Vitali Arujau (Belarusian: Віталій Аруджаў; Azerbaijani: Vitali Orucov; born June 1, 1999) is an American freestyle and former folkstyle wrestler who competes at 61 kilograms.[1] In freestyle, he was the 2023 World Champion, Pan American champion and US National champion.[2]
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| Full name | Vitali Arujau | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | June 1, 1999 Gomel, Belarus | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home town | Syosset, New York, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 133 lb (60 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Wrestling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Freestyle and Folkstyle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Cornell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Spartan Combat RTC Titan Mercury Wrestling Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | USA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Mike Grey Vugar Orujov | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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In folkstyle, Arujau was a two-time NCAA Division I National champion, a four-time All American and a two-time EIWA Conference champion out of Cornell University.[3]
Background
editArujau was born Azerbaijani descent family in Gomel, Belarus, and moved to the United States at the age of two, after his mother won the green card lottery. His father, Vugar Orujov, was a two-time World champion in freestyle wrestling. His mother, Zhanna Sarnauskaya, was a USSR National champion in solo kayaking.[4]
After a short stay in California, the Arujau family moved to Long Island, New York, where he would start wrestling at the age of ten, under his father's guidance.[5]
Career
editHigh school
editArujau attended Syosset High School in Syosset, New York. He started wrestling on the varsity team as an eighth grader and placed second at the state tournament that year, losing to eventual teammate Yianni Diakomihalis in the 99-pound final.[6] After his setback in the state finals, he did not lose another match during high-school career and graduated with a 216–1 record and four NYSPHSAA state titles to his name.[7]
In freestyle, Arujau was a U17 World silver medalist and a multiple-time U17 US National champion while in high school.[8] In 2015, fresh off his second state title, Arujau committed to Cornell University.[9]
Cornell University
edit2017–2018
editArujau chose to grayshirt during his first year at Cornell, racking up a 9–1 record and a Cleveland State Open title while wrestling unattached during 2017.[10]
Focusing in freestyle during 2018, Arujau recorded a fourth-place finish at the U20 US Open and a runner-up finish at the U20 US World Team Trials before claiming the U23 US World Team Trials title at 61 kilograms.[11] However, he was forced to pull out from the U23 World Championships.[12]
2018–2019
editAs a freshman, Arujau went 5–1 at 133 pounds before moving down to 125, improving to 23–1 during regular season.[13] At the EIWA Conference Championships, Arujau placed second, losing a close match to eventual NCAA champion Pat Glory in the finals.[14] At the NCAA championships, Arujau placed fourth to become an All-American, earning upset victories over the second and fourth seeds as the eight seed himself. He closed out the season with a 31–4 record.[15]
Fresh off All-American honors, Arujau switched back to freestyle, cut down to 57 kilograms and placed fourth at the US Open National championships in April.[16] In May, he decided to compete at the US World Team Trials in the U20 level, sweeping the field with six victories to earn the spot.[17] Arujau then claimed a silver medal at the U20 World Championships in August, notably defeating returning champion Akhmed Idrisov in the semifinals.[18]
In December, Arujau went back up to the senior level and placed third at the US National Championships, notably defeating reigning NCAA champion Nick Suriano before falling to three-time age-group world champion Spencer Lee.[19] This result had him qualify for the US Olympic Team Trials in 2020.[20]
2020
editArujau chose to take an Olympic redshirt for the 2019–2020 folkstyle season and focused in freestyle instead.[21] In January, Arujau competed at the prestigious Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin, and was eliminated after a close opening match.[22]
He was then set to compete at the US Olympic Team Trials in April, however, the event was postponed for 2021 along with the Summer Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[23] In July, he defeated Sammy Alvarez at FloWrestling: Dake vs. Chamizo, and was set to wrestle NCAA finalist Jack Mueller at Beat The Streets in September, but was forced to pull out.[24][25] He ended up defeating Mueller a month later at the US National Championships, along with four others to claim his first national title.[26]
Arujau was expected to compete in folkstyle during the 2020–2021 season.[27] However, it was announced on November 13, 2020, that the Ivy League had canceled all winter sports for the season.[28]
