Olejnik takes Sargsyan Cup silver, Amato commits to Rutgers
Izzak Olejnik dropped the Stepan Sargsyan Cup final 11-1 to world No. 11 Gadzhimuard Alikhmaev, Dean Anderson took No. 1 at 138 from Israel Borge in UTB, and Rutgers kept the top available 2027 senior at home.
Big news
Olejnik takes Sargsyan Cup silver, drops final 11-1 to Alikhmaev
Izzak Olejnik lost the Stepan Sargsyan Cup final 11-1 to Gadzhimuard Alikhmaev and took silver for Team USA. Per Jon Kozak, Alikhmaev is ranked No. 11 in the world, took third at both Russian Nationals and the Yarygin this year, and was Russian Nationals runner-up last year.
He lost to Gadzhimuard Alikhmaev, 11-1. Alikhmaev is currently ranked #11 in the world - 3rd at Russian Nationals and the Yarygin this year.
Izzak Olejnik closed out the Stepan Sargsyan Cup, earning a silver medal for Team USA.
Why it matters: Our take: an 11-1 final against a guy who finished third at Russian Nationals is the clearest marker yet of the gap between Olejnik and the top of the weight.
Results and matchups
Anderson tops No. 1 Borge 3-2 in UTB at 138
No. 2 Dean Anderson beat No. 1 Israel Borge 3-2 in ultimate tiebreaker at 138 at Elite 8 Duals. Both are registered at 138 for Super 32, so the rematch is already on the calendar. @rarebreedboys said Borge went 6-1 on the weekend with bonus in five of six wins, including a tech over Matt Orbeta, is 1-1 with Anderson, and deserved the Who's Number One match at 138. MatScoutWillie replied that he agreed on all fronts.
Dirty Dean' Anderson earns that #1 spot at 138 lbs, taking out #1 Israel Borge 3-2 in UTB... and both are registered at 138 for Super 32!
We are 1 and 1 with Dean Anderson… WE DESERVED THE Who’s Number One at 138lbs.
Why it matters: Anderson takes over No. 1 at 138, and @rarebreedboys has now made the public case that Borge, not Gavin Mangano, should be across from him on Sept 26.
- Sept 26: Anderson vs No. 2 Gavin Mangano at Who's #1 on FloWrestling.
- Super 32: Anderson and Borge both entered at 138.
Recruiting, transfers, coaching
Sonny Amato, No. 6 at 150, commits to Rutgers
Class of 2027 Sonny Amato out of Rumson-Fair Haven announced on Instagram that he is committing to Rutgers. He is a two-time NJ state champ, No. 6 at 150 and No. 18 on the MatScouts Big Board, and InterMat called him the top available senior.
BOOM! @RUWrestling lands Sonny Amato (2027) out of Rumson-Fair Haven. He’s ranked No. 6 at 150 lbs. per @MatScouts1 and is a 2x NJ State Champion.
2x NJ State Champ is staying home!
He would be a phenomenal addition to the lightweights for sure. Kid is special.
Why it matters: Rutgers keeps a top-20 in-state recruit home and adds a lightweight to its 2027 class, one Kosko had already called special before the announcement.
Quick hits
Basch stirs debate after WNO's Reynolds goes 0-3 at Elite Duals
Justin Basch asked whether a Who's #1 participant who went 0-3 at Elite Duals should still compete at WNO, then clarified he is not advocating disinviting anyone: @MatScouts1 had Braylon Reynolds at No. 6 and all three losses came to wrestlers ranked above him. Basch said he believes Willie had pushed the easy pick based on Fargo, Grajeda against Dale Corbin. New York Wrestling News said Reynolds wrestles everywhere and earned the spot with his summer results, and Basch agreed. Basch and @MatScouts1 will discuss it live on their show at 9 am EST.
Pyles: 174 is the deepest weight, All-Americans down at No. 12
Christian Pyles posted Flo's 174 rankings and called it the deepest weight this year, with All-Americans down at 12 and Ryan Burton at 17. Pushed on it by a fan, he said 174 is far deeper, not even close. Asked about the list in the replies, he called it an educated guess.
No Sadulaev at Kadyrov Cup, per @1nokhchuo_
@1nokhchuo_ posted that Sadulaev is not in the Kadyrov Cup field and speculated Gatsalov does not trust him to win the whole tournament after his RAF match. Pyles flagged it. Nobody official has said why he is out.
Cody Clarke beats Super 32 champ Jorge Rios at Elite 8
Cody Clarke of Georgia beat California's Jorge Rios at Elite 8 Duals, per MatScoutWillie. Both were in the 113 Super 32 semis last year, and Rios won the bracket.
Joe McFarland enshrined in Michigan's Hall of Honor
Michigan put Joe McFarland in its athletics Hall of Honor after 35 years with the program as an athlete, assistant and head coach. Shane Sparks called him one of his favorite people in the sport.