America’s Cornell University has had a great year in the sport of wrestling. The prestigious university added to its success in 2022 with more medal-winning performances in 2023. Starting the new season soon, the Big Red Wrestling of Cornell recently revealed its list of captains for 2023-24. Interestingly, the list carried a prominent name who held Cornell’s flag high at the World Championship in Belgrade.

Vito Arujau recently bagged his maiden world wrestling championship gold medal at Belgrade in the 61kg category. A social media post by Cornell University recently named the 24-year-old one of its captains for the upcoming season. Interestingly, the university knew just who to hand the reins to as they chose Arujau for the big responsibility.

World champ continues father’s legacy as new wrestling captain

Vito Arujau has been a wrestling phenomenon ever since his high school days. The 61kg wrestler had already shown his prowess as a top gun at the Pan American Championships with two gold medals. This year, after his second Pan Am gold in Buenos Aires, Arujau struck gold at Belgrade as well. His continued golden expedition earned him a big responsibility from his esteemed university. Cornell University tweeted several images of the new captains of Cornell Wrestling for the upcoming season on its X handle.

The tweet carried the caption, “We’re excited to introduce our captains for the 2023-24 season @ThisGuyFoca @juliangramirez_ @vArujau @jacobcardenas__ Jonathan Loew #familynotfactory #yellcornell #GOBIGRED” The images showed everyone with dazzling red tracksuits with Arujau in the center of the five captains. Interestingly, the world champion carries the blood of a Russian wrestling legend, who won two world championships himself. 

Vito Arujau is the son of Vugar Orujov, the 48kg world champion of 1991 and 1995. The Russian legend also won the bronze medal for his country in 1992. Cornell Big Red Wrestling chose to reward the 24-year-old for both winning a world championship gold and for continuing his father’s legacy. Arujau’s father carries a big influence on the phenomenal wrestler he has grown to become. In fact, before coming to Cornell University, Arujau had an unbelievable high school record of 216-1.

Filling the big shoes of his dad since high school

Vito Arujau shares a loving and healthy relationship with his father. This bond greatly helped him inherit his skills and polish them in high school. Vito Arujau was a dominant force, who only lost one single match before joining Cornell, with current teammate Yiannis Diakonilahis. However, the loss solidified his invincibility even more as he didn’t lose a single match thereafter and won four state championships instead. Arujau always had his father to assist, mentor, and guide him, and he made full use of it.

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Vito Arujau also shared a cute moment with the Russian wrestling legend just after his world championship victory. Arujau uploaded a video of the same on Instagram where he celebrated his victory while praising his dad. The video showed the 24-year-old saying, “This is my dad. He’s a two-time world champ. I’m a one-time world champ.” The father and son embraced each other with a massive hug as Orujov screamed, “World Champion Family!” The one-time world champion and Cornell’s new captain now looks towards the Olympics in Paris. Will Arujau emerge victorious in the 2024 Olympics and add a gold medal to his world champion family’s record?

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