Arujau then took part at the FloWrestling: RTC Cup in December, notably defeating NCAA champions Darian Cruz in one match and Nahshon Garrett twice, as well as Jack Mueller once again.[29]
2021
editA few days after a quick victory over Michael Colaiocco at SCRTC I in January, Arujau secured a fifth-place finish at the Henri Deglane Grand Prix of France, defeating two foreign opponents yet losing to World silver medalist and fellow American Thomas Gilman and U20 World medalist Beka Bujiashvili.[30][31]
He followed that up in February with three wins at the America's Cup and two wins at the NLWC V, all over All-Americans.[32] In March he got a victory in a dual meet against the NJRTC.[33]
Arujau then competed at the rescheduled US Olympic Team Trials in April, in an attempt to represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[34][35] He cruised to the best-of-three finals by defeating NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello and U20 World Champion Daton Fix.[36] In the finals, Arujau fell twice to eventual Olympic bronze medalist Thomas Gilman, earning runner–up honors.[37]
As the US Olympic alternate, Arujau competed at the Pan American Continental Championships in May, replacing an injured Thomas Gilman.[38] He racked up three quick victories to claim the championship.[39]
2021–2022
editAfter two seasons off, Arujau returned to the Cornell lineup competing at 125 pounds after a season-opener match at 133 pounds, and finished the regular season with a 10–1 record.[40] He avenged his lone loss with a major decision and claimed his first EIWA title against Pat Glory in the post-season.[41] The second-seed at the NCAA tournament, Arujau made the semifinals to set up a rubber-match with Glory, where he was in the losing-end of a major decision. He then recovered with a pair of wins in the consolation side of the bracket to claim third place, become a two-time All-American and close out the season at 19–2.[42]
In May, he swept the field at the US World Team Trials Challenge tournament to qualify for Final X, where he fell twice to returning World champion Thomas Gilman in June.[43][44] In July, he claimed a bronze medal from the Poland Open, and accepted an offer for the U23 US World Team spot as a Final X contestant.[45][46] At the U23 World Championships, Arujau was eliminated in the opening round.[47]
2022–2023
editBack to folkstyle, Arujau compiled a 16–1 record and a Cliff Keen Invitational title during regular season, before claiming his second EIWA title at 133 pounds.[48] At the NCAA tournament, Arujau avenged his lone loss to Sam Latona before upsetting three-time NCAA finalist Daton Fix to cruise to the finals and pull off another upset, now over two-time and reigning NCAA champion Roman Bravo-Young, becoming a national champion.[49] After the tournament, Arujau was named the Outstanding Wrestler.[50]
Fresh off an NCAA title, Arujau moved up to 61 kilograms and became the US Open champion with wins over NCAA champions Nahshon Garrett and Nathan Tomasello and multiple-time All-American Austin DeSanto.[51] In May, he claimed his second Pan American title with four technical fall victories.[52]
In June, Arujau defeated Nahshon Garrett in two straight high-action matches at Final X to make the US World Team.[53] In July, he took third at the Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial Tournament, with a lone close loss to reigning World champion Zelimkhan Abakarov.[54]
In September, Arujau competed at the World Championships, where after four dominant victories to make the finals, he defeated former World champion Abasgadzhi Magomedov in a tight-scored match to become the second World champion in the Arujau family, after his father Vugar.[55][56]
2023–2024
editBack to folkstyle off of his World Championship performance in Belgrade, Arujau returned for his senior year at Cornell.[57] After a 10–1 regular season, Arujau fell to freshman phenom Ryan Crookham in the EIWA Championship finals, who also handed him his lone regular season loss.[58] At the NCAA tournament, Arujau, the sixth-seed, cruised to the finals by avenging his losses to Crookham with a major decision, and became a two-time NCAA Division I National champion with a win over four-time NCAA finalist Daton Fix in the finals. He closed out the year with a 18–2 record and finished his collegiate career with back-to-back titles.[59]
Post-collegiate career
edit2024
editArujau was then expected to trim down to 57 kilograms in order to compete at the US Olympic Team Trials in April, with a bid directly to the semifinals as a World champion in a non-olympic weight class.[60] However, he decided to stay at 61 kilograms and focus in the US World Team Trials.[61]
In September, Arujau competed at the US World Team Trials, sitting in the best-of-three finals as the returning World champion.[62] He defeated U17 World champion Marcus Blaze twice in a row in order to book his second-straight trip to the World Championships, set to take place in October.[63]
