# Vito Arujau

Vitali Arujau (Belarusian: Віталій Аруджаў; Azerbaijani: Vitali Orucov; born June 1, 1999) is an American freestyle and former folkstyle wrestler who competes at 61 kilograms. In freestyle, he was the 2023 World Champion, Pan American champion, and US national champion.
In folkstyle, Arujau was a two-time NCAA Division I national champion, a four-time All American and a two-time EIWA Conference champion out of Cornell University.

## Background

Arujau was born Azerbaijani descent family in Gomel, Belarus, and moved to the United States at the age of two, after his mother won the green card lottery. His father, Vugar Orujov, was a two-time World champion in freestyle wrestling. His mother, Zhanna Sarnauskaya, was a USSR National champion in solo kayaking.
After a short stay in California, the Arujau family moved to Long Island, New York, where he would start wrestling at the age of ten, under his father's guidance.

## Career
### High school

Arujau attended Syosset High School in Syosset, New York. He started wrestling on the varsity team as an eighth grader and placed second at the state tournament that year, losing to eventual teammate Yianni Diakomihalis in the 99-pound final. After his setback in the state finals, he did not lose another match during high-school career and graduated with a 216–1 record and four NYSPHSAA state titles to his name.
In freestyle, Arujau was a U17 World silver medalist and a multiple-time U17 US National champion while in high school. In 2015, fresh off his second state title, Arujau committed to Cornell University.

### Cornell University
#### 2017–2018

Arujau chose to grayshirt during his first year at Cornell, racking up a 9–1 record and a Cleveland State Open title while wrestling unattached during 2017.
Focusing in freestyle during 2018, Arujau recorded a fourth-place finish at the U20 US Open and a runner-up finish at the U20 US World Team Trials before claiming the U23 US World Team Trials title at 61 kilograms. However, he was forced to pull out from the U23 World Championships.

#### 2018–2019

As a freshman, Arujau went 5–1 at 133 pounds before moving down to 125, improving to 23–1 during regular season. At the EIWA Conference Championships, Arujau placed second, losing a close match to eventual NCAA champion Pat Glory in the finals. At the NCAA championships, Arujau placed fourth to become an All-American, earning upset victories over the second and fourth seeds as the eight seed himself. He closed out the season with a 31–4 record.
Fresh off All-American honors, Arujau switched back to freestyle, cut down to 57 kilograms and placed fourth at the US Open National championships in April. In May, he decided to compete at the US World Team Trials in the U20 level, sweeping the field with six victories to earn the spot. Arujau then claimed a silver medal at the U20 World Championships in August, notably defeating returning champion Akhmed Idrisov in the semifinals.
In December, Arujau went back up to the senior level and placed third at the US National Championships, notably defeating reigning NCAA champion Nick Suriano before falling to three-time age-group world champion Spencer Lee. This result had him qualify for the US Olympic Team Trials in 2020.

#### 2020

Arujau chose to take an Olympic redshirt for the 2019–2020 folkstyle season and focused in freestyle instead. In January, Arujau competed at the prestigious Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin, and was eliminated after a close opening match.
He was then set to compete at the US Olympic Team Trials in April, however, the event was postponed for 2021 along with the Summer Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In July, he defeated Sammy Alvarez at FloWrestling: Dake vs. Chamizo, and was set to wrestle NCAA finalist Jack Mueller at Beat The Streets in September, but was forced to pull out. He ended up defeating Mueller a month later at the US National Championships, along with four others to claim his first national title.
Arujau was expected to compete in folkstyle during the 2020–2021 season. However, it was announced on November 13, 2020, that the Ivy League had canceled all winter sports for the season.
Arujau then took part at the FloWrestling: RTC Cup in December, notably defeating NCAA champions Darian Cruz in one match and Nahshon Garrett twice, as well as Jack Mueller once again.

#### 2021

A few days after a quick victory over Michael Colaiocco at SCRTC I in January, Arujau secured a fifth-place finish at the Henri Deglane Grand Prix of France, defeating two foreign opponents yet losing to World silver medalist and fellow American Thomas Gilman and U20 World medalist Beka Bujiashvili.
He followed that up in February with three wins at the America's Cup and two wins at the NLWC V, all over All-Americans. In March he got a victory in a dual meet against the NJRTC.
Arujau then competed at the rescheduled US Olympic Team Trials in April, in an attempt to represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics. He cruised to the best-of-three finals by defeating NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello and U20 World Champion Daton Fix. In the finals, Arujau fell twice to eventual Olympic bronze medalist Thomas Gilman, earning runner–up honors.
As the US Olympic alternate, Arujau competed at the Pan American Continental Championships in May, replacing an injured Thomas Gilman. He racked up three quick victories to claim the championship.

