Cornell Wrestling Captain Vito Arujau Takes the Center Stage as Spartan Combat Celebrates the Top Highlights of 2023

The new year is around the horizon, and at this threshold, everyone is reckoning the highs of the ongoing year. Along similar lines, the Spartan combat sports team has also shed light on the remarkable accomplishments of its athletes throughout the  2023 season. Spartan wrestlers earned notable achievements with their dominant performance and clinched several medals this year.

Reviewing 2023’s standout performances, the Spartan team accentuated the key performance of the USA’s rеigning world champion, Vito Arujau, the four-time World Champion Kyle Dake, Shane Griffith, and many more standout wrestlers. It highlighted the biggest moments of 2023 as the year draws to a close.

Team Spartan rejoices honorable moments of 2023

Spartan combat team sealed its phenomenal legacy in the wrestling world in 2023. Taking to its official Insta handle @spartancombatsports, the Spartan team highlighted the exceptional victory of its athletes for their unparalleled precedence. Along with posting the standout wrestles pictures, they captioned the post as ‘’Best Moments of 2023 Final!”

The post showcased accolades clinched by Vito Arujau, Kyle Dake, Shane Griffith, Dean Hamiti, and Yianni Diakomihalis. Let us take a look at how the year unfolded for the outstanding wrestlers.

Vito Arujau

Indeed, the standout athlete was Vito Arujau, who ascended to the pinnacle of wrestling success in 2023. He clinched the gold medal in the World Championship in the 61kg category. Not only this, he also won his 1 NCAA title this year.

Arujau remarked that he owes his success to the dedicated mental training over the past 18 months. The mental training journey enabled him to secure the Most Outstanding Wrestler this year. And, Team Spartan took to Instagram to recall the memorable moment for Vito’s stеllar pеrformancе throughout thе sеason.

Kyle Dake

Apart from Vito Arujau, a host of other wrestlers have dominated the mat. Lansing native Kyle Dake also has also made his radiant presence in the wrestling world. The four-time  World Champion took all the spotlight given his sixth World/Olympic medal.

The 32-year-old US freestyle wrestler has been consistently inspiring his fans with his strategic resiliency. He secured a silver medal at the Wrestling World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, in September, in the 74kg category.

Shane Griffith

Besides Dake, Shane Griffith is also a part of this coveted list, securing 5th place at the NCAA Tournament. He had defeated Dean Hamiti to mark his position.

READ MORE: Kyle Dake Takes Center Stage as Spartan Wrestling Looks Back on the Most Memorable Moments of 2023

The 3-time All-American and 2021 NCAA champion was also named the 2023 Pac-12 Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Dean Hamiti

Dean Hamiti is yet another shining star who won the Big Ten Title this year. Not only this, he was also placed 6th in the NCAA Coaches ranks of the weight class. He became a part of Big Ten Championships as a top-seeded 165-pound wrestling star.

Yianni Diakomihalis

Last, but not least, Cornell wrestler Yianni Diakomihalis had capped his victory against Ohio State’s Sammy Sasso. Hence, he culminated his college career, clinching his fourth NCAA title, making it a remarkable end. It remains to be seen if the Team Spartan can maintain the momentum in the new year.

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