The United States is closing out the year in very strong fashion following the performances of Otto Black (Hawkeye WC) and Greco-Roman newcomer Austin DeSanto (TMWC/Hawkeye WC) in Finland on Saturday.
The 2024 Arvo Haavisto Cup began at 10:00am local time from Ilmajoki, Finland (4:00am ET) and streamed live on Videopalvelu V.L. (YouTube).
Both DeSanto and Black earned their first Senior international gold medals today, just one week after the duo first made the podium together in Sweden. Last week, Black and DeSanto occupied the same weight category with the latter coming away with bronze while the former walked away with silver.
On Saturday, it was a slightly different story. The Haavisto Cup this year did not offer a 63 kg category; as such, DeSanto opted to go 60 kg whereas Black bumped up to 67. It should be noted that the event carried a two-kilogram allowance.
The change in weight classes for the pair did not matter — for not only did DeSanto and Black triumph at Haavisto, both wrestlers managed to do so with expressions of dominance.
DeSanto operated within a round-robin bracket as opposed to the typical A/B pool format known as the “Nordic system” and won each of his four bouts by way of technical superiority. Among the vanquished against DeSanto was Adam Silverin, an experienced competitor who represented Sweden in the U20 World Championships. DeSanto overwhelmed Silverin 11-0. In total, the native Pennsylvanian and four-time NCAA Division I All-American outstruck his opposition on Saturday by a combined score of 37-1.
Black was not far behind DeSanto when it came to lopsided scores, though he was tested a bit more in spaces due to the higher weight category. Nevertheless, the explosive offense for which the ’24 U20 World silver is oft recognized was still visible. Black held a 6-0 lead against Algot Gamelius (SWE) in the third round of his pool and closed the proceedings with a massive suplex for five. In the final opposite Niko Tervonen (FIN), Black surrendered two points in the early going following a throw attempt before coming right back with a bodylock that yielded four. The second period saw Black receive the match’s only passivity/par terre opportunity, from which he raked two guts to take a 9-2 lead. After the next restart, Black converted an attack for takedown points, thus securing the point margin necessary to end the bout prematurely — and clinch his first Senior international gold medal.
Following last weekend’s Haparanda Cup in Sweden, Black and DeSanto — along with coach Joe Warren — remained in Sweden to train prior to heading over to Finland for today’s Haavisto Cup.
Black, a principle member of the Colorado Top Team and younger brother of Senior National Team member Max Black (60 kg, NMU/NTS), committed to the University of Iowa and is currently “grey-shirting”. Although he is a top NCAA prospect, Black is likewise seen as a major part of the future for the United States Greco program. DeSanto — who is now just two tournaments into his Greco-Roman career — more training and competition opportunities in this discipline will be availed in the short term as he prepares for the Senior World Team Trials in April.
2024 Arvo Haavisto Cup
December 7 — Ilmajoki, FIN
TEAM USA FULL RESULTS
60 kg: Austin DeSanto (TMWC/Hawkeye WC) — GOLD
WON Martin Aak (NOR) 9-0, TF
WON Adam Silverin (SWE) 11-1, TF
WON Lauri Perkka (FIN) 9-0, TF
WON Mark Loitto (SWE) 8-0, TF
67 kg: Otto Black (Hawkeye WC) — GOLD
WON Ruslan Stamat (SWE) 9-0, TF
WON Nazar Biakin (UKR) 7-2
WON Hugo Riehunkangas (FIN) 5-0
WON Algot Gamelius (SWE) 11-0, TF
WON Niko Tervonen (FIN) 11-2
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