Illinois Matmen
LAS VEGAS, NV • There is nothing easy about earning two medals at the U.S. Open. However, this past weekend, Thomas Banas, who was a Greco-Roman champion one day, came through a strong Freestyle field and placed third. Isaac Barrientos, similarly, placed third in Greco-Roman competition, and then fourth in Freestyle. Two young stars on the rise in Illinois, and now making themselves known nationally.
For Banas, he would place third in the 57kg bracket after being seeded sixth and winning his opening bout, the Round of 64, over Duke Zowine, 6-2. In his Round of 32, Banas would continue his winning streak with an 8-2 win over Cael Puderbaugh.
The Round of 16 would go smoothly for Banas, as he would pick up his third Freestyle win, this time a 10-0 technical superiority over Marco Costa. With eight young men left of the championship side of the bracket, Banas would face the fourteen seed, Jeremiah Oliva, and close out his match in 2:00 with a 13-3 technical superiority.
