Gregerson went undefeated en route to winning titles at the U23 Greco Nationals. LaMont went an impressive 4-0 to win the 60 kg weight class, while Gregerson went 3-0 on his way to winning at 63 kg. 
 
After recording a trio of tech falls in his first three matches, LaMont then managed to pull out a 3-1 decision victory over Miranda of New York Athletic Club thanks to scoring the decisive takedown in the second stanza to lock up his championship. Gregerson then followed that up with a dominant 9-0 tech fall victory over Erik Spence in just 59-seconds in the 63-kilo title bout to win his championship. 
 
With the Greco titles, both LaMont—who is a current U.S. Senior Greco National Team member—and Gregerson will now receive auto bids to the 2021 U23 World Team Trials. To read more about LaMont and Gregerson's Greco titles visit GoUVU.com.
 
"Taylor and Dylan were dominant in their Greco matches this weekend," Williams added. "Dylan didn't give up a point and Taylor gave up just three total points in four matches. They've been training hard and the work paid off with national titles this week."
 
Twenty two of the 23 UVU wrestlers in the competition on the weekend competed for the Brunson UVRTC, while LaMont wrestled for Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club. 
 
After a strong showing, the Utah Valley grapplers will now return to Orem to prepare for the 2020-21 collegiate season that is slated to get underway in early January. 
 
UVU U23 Freestyle Results
79 kg - Demetrius Romero (5-2) - 5th Place
Demetrius Romero (Brunson UVRTC) VSU Kelby Hawkins (Jackrabbit WC), 10-0 (5:53)
Demetrius Romero (Brunson UVRTC) VPO1 Maxwell Southard (Cyclone RTC), 11-8
Jake Allar (Gopher Wrestling Club) VSU1 Demetrius Romero (Brunson UVRTC), 12-2 (3:23)
Demetrius Romero (Brunson UVRTC) VIN Thomas Flitz (Unattached), 6-0 (1:15)
Demetrius Romero (Brunson UVRTC) VSU Michael Battista (Cavalier WC), 10-0 (1:28)
Muhamed Mcbryde (Buffalo WC) VSU1 Demetrius Romero (Brunson UVRTC), 11-1 (4:28)
Demetrius Romero (Brunson UVRTC) VSU Myles Wilson (Hawkeye Wrestling Club), 10-0 (2:41)
 
61 kg – Taylor LaMont (2-0) [withdrew due to an injury]
Taylor LaMont (Sunkist Kids WC) VSU1 Jordan Kelber (Nebraska Wrestling TC), 12-2 (1:54)
Taylor LaMont (Sunkist Kids WC) VPO1 Randon Miranda (New York Athletic Club), 6-4
Michael Colaiocco (Pennsylvania RTC) VFO Taylor LaMont (Sunkist Kids WC)
Ian Parker (Cyclone RTC) VFO Taylor LaMont (Sunkist Kids WC)
 
61 kg - Kainalu Estrella (1-2)
Ian Parker (Cyclone RTC) VSU Kainalu Estrella (Brunson UVRTC), 10-0 (1:36)
Kainalu Estrella (Brunson UVRTC) VFA Jonathan Gomez (Unattached), 9-6 (4:45)
Dominic La Joie (Spartan Combat RTC) VSU Kainalu Estrella (Brunson UVRTC), 10-0 (1:22)
 
61 kg - Ty Smith (1-2)
Ty Smith (Brunson UVRTC) VFA Mario Martinez (Warrior Wrestling Club), 9-0 (1:05)
Micky Phillippi (Pittsburgh Wrestling Club) VPO1 Ty Smith (Brunson UVRTC), 12-7
Colby Smith (Unattached) VPO1 Ty Smith (Brunson UVRTC), 13-7
 
61 kg - Dylan Gregerson (0-2)
Dominic La Joie (Spartan Combat RTC) VSU Dylan Gregerson (Brunson UVRTC), 10-0 (3:00)
Todd Small (Cyclone RTC) VSU1 Dylan Gregerson (Brunson UVRTC), 11-1 (6:00)
 