#### 2021–2022

After two seasons off, Arujau returned to the Cornell lineup competing at 125 pounds after a season-opener match at 133 pounds, and finished the regular season with a 10–1 record. He avenged his lone loss with a major decision and claimed his first EIWA title against Pat Glory in the post-season. The second-seed at the NCAA tournament, Arujau made the semifinals to set up a rubber-match with Glory, where he was in the losing-end of a major decision. He then recovered with a pair of wins in the consolation side of the bracket to claim third place, become a two-time All-American and close out the season at 19–2.
In May, he swept the field at the US World Team Trials Challenge tournament to qualify for Final X, where he fell twice to returning World champion Thomas Gilman in June. In July, he claimed a bronze medal from the Poland Open, and accepted an offer for the U23 US World Team spot as a Final X contestant. At the U23 World Championships, Arujau was eliminated in the opening round.

#### 2022–2023

Back to folkstyle, Arujau compiled a 16–1 record and a Cliff Keen Invitational title during regular season, before claiming his second EIWA title at 133 pounds. At the NCAA tournament, Arujau avenged his lone loss to Sam Latona before upsetting three-time NCAA finalist Daton Fix to cruise to the finals and pull off another upset, now over two-time and reigning NCAA champion Roman Bravo-Young, becoming a national champion. After the tournament, Arujau was named the Outstanding Wrestler.
Fresh off an NCAA title, Arujau moved up to 61 kilograms and became the US Open champion with wins over NCAA champions Nahshon Garrett and Nathan Tomasello and multiple-time All-American Austin DeSanto. In May, he claimed his second Pan American title with four technical fall victories.
In June, Arujau defeated Nahshon Garrett in two straight high-action matches at Final X to make the US World Team. In July, he took third at the Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial Tournament, with a lone close loss to reigning World champion Zelimkhan Abakarov.
In September, Arujau competed at the World Championships, where after four dominant victories to make the finals, he defeated former World champion Abasgadzhi Magomedov in a tight-scored match to become the second World champion in the Arujau family, after his father Vugar.

#### 2023–2024

Back to folkstyle off of his World Championship performance in Belgrade, Arujau returned for his senior year at Cornell. After a 10–1 regular season, Arujau fell to freshman phenom Ryan Crookham in the EIWA Championship finals, who also handed him his lone regular season loss. At the NCAA tournament, Arujau, the sixth-seed, cruised to the finals by avenging his losses to Crookham with a major decision, and became a two-time NCAA Division I National champion with a win over four-time NCAA finalist Daton Fix in the finals. He closed out the year with a 18–2 record and finished his collegiate career with back-to-back titles.

### Post-collegiate career
#### 2024

Arujau was then expected to trim down to 57 kilograms in order to compete at the US Olympic Team Trials in April, with a bid directly to the semifinals as a World champion in a non-olympic weight class. However, he decided to stay at 61 kilograms and focus in the US World Team Trials.
In September, Arujau competed at the US World Team Trials, sitting in the best-of-three finals as the returning World champion. He defeated U17 World champion Marcus Blaze twice in a row in order to book his second-straight trip to the World Championships, set to take place in October.
By the end of October, Arujau competed at the World Championships, attempting to defend his title. Opening up with wins over India and European champion Azamat Tuskaev from Serbia, he was then knocked off by reigning U20 World champion Masanosuke Ono from Japan in the semifinals, falling into the bronze medal match. Arujau became a two-time World medalist, clinging a victory over Olympic champion Zaur Uguev from Russia in order to earn the bronze.

