CORALVILLE, Iowa – Virginia Tech wrestling's Bryce Andonian advanced to the finals of the UWW Junior Nationals Saturday, while Andy Smith placed third and alum Ty Walz placed fourth at UWW Senior Nationals.
Andonian will wrestle Sunday in the best two out of three finals for a spot on the Junior World Team, which will compete at the 2021 UWW Junior World Championships in Ufa, Russia in August. The sophomore went 5-0 Saturday to reach the finals, including four technical falls, and will see NC State wrestler Ed Scott in the final.
Making his senior level debut, Smith had an impressive 4-1 showing in Iowa Saturday, bouncing back from a quarterfinal loss to earn third place. With his finish, Smith has qualified for the 2021 Senior World Team Trials as a Top-5 placewinner at UWW Senior Nationals.
Walz, wrestling at 125 kilograms after spending the past three years at 97 kilograms, finished fourth after a 3-2 Saturday. The former Hokie heavyweight had already qualified for the Senior World Team Trials from his showing at the 2021 Olympic Team Trials.
Also wrestling at Junior Nationals, Clayton Ulrey advanced to the semifinals with four straight wins, including two tech falls, but fell in the semis and will await his opponent in Sunday's consolation semifinals.
Incoming Hokies Cooper Flynn and Trey Kibe are also competing at Junior Nationals. Like Ulrey, Flynn is in the wrestlebacks and will be back in action Sunday after a 2-1 Saturday. Kibe won his first match via technical fall before dropping his next two.
SENIOR NATIONALS
Andy Smith – 97 kilograms (4-1, 3rd Place)
Quarterfinals: No. 4 Austin Schafer dec. Smith, 9-4
Consi. Rd. 2: Smith TF Charles Swiggett, 10-0 (1:14)
Consi. Rd. 3: Smith TF Austin Stith, 17-7 (5:16)
Consi. Semifinals: Smith dec. Isaac Trumble, 10-3
3rd Place Match: Smith dec. No. 1 Jacob Boyd, 5-3
Ty Walz – 125 kilograms (3-2, 4th Place)
Round of 16: No. 3 Walz TF Zachary Knighton-Ward, 11-0 (2:44)
Quarterfinals: No. 3 Walz dec. No. 6 Demetrious Thomas, 5-2
Semifinals: No. 10 Anthony Cassioppi TF No. 3 Walz, 11-1 (3:44)
Consi. Semifinals: No. 3 Walz dec. Matt Stencel, 5-4
3rd Place Match: No. 2 Dominique Bradley dec. No. 3 Walz, 2-1
JUNIOR NATIONALS
Cooper Flynn – 57 kilograms
Round of 32: Flynn dec. Noah Surtin, 8-1
Round of 16: Flynn dec. Troy Spratley, 7-2
Quarterfinals: Richard Figueroa II dec. Flynn, 6-4
Consi. Rd. 5: Flynn vs. Jett Strickenberger
Bryce Andonian – 70 kilograms
Round of 64: Andonian TF Brayden Roberts, 10-0 (4:15)
Round of 32: Andonian TF Nicholas Stoltenberg, 13-2 (0:45)
Round of 16: Andonian TF Ridge Briggs, 12-2 (2:48)
Quarterfinals: Andonian dec. Caleb Henson, 16-9
Semifinals: Andonian TF Jack Thomsen, 10-0 (1:42)
Best 2 of 3 Finals: Andonian vs. Ed Scott
Clayton Ulrey – 74 kilograms
Round of 64: Ulrey TF Ben Durocher, 12-1 (3:28)
Round of 32: Ulrey dec. Drake Smith, 13-6
Round of 16: Ulrey TF Brady Henderson, 12-2 (2:35)
Quarterfinals: Ulrey dec. Derek Gilcher, 7-3
Semifinals: Cade DeVos TF Ulrey, 10-0 (1:51)
Consi. Semifinals: Ulrey vs. TBD
Trey Kibe – 79 kilograms (1-2)
Round of 32: Kibe TF David Papach, 14-2 (6:00)
Round of 16: Trent Munoz TF Kibe, 10-0 (2:20)
Consi. Rd. 3: Kevin Reynolds TF Kibe, 19-8 (2:19)
