Cooper Flynn captures gold in PolandCooper Flynn captures gold in Poland
Wrestling

Cooper Flynn captures gold in Poland

WARSAW, POLAND – Virginia Tech wrestling redshirt sophomore Cooper Flynn was impressive overseas in his first international tournament – going 3-0 on the day at the 2023 Poland Open. Flynn defeated 2017 NCAA national champion and current Puerto Rican world team member, Darian Cruz, to capture 57-kilogram gold on Sunday afternoon.


 
The Hokie scored first via shot clock point due to passivity from Cruz but would find himself trailing on criteria as Cruz would tack on a passivity point of his own. Flynn continued to push the action and warranted another shot clock point to lead 2-1 just 0:48 seconds left in the match. Cruz would shoot deep and get to a leg but Flynn was too stingy and too savvy as he locked up a crotch lift with 0:03 left to seal the victory and bring a gold medal back to Blacksburg.
 
Flynn opened his first international competition with a controlling 2-0 victory over Sweden. Flynn controlled the entirety of the bout to advance to the next round where he had to battle back against Bulgaria's Ivaylo Tissov. Flynn secured two takedowns to lead 4-2 with :40 left in the first period before Tissov hit a four-point throw to take the lead into the break. Upon the resume of action, Flynn got in on a single-leg for another takedown but he was still trailing 6-6 based on criteria point with just over 2:00 left in the match. The Hokie would once again find a leg but would then transition up to a bodylock then find a snake to put the Bulgarian to his back and pick up the fall to advance to the finals.


 
Flynn will now turn his sights to the 2023 U23 World Championships in Finland this upcoming October. Follow Hokies Wrestling on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for all Virginia Tech Wrestling news and updates.