Aiello claims spot on World Team at UWW U23 Nationals

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Jay Aiello claimed a spot on U23 World Team when he won the 97kg weight class in freestyle at United World Wrestling (UWW) U23 Nationals on Saturday. He will represent the United States in the World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, in November.

Aiello (Chantilly, Va.) was one of two Virginia wrestlers who earned UWW All-America honors at the event as Michael Battista (Ashburn, Va.) took third at 86kg.

Aiello stormed through the event, going 3-0 on the way to the finals with a pair of shutouts and only surrendering one point on a step out in his semifinal bout. He then won both matches of the best-of-three finals by a score of 11-0 in each match over Samuel Mitchell of the Bulls Wrestling Club.

Battista advanced to the quarterfinals before dropping a 2-1 match to eventual 86kg runner-up Christpher Foca. He then picked up four more victories through the consolation bracket to take the third-place finish.

Three other Cavaliers competed in the two-day event with Robby Patrick (Ligonier, Pa.), Denton Spencer (Waverly, Ga.) and Hudson Stewart (Goode, Va.) all wrestling. Patrick and Stewart both wrestled at 79kg, while Spencer competed at 70kg.