## Freestyle record

Senior Freestyle Matches :
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Score | Date | Event | Location |
| 2024 World Championships at 61 kg |||||||
| Win | 68–14 | Zaur Uguev | 8–3 | October 30–31, 2024 | 2024 World Championships | Tirana, Albania |
| Loss | 67–14 | Masanosuke Ono | TF 0–12 | October 30–31, 2024 | 2024 World Championships | Tirana, Albania |
| Win | 67–13 | Azamat Tuskaev | 6–3 | October 30–31, 2024 | 2024 World Championships | Tirana, Albania |
| Win | 66–13 | Udit Kumar | 4–2 | October 30–31, 2024 | 2024 World Championships | Tirana, Albania |
| 2024 US World Team Trials at 61 kg |||||||
| Win | 65–13 | Marcus Blaze | 3–1 | September 15, 2024 | 2024 US World Team Trials | Omaha, Nebraska |
| Win | 64–13 | Marcus Blaze | 2–1 | September 15, 2024 | 2024 US World Team Trials | Omaha, Nebraska |
| 2023 World Championships at 61 kg |||||||
| Win | 63–13 | Abasgadzhi Magomedov | 10–9 | September 16–17, 2023 | 2023 World Championships | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Win | 62–13 | Taiyrbek Zhumashbek Uulu | TF 12–2 | September 16–17, 2023 | 2023 World Championships | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Win | 61–13 | Kodai Ogawa | 8–2 | September 16–17, 2023 | 2023 World Championships | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Win | 60–13 | Stilyan Iliev | TF 10–0 | September 16–17, 2023 | 2023 World Championships | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Win | 59–13 | Ossimzhan Dastanbek | TF 10–0 | September 16–17, 2023 | 2023 World Championships | Belgrade, Serbia |
| 2023 Polyàk Imre Memorial at 61 kg |||||||
| Win | | Vladimir Khudrin | FF | July 13–16, 2023 | 2023 Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial Tournament | Budapest, Hungary |
| Win | 58-13 | Naramkhuu Narmandakh | TF 10–0 | July 13–16, 2023 | 2023 Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial Tournament | Budapest, Hungary |
| Loss | 57–13 | Zelimkhan Abakarov | 0–2 | July 13–16, 2023 | 2023 Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial Tournament | Budapest, Hungary |
| 2023 US World Team Trials at 61 kg |||||||
| Win | 57–12 | Nahshon Garrett | 6–5 | June 10, 2023 | 2023 Final X Newark | Newark, New Jersey |
| Win | 56–12 | Nahshon Garrett | 13–10 | June 10, 2023 | 2023 Final X Newark | Newark, New Jersey |
| 2023 Pan American Championships at 61 kg |||||||
| Win | 55–12 | Juan de Andrade | TF 10–0 | May 6, 2023 | 2023 Pan American Continental Championships | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Win | 54–12 | Joseph Silva | TF 11–0 | May 6, 2023 | 2023 Pan American Continental Championships | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Win | 53–12 | Jason Luneau | TF 14–4 | May 6, 2023 | 2023 Pan American Continental Championships | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Win | 52–12 | Wilson Ojeda | TF 10–0 | May 6, 2023 | 2023 Pan American Continental Championships | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| 2023 US Open at 61 kg |||||||
| Win | 51–12 | Austin DeSanto | TF 10–0 | April 27–28, 2023 | 2023 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 50–12 | Nathan Tomasello | 8–3 | April 27–28, 2023 | 2023 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 49–12 | Nahshon Garrett | 9–2 | April 27–28, 2023 | 2023 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 48–12 | Jack Huffman | TF 14–2 | April 27–28, 2023 | 2023 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 47–12 | Gage Curry | TF 10–0 | April 27–28, 2023 | 2023 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 2022 U23 World Championships 10th at 57 kg |||||||
| Loss | 46–12 | Bekzat Almaz Uulu | 6–11 | October 21, 2022 | 2022 U23 World Championships | Pontevedra, Spain |
| 2022 Poland Open at 57 kg |||||||
| Win | 46–11 | Giorgi Gegelashvili | TF 12–2 | July 20, 2022 | 2022 Poland Open | Warsaw, Poland |
| Win | 45–11 | Wanhao Zou | 8–2 | July 20, 2022 | 2022 Poland Open | Warsaw, Poland |