By the end of October, Arujau competed at the World Championships, attempting to defend his title.[64] Opening up with wins over India and European champion Azamat Tuskaev from Serbia, he was then knocked off by reigning U20 World champion Masanosuke Ono from Japan in the semifinals, falling into the bronze medal match.[65] Arujau became a two-time World medalist, clinging a victory over Olympic champion Zaur Uguev from Russia in order to earn the bronze.[66]
Freestyle record
edit
NCAA record
editStats
editReferences
edit- ^ "Vito Arujau - 2020-21 - Wrestling". Cornell University Athletics. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ Team, BVMSports (September 17, 2023). "Vito Arujau wins gold in 61kg world championship with thrilling victory over Abasgadzhi Magomedov". BVM Sports. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ "Arujau Beats Fix In Marathon Match To Win Second Straight Title, Cornell Finishes Second". Cornell Athletics. March 23, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ "Vougar Oroudjov". nwhof.org. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "About – vitoarujau.com". Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ BV (March 3, 2016). "#4 & #1: Yianni & Greg Diakomihalis Both Win NYS Titles for State Champion Hilton". New York Wrestling News. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ "Sarra: Vito Arujau in a league of his own". Newsday. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ BV (July 23, 2015). "Arujau Wins Cadet Freestyle National Championship With Tech Fall in the Finals". New York Wrestling News. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ BV (March 29, 2015). "A Great Weekend: Vito Arujau Commits to Cornell & Wins National Title (and MOW)". Associated Wrestling Press. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ "Vito Arujau - 2023-24 - Wrestling". Cornell University Athletics. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ NYWN (June 7, 2018). "U23 New York Recap". New York Wrestling News. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ "Three lineup changes made to U23 Freestyle World Team". Team USA. October 3, 2018. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020.
- ^ LLC, ACS. "Vitali Arujau (Cornell) Profile". www.wrestlestat.com. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ "Princeton Wrestling Freshman Standout Glory Primed for First Shot at NCAA Championship". towntopics.com. March 20, 2019.
- ^ "Meet the 80 All-Americans at the 2019 NCAA wrestling tournament | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ "Diakomihalis Wins US Open, Honis Earns Second". Cornell University Athletics. April 27, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Hamilton, Andy. "Brayton Lee overcomes back injury, blood stoppages, big deficits to make Junior World Team". Trackwrestling. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "Arujau finishes with silver at Junior Worlds, 3 more Americans reach finals". Intermat. August 13, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "2019 Senior Nationals Men's Freestyle – Final Results". iawrestle.com. December 23, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ Goodwin, Cody. "Wrestling: Iowa's Spencer Lee wins Senior Nationals, qualifies for 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials". Hawk Central. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- ^ "College wrestling: The 2020 Olympic redshirt factor, broken down | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Veysman, Betsy (October 21, 2020). "VITO". CORNELL WRESTLING DEN. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Goodwin, Cody. "USA Wrestling announces that 2020 Olympic Trials are postponed". Des Moines Register. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- ^ "Dake edges Chamizo to highlight FloWrestling show". InterMat. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ "Russia's Ampar replaces Arujau and will face Mueller at Beat the Streets live matches in its September 17 fundraiser". Team USA. September 12, 2020. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020.
- ^ "Making Sense Of Men's Freestyle Senior Nationals Chaos". www.flowrestling.org. October 11, 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ "Way Too Early Lineup Look: 2020-21 Cornell Big Red". www.flowrestling.org. March 25, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ Mirna Alsharif (November 13, 2020). "Ivy League sports competitions canceled for fall and winter". CNN. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
- ^ "See the results for the FloWrestling: 2020 RTC Cup Presented by Titan Mercury Wrestling Club wrestling event on FloWrestling.org". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- ^ "Dake, Diakomihalis, Dean, Arujau win Main Card bouts on Spartan Combat Wrestling I". Team USA. January 8, 2021. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021.
- ^ "Snyder, Dake, Diakomihalis and Suriano win gold, four others earn medals at the Henri Deglane Grand Prix". Team USA. January 16, 2021. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021.