65 kg - James Emmer (1-2)
James Emmer (Brunson UVRTC) VPO1 Dawson Bates (Unattached), 6-1
Kizhan Clarke (Dcac) VSU James Emmer (Brunson UVRTC), 10-0 (1:42)
Conner Ward (Arkansas RTC) VFA James Emmer (Brunson UVRTC), 7-3
 
70 kg - RJ Bingham (1-2)
RJ Bingham (Brunson UVRTC) VFA Alex Dilegge (Marauder Wrestling Club), 2-2 (0:51)
Garrett Model (Wisconsin RTC) VSU RJ Bingham (Brunson UVRTC), 10-0 (0:27)
Marshall Keller (Unattached) VSU1 RJ Bingham (Brunson UVRTC), 12-2 (2:46)
 
74 kg - Spencer Heywood (0-2)
Laurence Kosoy (New York City RTC) VSU1 Spencer Heywood (Brunson UVRTC), 11-1 (3:00)
Alfred Daniel (Harlem Jets Wrestling) VPO1 Spencer Heywood (Brunson UVRTC), 7-2
 
86 kg - Ashton Seely (0-2)
Cade Belshay (Sunkist Kids WC) VSU Ashton Seely (Brunson UVRTC), 10-0 (5:08)
Jacob Raschka (Tiger Style WC) VSU1 Ashton Seely (Brunson UVRTC), 14-3 (3:26)
 
86 kg - Tanner Shields (0-2)
Taylor Lujan (Panther Wrestling Club) VSU1 Tanner Shields (Brunson UVRTC), 13-2 (0:49)
Brian Bonino (New York City RTC) VSU Tanner Shields (Brunson UVRTC), 10-0 (5:46)
 
125 kg - Chase Trussell (3-2)
Ethan Laird (Broncs Wrestling Club) VSU Chase Trussell (Brunson UVRTC), 10-0 (5:08)
Chase Trussell (Brunson UVRTC) VSU1 Octavio Alejandre (Choker Wrestling Club), 12-2 (2:45)
Chase Trussell (Brunson UVRTC) VSU Daniel Conley (New York City RTC), 10-0 (5:01)
Chase Trussell (Brunson UVRTC) VFO Demetrius Thomas (Pittsburgh Wrestling Club)
Zach Schrader (Unattached) VPO Chase Trussell (Brunson UVRTC), 2-0
 
125 kg – Payson Anderton (0-2)
Francis Duggan (Cyclone RTC) VSU1 Payson Anderton (Brunson UVRTC), 13-2 (3:35)
Jamarcus Grant (Boilermaker RTC) VSU Payson Anderton (Brunson UVRTC), 10-0 (5:19)
 
125 kg - Jayden Woodruff (0-2)
Anthony Cassioppi (Hawkeye Wrestling Club) VSU Jayden Woodruff (Brunson UVRTC), 10-0 (0:38)
Aaron Johnson (Unattached) VPO1 Jayden Woodruff (Brunson UVRTC), 4-1
 
UVU UWW Junior Freestyle Results
61 kg - Isaiah Delgado (4-3) - 5th Place
Isaiah Delgado (Brunson UVRTC) VSU Eric Westbrook (Unattached), 10-0 (2:08)
Isaiah Delgado (Brunson UVRTC) VPO1 Drew Woodley (Cyclone RTC), 9-5
Isaiah Delgado (Brunson UVRTC) VSU1 Zach Price (Jackrabbit Wrestling Club), 16-6 (5:39)
Isaiah Delgado (Brunson UVRTC) VSU1 Chris Kim (Cliff Keen WC), 12-2 (4:20)
Ridge Lovett (Nebraska Wrestling TC) VSU Isaiah Delgado (Brunson UVRTC), 10-0 (3:36)
Samuel Hillegas (Southeast RTC) VPO1 Isaiah Delgado (Brunson UVRTC), 16-9
Trey Crawford (Tiger Style WC) VSU1 Isaiah Delgado (Brunson UVRTC), 12-1 (3:29)
 
