Sulzer, Papagianopoulos Each Take Second at FILA Junior World Team Trials

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Freshmen Derek Papagianopoulos (Burlington, Mass.) and Nick Sulzer (Cleveland, Ohio) of the Virginia wrestling team each took second place Friday in their respective weight classes in the freestyle competition at the FILA Junior World Team Trials in Franklin, Ind.

Competing at 74 KG (163 pounds), Sulzer dropped two narrow matches to Taylor Massa of the Michigan Wrestling Club in the best-of-3 finals. He fell 2-0, 2-1 in the first round, then dropped a 3-0, 4-3 decision in the second round.

Papagianopoulos lost a pair of bouts to Daniel Miller, who was competing unattached in the 120 KG class (264.5 pounds). Miller won the first round 3-0, 2-1 and clinched the berth in the FILA Junior World Championships by taking the second round 4-3, 4-0.

Sulzer defeated three opponents to reach the finals. He topped Dakota Friesth of Gator Wrestling Club, 5-0, 3-0, in the opener before rolling past Michael Kelly of Hawkeye Wrestling Club, 2-0, 7-0, in his second bout. Sulzer then defeated Nick Moore of Hawkeye Wrestling Club, 4-2, 1-0, to earn the opportunity to take on Miller, who earned a bye to the finals after winning Junior Nationals back in April.

Papagianopoulos advanced to the World Team Trials championship by downing Carl Buchholz of Rutgers, 1-0, 2-0, before falling to Miller.

The Cavalier duo reached the World Team Trials after each earning All-America status at University Nationals in April.