Baylor wrestling had quite a presence both in the field and on the podium at the U.S. Open Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada last weekend.  The U.S. Open is one of the largest freestyle events in the world and serves as a qualifier for various world teams and world team qualifiers.

Former Baylor wrestlers Hunter Sturgill and Nate Askew earned All-American status, and Max Norman was a win away from securing his spot on the podium.

Hunter Sturgill, who while in redshirt as a freshman at Indiana University last season put together a 19-7 collegiate record via open tournaments, ripped off five straight wins in the U20 Greco-Roman bracket to make the finals at 72KG.  Sturgill finished second and secured his spot on the U.S. Team for the upcoming Pan-American Championships.  Sturgill also recorded four wins in the U20 70KG Freestyle bracket, which put him in the elite 16-man bracket of the 128-wrestler field.

UNC's Nate Askew, a starter for the Tarheels in his true freshman year, reached the podium in the U20 70KG Freestyle bracket, placing 6th and earning a coveted spot in the upcoming U20 World Team Trials.  Askew recorded 6 wins in the 128-wrestler field to become a USA Wrestling Freestyle All-American.

Former Baylor teammate to Hunter and Nate, Max Norman, a true freshman starter for Brown University last year, also had a strong showing in U20 Freestyle action, posting a 5-2 record in the 79KG weight class and coming within a win of making the podium.

Rising Baylor sophomore Riley Alcantar, a 2026 TN state finalist and National Prep All-American for Baylor competed in the U17 division up at 55KG, a weight above his in-season weight class, and notched a victory in the wrestle backs.

Last but not least, Coach Andrew Berreyesa also laced up his shoes to compete in the Greco-Roman U.S. Open Sr. Division (20 yrs. and older).  Coach Berreyesa, a former U20 World silver medalist and a 4X U.S. Open Senior Division All-American, advanced to the "blood round" in this year's bracket before dropping a heart breaker to fall just short of his 5th All-American senior honors.

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