| Loss | 44–11 | Andriy Yatsenko | 6–9 | July 20, 2022 | 2022 Poland Open | Warsaw, Poland |
| Win | 44–10 | Robert Dingashvili | 11–3 | July 20, 2022 | 2022 Poland Open | Warsaw, Poland |
| 2022 US World Team Trials at 57 kg |||||||
| Loss | 43–10 | Thomas Gilman | TF 2–12 | June 3, 2022 | 2022 Final X: Stillwater | Stillwater, Oklahoma |
| Loss | 43–9 | Thomas Gilman | TF 2–14 | June 3, 2022 | 2022 Final X: Stillwater | Stillwater, Oklahoma |
| Win | 43–8 | Jakob Camacho | TF 13–0 | May 21–23, 2022 | 2022 US World Team Trials Challenge | Coralville, Iowa |
| Win | 42–8 | Jakob Camacho | TF 10–0 | May 21–23, 2022 | 2022 US World Team Trials Challenge | Coralville, Iowa |
| Win | 41–8 | Zane Richards | 7–0 | May 21–23, 2022 | 2022 US World Team Trials Challenge | Coralville, Iowa |
| Win | | Greg Diakomihalis | FF | May 21–23, 2022 | 2022 US World Team Trials Challenge | Coralville, Iowa |
| 2021 Pan American Championships at 57 kg |||||||
| Win | 40–8 | Roberto Blanco | TF 10–0 | May 30, 2021 | 2021 Pan American Continental Championships | Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| Win | 39–8 | Alexander Fernández | TF 11–0 | May 30, 2021 | 2021 Pan American Continental Championships | Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| Win | 38–8 | Bryan Oliveira | TF 10–0 | May 30, 2021 | 2021 Pan American Continental Championships | Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| 2020 US Olympic Team Trials at 57 kg |||||||
| Loss | 37–8 | Thomas Gilman | 2–2 | April 2–3, 2021 | 2020 US Olympic Team Trials | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Loss | 37–7 | Thomas Gilman | Fall | April 2–3, 2021 | 2020 US Olympic Team Trials | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Win | 37–6 | Daton Fix | 7–5 | April 2–3, 2021 | 2020 US Olympic Team Trials | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Win | 36–6 | Nathan Tomasello | 3–2 | April 2–3, 2021 | 2020 US Olympic Team Trials | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Win | 35–6 | Guesseppe Rea | 16–8 | March 5, 2021 | The East Coast Clash: NJRTC vs. Spartan Combat RTC | Allentown, Pennsylvania |
| Win | 34–6 | Zach Sanders | 6–0 | February 23, 2021 | NLWC V | State College, Pennsylvania |
| Win | 33–6 | Sean Russell | TF 14–3 | February 23, 2021 | NLWC V | State College, Pennsylvania |
| 2021 America's Cup for TBD at 57 kg |||||||
| Win | 32–6 | Frank Perrelli | TF 15–5 | February 10–11, 2021 | 2021 America's Cup | Concord, North Carolina |
| Win | 31–6 | Sean Rusell | TF 10–0 | February 10–11, 2021 | 2021 America's Cup | Concord, North Carolina |
| Win | 30–6 | Daniel Deshazer | TF 10–0 | February 10–11, 2021 | 2021 America's Cup | Concord, North Carolina |
| 2021 Henri Deglane Grand Prix 5th at 57 kg |||||||
| Loss | 29–6 | Beka Bujiashvili | 13–15 | January 16, 2021 | Grand Prix de France Henri Deglane 2021 | Nice, France |
| Win | 29–5 | Răzvan-Marian Kovacs | 8–2 | January 16, 2021 | Grand Prix de France Henri Deglane 2021 | Nice, France |
| Win | 28–5 | Anvar Suviniitty | TF 11–1 | January 16, 2021 | Grand Prix de France Henri Deglane 2021 | Nice, France |
| Loss | 27–5 | Thomas Gilman | 2–6 | January 16, 2021 | Grand Prix de France Henri Deglane 2021 | Nice, France |
| Win | 27–4 | Michael Colaiocco | TF 11–0 | January 8, 2021 | SCRTC I | Austin, Texas |
| FloWrestling RTC Cup for SPWC at 59 kg |||||||
| Win | 26–4 | Darian Cruz | TF 11–0 | December 4–5, 2020 | FloWrestling RTC Cup | Austin, Texas |
| Win | 25–4 | Nahshon Garrett | 7–5 | December 4–5, 2020 | FloWrestling RTC Cup | Austin, Texas |
| Win | 24–4 | Nahshon Garrett | 14–9 | December 4–5, 2020 | FloWrestling RTC Cup | Austin, Texas |
| Win | 23–4 | Jack Mueller | TF 11–0 | December 4–5, 2020 | FloWrestling RTC Cup | Austin, Texas |
| 2020 US Nationals at 57 kg |||||||
| Win | 22–4 | Dylan Ragusin | TF 13–3 | October 10–11, 2020 | 2020 US Senior National Championships | Coralville, Iowa |