57 kg - Dawson Collins (2-2)
Dawson Collins (Brunson UVRTC) VPO1 Aidan Harris (Sanderson Wrestling Academy), 11-9
Colton Camacho (Pittsburgh Wrestling Club) VSU1 Dawson Collins (Brunson UVRTC), 13-1 (4:37)
Dawson Collins (Brunson UVRTC) VPO1 Jackson Nielsen (Nebraska Golden Eagles WC), 12-5
Patrick McCormick (Cavalier Wrestling Club) VSU1 Dawson Collins (Brunson UVRTC), 20-7 (5:43)
 
57 kg - Kase Mauger (2-2)
Kase Mauger (Brunson UVRTC) VSU Josh Kyle (Wyoming RTC), 10-0 (1:27)
Jesse Mendez (Bulldog Premier WC) VSU Kase Mauger (Brunson UVRTC), 10-0 (4:19)
Kase Mauger (Brunson UVRTC) VSU Richard Sandoval (Unattached), 10-0 (1:33)
Timothy Levine (Unattached) VFA Kase Mauger (Brunson UVRTC), 7-11 (2:54)
 
61 kg - Tyson Humpherys (2-2)
Tyson Humpherys (Brunson UVRTC) VPO1 Kyle Botelho (San Francisco WC), 8-1
Ryan Jack (Wolfpack Wrestling Club) VPO Tyson Humpherys (Brunson UVRTC), 2-0
Tyson Humpherys (Brunson UVRTC) VPO1 Stone Moscovic (Unattached), 9-3
Joseph Pins (Burg Training Center) VPO1 Tyson Humpherys (Brunson UVRTC), 11-5
 
65 - Stockton O'Brien (2-2)
Stockton O'Brien (Brunson UVRTC) VFA Kody Schulze (Rise Wrestling), 4-0 (0:56)
Joshua Edmond (Tiger Style WC) VSU Stockton O'Brien (Brunson UVRTC), 12-0 (3:46)
Stockton O'Brien (Brunson UVRTC) VSU1 Brady Fritz (Burg Training Center), 18-7 (4:37)
Danny Fongaro (New York City RTC) VPO1 Stockton O'Brien (Brunson UVRTC), 9-7
 
70 kg - Jaxon Garoutte (2-2)
Jaxon Garoutte (Brunson UVRTC) VPO1 Walker Heard (Mountaineer WC), 4-1
Fidel Mayora (Cliff Keen WC) VSU Jaxon Garoutte (Brunson UVRTC), 10-0 (3:43)
Jaxon Garoutte (Brunson UVRTC) VPO1 Mitchell Bohlken (Tiger Style WC), 14-6
Weston Wichman (Unattached) VPO1 Jaxon Garoutte (Brunson UVRTC), 8-8
 
74 kg - Danny Snediker (3-2)
Cael Valencia (Unattached) VSU1 Danny Snediker (Brunson UVRTC), 12-1 (3:44)
Danny Snediker (Brunson UVRTC) VFA Kaleb Canoyer (Nebraska Golden Eagles WC), 4-6 (0:43)
Danny Snediker (Brunson UVRTC) VPO1 Kevin Reynolds (Viking Wrestling Club (IA)), 8-1
Danny Snediker (Brunson UVRTC) VPO1 Jacob Stefanowicz (Pennsylvania RTC), 7-3
Joshua Otto (Wisconsin RTC) VPO1 Danny Snediker (Brunson UVRTC), 10-4
 
74 kg - Kekana Fouret (2-2)
Alex Facundo (Team Donahoe) VSU Kekana Fouret (Brunson UVRTC), 10-0 (3:27)
Kekana Fouret (Brunson UVRTC) VFA Tyee Ducharme (San Francisco WC), 2-0 (0:57)
Kekana Fouret (Brunson UVRTC) VPO1 Matthew Doyle (Burg Training Center), 8-7
Joshua Otto (Wisconsin RTC) VPO Kekana Fouret (Brunson UVRTC), 4-0
 
79 kg - Chris Fasano (1-2)
Chris Fasano (Brunson UVRTC) VSU Drew Venteicher (Dubuque Wrestling Club), 11-0 (2:10)
Michael O'Malley (Pennsylvania RTC) VSU Chris Fasano (Brunson UVRTC), 10-0 (2:03)
Joseph Walker (Cliff Keen WC) VPO1 Chris Fasano (Brunson UVRTC), 10-5