- ^ "See the results for the 2021 America's Cup wrestling event on FloWrestling.org". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ "Snyder wins 3 bouts; Dake, Arujau take two wins each in loaded NLWC 5 card". InterMat. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ "Wrestling's Diakomihalis and Arujau Qualify for Olympic Team Trials". Cornell University Athletics. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ Miller, Zach. "Wrestling: Men's freestyle seeds announced for U.S. Olympic Trials". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ PennLive, Jim Carlson | Special to (April 4, 2021). "David Taylor 1 of 4 Nittany Lion Wrestling Club athletes to qualify for Olympic Games in Tokyo". pennlive. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ "Nittany Lion Wrestling Club Sends 4 to US Olympic Team | State College, PA". StateCollege.com. April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ "12 Olympic highlight U.S. Senior Pan American Championships roster". teamusa.org. May 17, 2021. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021.
- ^ Eric (May 31, 2021). "USA Claims Eight Gold Medals for Team Title on Last Day of #WrestleGuatemala". United World Wrestling. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "Wrestling Sends Stanford Packing in Home Opener". Cornell Athletics.
- ^ "Wrestling Claims 26th EIWA Title On Strength of Three Champions, Six NCAA Qualifiers". Cornell Athletics.
- ^ "Diakomihalis Claims Third NCAA Title; Big Red Takes Seventh In Team Race". Cornell Athletics.
- ^ Finn, Mike (May 22, 2022). "Final X Matchups are set after World Team Trials Challenge Tournament". Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine.
- ^ Hamilton, Andy (June 6, 2023). "The Complete Results History Of Final X". Flo Wrestling.
- ^ Kozak, Jon (July 21, 2022). "Team USA Competing In Poland - Full Results & Videos". FloWrestling. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Rader, J. D. (July 26, 2022). "All Three Team USA Rosters Set For U23 World Championships". FloWrestling. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "Cardenas Grabs Silver To Lead Three Big Red Wrestlers At U23 Championships". Cornell Athletics. October 26, 2022.
- ^ "Diakomihalis Claims Fourth EIWA Title Among Six Big Red Champs, Team Title". Cornell University Athletics. February 10, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "Diakomihalis the Fifth Four-Time NCAA Champ, Arujau Wins First as Cornell Finishes Third as a Team". Cornell University Athletics. February 10, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "Ryan Crookham's win over Vito Arujau headlines a wild weekend in men's college wrestling | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "Austin DeSanto continues rapid Senior freestyle ascent with runner-up finish at U.S. Open". Hawk Central. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Kozak, Jon (May 6, 2023). "Results For Team USA At The 2023 Pan-Am Wrestling Championships". FloWrestling. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "Arujau, Dake Secure US National Team Spots at Final X". Cornell University Athletics. February 10, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "Arujau earns bronze at Budapest ranking event". WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. July 15, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "Arujau Earns 61kg World Championship Gold, Dake Advances To 74kg Finals". Cornell Athletics. September 17, 2023.
- ^ Singh, Ankit (February 3, 2024). ""No Piece of Medal Is My Goal": World Wrestling Champion Vito Arujau Denounces the Olympics as His Ultimate Ambition". EssentiallySports. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Lennon, Lindsay (October 31, 2023). "Meet the Undergrad Who's a 2023 World Wrestling Champ". Cornellians | Cornell University. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ "Wrestling Wins 28th EIWA Title, Nine Punch Tickets to Nationals". Cornell University Athletics. March 23, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ "Arujau Beats Fix In Marathon Match To Win Second Straight Title, Cornell Finishes Second". Cornell University Athletics. March 23, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ "Olympic Trials Preview: Three World medalists headline talented and wide-open 57 kg men's bracket". www.themat.com. April 9, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
- ^ "Vito Arujau withdraws from Olympic Trials". WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
- ^ "Wrestling World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Results". Cornell University Athletics. September 15, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ^ "Burroughs, Taylor, Arujau, Green make U.S. Senior World Team in men's freestyle". www.themat.com. September 15, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ^ "Vito Arujau '24 is heading back to the World Championships". Cornell University Athletics. October 31, 2024. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ "Arujau falls in men's freestyle semifinals, Taylor pulled into repechage at World Championships". www.themat.com. October 30, 2024. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ "Taylor, Arujau score men's freestyle bronze to conclude Senior World Championships". www.themat.com. October 31, 2024. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
External links
edit- Vito Arujau at the International Wrestling Database