| Win | 21–4 | Jack Mueller | 11–6 | October 10–11, 2020 | 2020 US Senior National Championships | Coralville, Iowa |
| Win | 20–4 | Jakob Camacho | TF 11–0 | October 10–11, 2020 | 2020 US Senior National Championships | Coralville, Iowa |
| Win | 19–4 | Jackson Nielsen | TF 10–0 | October 10–11, 2020 | 2020 US Senior National Championships | Coralville, Iowa |
| Win | 18–4 | Jonathan Gurule | TF 11–0 | October 10–11, 2020 | 2020 US Senior National Championships | Coralville, Iowa |
| Win | 17–4 | Sammy Alvarez | TF 16–5 | July 25, 2020 | FloWrestling: Dake vs. Chamizo | Austin, Texas |
| 2020 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix 16th at 57 kg |||||||
| Loss | 16–4 | Aleksandr Sabanov | 11–12 | January 23–26, 2020 | Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin 2020 | Krasnoyarsk, Russia |
| 2019 US Nationals at 57 kg |||||||
| Win | | Nick Suriano | FF | December 20–22, 2019 | 2019 US Senior Nationals – US Olympic Trials Qualifier | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Win | 16–3 | Zach Sanders | TF 10–0 | December 20–22, 2019 | 2019 US Senior Nationals – US Olympic Trials Qualifier | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Loss | 15–3 | Spencer Lee | TF 4–14 | December 20–22, 2019 | 2019 US Senior Nationals – US Olympic Trials Qualifier | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Win | 15–2 | Nick Suriano | 2–2 | December 20–22, 2019 | 2019 US Senior Nationals – US Olympic Trials Qualifier | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Win | 14–2 | Zach Sanders | TF 10–0 | December 20–22, 2019 | 2019 US Senior Nationals – US Olympic Trials Qualifier | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Win | 13–2 | Desmond Moore | TF 10–0 | December 20–22, 2019 | 2019 US Senior Nationals – US Olympic Trials Qualifier | Fort Worth, Texas |
| 2019 US Open 4th at 57 kg |||||||
| Loss | 12–2 | Zane Richards | 2–8 | April 24–27, 2019 | 2019 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 12–1 | Zach Sanders | TF 11–1 | April 24–27, 2019 | 2019 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 11–1 | Josh Rodriguez | 3–2 | April 24–27, 2019 | 2019 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Loss | 10–1 | Daton Fix | TF 8–18 | April 24–27, 2019 | 2019 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 10–0 | Jesse Delgado | 14–10 | April 24–27, 2019 | 2019 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 9–0 | Britain Longmire | TF 11–0 | April 24–27, 2019 | 2019 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 2018 US U23 World Team Trials at 61 kg |||||||
| Win | 8–0 | Roman Bravo-Young | TF 10–0 | June 1–3, 2018 | 2018 US U23 World Team Trials | Akron, Ohio |
| Win | 7–0 | Roman Bravo-Young | TF 15–4 | June 1–3, 2018 | 2018 US U23 World Team Trials | Akron, Ohio |
| Win | 6–0 | Nick Piccininni | TF 10–0 | June 1–3, 2018 | 2018 US U23 World Team Trials | Akron, Ohio |
| Win | 5–0 | Joe Nelson | TF 10–0 | June 1–3, 2018 | 2018 US U23 World Team Trials | Akron, Ohio |
| Win | 4–0 | Rahsun Lawrence | TF 10–0 | June 1–3, 2018 | 2018 US U23 World Team Trials | Akron, Ohio |
| Win | 3–0 | Jeffrey Jokerst | TF 11–0 | June 1–3, 2018 | 2018 US U23 World Team Trials | Akron, Ohio |
| Win | 2–0 | Tony DeCesare | TF 10–0 | June 1–3, 2018 | 2018 US U23 World Team Trials | Akron, Ohio |
| Win | 1–0 | Warren Stanfield | TF 14–1 | June 1–3, 2018 | 2018 US U23 World Team Trials | Akron, Ohio |

## NCAA record
### Stats

| Season | Year | School | NCAA | Weight Class | Record | Win |
| 2024 | Senior | Cornell University | 1st | 133 | 18–2 | 90.00% |
| 2023 | Junior | Cornell University | 1st | 133 | 25–1 | 96.15% |
| 2022 | Sophomore | Cornell University | 3rd | 125 | 19–2 | 90.48% |
| 2021 | Olympic RS | Cornell University | | | |
| 2020 | Olympic RS | Cornell University | | | | |
| 2019 | Freshman | Cornell University | 4th | 125 | 31–3 | 91.18% |
| 2018 | Grayshirt | Unattached | UR | 133 | 9–1 | 90.00% |
| Career | Career | Career | Career | Career | 102–9 | 91.89% |