LAS VEGAS, NV – No. 4 Caleb Henson continues his sensational sophomore campaign, punching his ticket to the 149-pound semifinal match-up after winning three matches on the opening day of the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. No. 5 Bryce Andonian, No. 18 Sam Fisher, and freshman Sonny Sasso all remain in contention for a podium finish after advancing through the consolation on day one. Action resumes on Saturday at 1 p.m. EST live on Flowrestling.
Henson Moving Strong
No. 4 Caleb Henson continues his relentless run as he posted a dominant 6:08 15-0 tech fall victory over Ohio University's Derek Raike to open up his CKLV run. The Hokie sophomore followed up with another bonus point victory, this time in the form of a 13-2 major decision over Alek Martin (SDSU) to push himself into the quarterfinals.
The next round proved to be more of a battle as Henson had to score in the last :22 to secure the victory. Henson met No. 7 Chance Lamar out of Cal Poly in the quarterfinals in what was a back-and-forth battle. Lamar secured the first takedown but Henson would answer with a quick escape and answer with a takedown of his own to end the first period with a 4-3 lead. Henson would garner an escape to start the second period but Lamar would add another takedown off a Henson attack. The Hokie would garner another escape to tie up the bout as the second frame ended. The Cal Poly Mustang would select neutral to begin the final frame with heavy handfighting and numerous offensive attempts by Henson. In what looked like an eventual overtime situation, The Hitman would get in on a shot with :22 left in regulation and finish with the takedown on an ensuing scramble to punch his ticket into the semifinals tomorrow where he'll meet multiple-time All-American in Arizona State's Kyle Parco.
Battling on the Backside
The ever-electric Bryce Andonian would put on an offensive clinic with a 16-0 lead before sinking in a fall at the 6:00 mark of the match over Charlie Evans (Navy) to advance to the Round of 16. In what was one of the most anticipated bouts of the tournament, Andonian would put on a battle against Cornell's Meyer Shapiro but would drop the match that was closer than a 4-16 result. Andonian would rebound in the consolation bracket with an electric fall over Iowa State's highly-touted Cody Chittum. The Human Highlight Reel would go back-to-back throws and secure the fall at 1:16 into the bout to stay alive on the backside. Andonian would end the night in a controlling 7-3 scramble-fest decision against South Dakota's Cael Swensen to advance to Saturday's consolation quarterfinals against familiar foe, Paddy Gallagher of Ohio State.
Tech's Sam Fisher – ranked No. 18 at 184-pounds – had a slow start in his opening bout but poured it on late to take a decisive win over Citadel's Adam Ortega, 9-3. Fisher would battle against nationally-ranked Gavin Hoffman of Ohio State and had the Buckeye on the ropes but just couldn't finish as time expired to drop the bout 1-2 and fall to the backside. Fisher would rattle off three wins in a row – 4-3 decision over Quayin Short (Wyoming), fall over Aaron Ayzerov (Columbia) in 2:16, and a gritty, last second takedown win over No. 10 and two-time All-American Gavin Kane of North Carolina to advance to tomorrow's consolation rounds.
Freshman Sonny Sasso took the mat at 197-pounds against No. 2 in the country and top-seeded Tanner Sloan. Sasso fell into a hole too early and too deep and would lose the bout via tech fall in the third period. Sasso would then go on a backside run that saw him defeat No. 28 Robert Striggow of Michigan 3-1 in a gritty match then follow it up with another ranked win this time over No. 21 Evan Bates (Northwestern) via major decision 13-5. The freshman would pick up another ranked win over Campbell's No. 25 Levi Hopkins 11-3 and pick up a medical forfeit over No. 8 Luke Surber of Oklahoma State to advance to the consolation quarterfinals.
Other Hokie Performers
No. 20 Hunter Catka was dominant in his two opening matches at 285-pounds, notching a 15-0 tech fall in 3:52 over Kevin Zimmer (Wyoming) and then adding a 15-1 major decision over Columbia's Nolan Neves. Catka would then drop his quarterfinal bout to No. 3 Lucas Davison of Michigan 2-11 and drop to No. 21 Lewis Fernandes (Cornell), 3-9 to end his first CKLV tournament.
Taking the mat at 157-pounds, No. 20 Connor Brady made his Cliff Keen Invitational debut with a 4-2 win over Campbell's Dominic Baker. Brady would drop his next bout to Garrett Thompson (Ohio University) after a shot attempt that saw Brady get countered straight to his back and drop the bout by fall. Brady would win his first match in the consolation bracket 4-2 against Ben Haubert (Citadel) but would lose to Will Miller of App State to end his CKLV run.
It was a tough stretch for No. 28 Eddie Ventresca as he dropped his first-round bout to Dominic Mendez (Cal Poly) and his consolation bout against Noah Luna (App State) to go 0-2 in his Cliff Keen run. Ventresca showed offensive output throughout both matches but just couldn't find his finishes and was countered on multiple scoring attempts.
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2023 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Results
Day 1
Eddie Ventresca, 125-pounds
Round of 32 – loss Dominic Mendez (Cal Poly), 4-14
Consolation – loss Noah Luna (App St), 2-14
Caleb Henson, 149-pounds
Round of 32 – tech fall Derek Raike (Ohio University), 15-0, 6:08
Round of 16 – maj dec Alek Martin (South Dakota State University), 13-2
Quarterfinal – dec No. 7 Chance Lamer (Cal Poly), 10-6
Bryce Andonian, 157-pounds
Round of 32 – fall Charlie Evans (Navy), 16-3, 6:00
Round of 16 – loss Meyer Shapiro (Cornell), 4-16
Consolation – tech fall Carter Baer (Binghamton), 19-4, 6:07
Consolation – fall No. 18 Cody Chittum (Iowa State), 6-1, 1:16
Consolation – dec No. 13 Cael Swensen (South Dakota State), 7-3
Connor Brady, 165-pounds
Round of 32 – dec Dominic Baker (Campbell), 4-2
Round of 16 – loss Garrett Thompson (Ohio University), 2:34
Consolation – dec Ben Haubert (Citadel), 4-2
Consolation – loss Will Miller (App State), 1-5
Sam Fisher, 184-pounds
Round of 32 – dec Adam Ortega (Citadel), 9-3
Round of 16 – loss No. 8 Gavin Hoffman (Ohio State), 1-2
Consolation – dec Quayin Short (Wyoming), 4-3
Consolation – fall Aaron Ayzerov (Columbia), 6-1, 2:16
Consolation – dec No. 10 Gavin Kane (North Carolina), 4-2
Sonny Sasso, 197-pounds
Round of 32 – loss No. 2 Tanner Sloan (South Dakota State University), 1-17, 5:40
Consolation – dec No. 28 Robert Striggow (Michigan), 3-1
Consolation – maj dec No. 21 Evan Bates (Northwestern), 13-5
Consolation – maj dec No. 25 Levi Hopkins (Campbell), 11-3
Consolation – med forfeit No. 8 Luke Surber (Oklahoma State)
Hunter Catka, 285-pounds
Round of 32 – tech fall Kevin Zimmer (Wyoming), 15-0, 3:52
Round of 16 – maj dec Nolan Neves (Columbia), 15-1
Quarterfinals – loss No. 3 Lucas Davison (Michigan), 2-11
Consolation – loss No. 21 Lewis Fernandes (Cornell), 3-9
