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Steveson
Photo by: Sam Janicki

Steveson Defeats Gwiazdowski, 4-1, in Potential Olympic Trial Preview

12/4/2020 8:34:00 PM | Wrestling

In a potential preview of April's U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Minnesota junior Gable Steveson defeated Nick Gwiazdowski, 4-1, at the 2020 RTC Cup in Cincinnati, Ohio. A two-time World bronze medalist, Gwiazdowski clinched the No. 1 seed at the trials prior to Steveson's victory on Friday night.
 
The RTC Cup is a dual-team tournament featuring six of the nation's top regional training centers. Steveson, along with sophomore Brayton Lee, have joined several Minnesota alums as part of the Gopher Wrestling Club (GWC).
 

The Gopher Wrestling Club went 1-1 in pool play and will face Spartan Combat RTC in the tournament quarterfinals on Saturday at Noon Central. The GWC was defeated by Cliff Keen Wrestling Club, but beat Wolfpack RTC based on criteria.
 
At 20 years old, Steveson is nearly eight years younger than the former two-time NCAA Champion from North Carolina State. In their only previous meetings, Gwiazdowski narrowly defeated Steveson twice based on criteria at the Final X Rutgers to earn the 125kg spot for Team USA at the 2019 World Championships.
 
The 2021 Olympic Trials are scheduled to be held April 4-5 in University Park, Pa.
 
FloWrestling.org is providing full coverage of the tournament with live video ($) and live scoring.
 
Cliff Keen Wrestling Club 5, Gopher Wrestling Club 1
57kg: Seth Gross (CKWC) VP01 Zach Sanders (GWC), 12-4
65kg: Alec Pantaleo (CKWC) VSU Brayton Lee (GWC), 10-0 5:47
74kg: Logan Massa (CKWC) VP01 Evan Wick (GWC), 5-2
86kg: Myles Amine (CKWC) VP01 Brett Pfarr (GWC), 8-2
97kg: Hayden Zillmer (GWC) VSU1 Timothy Dudley (CKWC), 11-1 4:50
125kg: Mason Parris (CKWC) VP01 Tony Nelson (GWC), 8-2
 
Gopher Wrestling Club 3, Wolfpack RTC 3
57kg: Jakob Camacho (WRTC) VP01 Sean Russell (GWC), 12-6
65kg: Mitch McKee (GWC) VP01 Kevin Jack (WRTC), 15-6
74kg: Tommy Gantt (WRTC) VP01 Evan Wick (GWC), 7-2
86kg: Trent Hidlay (WRTC) VP01 Brett Pfarr (GWC), 6-2
97kg: Hayden Zillmer (GWC) VP01 Michael Macchiavello (WRTC), 8-4
125kg: Gable Steveson (GWC) VP01 Nick Gwiazdowski (WRTC), 4-1
 
2020 RTC Cup Schedule
 
Friday
Pool competition
 
Pool B:
Ohio RTC def. NJRTC/SERTC, 4-2
Spartan Combat RTC def. Ohio RTC, 3-3, 12-12, 0-0, 2-1
          *Scoring: match wins, classification points, falls, technical superior wins
Spartan Combat RTC def. NJRTC/SERTC, 4-2
 
Pool A:
Cliff Keen WC def. Gopher WC, 5-1
Cliff Keen WC def. Wolfpack RTC, 3-3, 13-13, 0-0, 1-1, 46-45
          *Scoring: match wins, classification points, falls, technical superior wins, actual points
Gopher WC def. Wolfpack RTC, 3-3, 12-12, 0-0, 0-0, 37-36
          *Scoring: match wins, classification points, falls, technical superior wins, actual points
 
Winners of Pool A & B receive byes to the semifinals
 
Saturday
Bracket competition
 
Quarterfinals
Noon - Gopher WC vs NJRTC/SERTC
1:00 PM - Wolfpack RTC vs Ohio RTC
 
Placement
3:00 PM - 5th Place Match
 
Semifinals
4:00 PM – Cliff Keen WC vs winner of 1:00 PM Quarterfinal
5:00 PM - Spartan Combat RTC vs winner of Noon Quarterfinal
 
Placements
6:00 PM - 3rd Place Match
7:00 PM - Championship Match
 
All times Central
 
Pool and dual meet tiebreaking will follow UWW criteria
 
Coach's Corner with Brandon Eggum
Friday, November 07
Coach's Corner with Brandon Eggum
Thursday, October 30
Behind the Scenes: Media Day
Thursday, October 16
Gopher Wrestling Tries Gymnastics
Thursday, May 29