# Alec Pantaleo

Alec William Pantaleo (born July 9, 1996) is an American freestyle wrestler and graduated folkstyle wrestler who competes at 70 kilograms. In freestyle, he is the defending U.S. Open champion, was the 2021 Pan American Continental champion, claimed the 2021 Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series and the 2021 Poland Open titles, earned silver and bronze medals (2021 and 2018, respectively) at the U.S. Open, and was a 2019 U23 U.S. team member. As a folkstyle wrestler, Pantaleo was a three-time NCAA DI All-American and a Big Ten Conference champion out of the University of Michigan.

## Folkstyle career
### High school

Born and raised in Michigan, Pantaleo attended Canton High School. While a high schooler, he became a MHSAA state champion as a sophomore and, after losing his junior season to injury, claimed runner-up honors at the state tournament as a senior, graduating with an 177–9 record and a 51–1 record in his last year.

### College

After his high school career, Pantaleo was recruited by the University of Michigan.

#### 2014-15

In his freshman year, Pantaleo made his collegiate debut at the Michigan State Open, claiming the title. An unseeded wrestler, he then went on to place second at the prestigious Cliff Keen Memorial Invitational and racked up an 8–4 dual record during regular season. At the Big Ten Conference Championships, he reached the consolation semifinals before being eliminated. At the NCAA tournament, he went 2–2.

#### 2015-16

As a sophomore, Alec achieved All-American honors by placing sixth at the NCAA Division I national championships at 149 lbs. He pinned Drexel's fourth-seeded Matthew Cimato in 3:48 in the quarterfinal to secure his first All-American honor.
A few weeks prior, Alec took third at the B1G conference championship with a 4–1 record, avenging an earlier season loss to former NCAA national champion Jason Tsirtsis with a 8–4 decision in the third-place bout. He also earned third place at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Dec 4–5) with a 7–1 record.

#### 2016-17

Alec redshirted and did not compete in collegiate wrestling.

#### 2017-18

As a junior, Alec achieved All-American honors by placing fifth at the NCAA tournament at 157 lbs. He captured the B1G conference championship with a 3–0 record. At the conference championship, he defeated Ohio State's Micah Jordan with a 3–1 score in the final bout.
Earlier in the season, he went 5–0 to capture the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational title, including a 10–3 win over Micah Jordan in the final and a 9–3 semi-final win over Nebraska's fourth-ranked Tyler Berger.

#### 2018-19

As a fifth-year senior, Alec once again secured All-American honors by placing third at the NCAA championships. He carried a 6–1 record at his final collegiate competition, avenging his only loss of the tournament to North Carolina State's Hayden Hidlay. Pantaleo lost to Hidlay in the quarterfinals in overtime, but beat him in the third-place bout with a 5-3 decision.
Alec took third at the Big Ten conference championship with a notable 10–4 win over Northwestern's third-ranked Ryan Deakin in the medal match. Alec missed much of his senior season due to a serious case of mononucleosis.

## Freestyle career

Alec has garnered many levels of success in freestyle following his first appearance to the international circuit in 2015. Since then, Alec has finished top-eight at every United States Freestyle national-championships and represented the United States overseas in numerous notable sporting events.

### 2015

Alec finished with runner up honors at the Junior National Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pantaleo fell to Wyoming's Archie Colgan in the championship bout.

### 2016

Alec won the Junior National Championships at 66 kg, beating Princeton's Matthew Kolodzik in the first place-bout. In the weeks following he made the United States Junior World team at 66 kg by beating Kolodzik two more time times in a best-of-three final bout. Pantaleo went on to represent the United States at the Junior World Championships in Macon, France later that summer. While overseas he posted a 1–1 record, defeating Georgi Sulava from Georgia in the opening round, but eventually falling to Viaks Vikas from India in the following preliminary match. Pantaleo finished with a 10th-place finish at the 2016 Junior World Championships.

### 2017

Pantaleo placed 5th at the USA Senior National Men's Freestyle Championships at 70 kg in Las Vegas, Nevada

### 2018

Pantaleo placed 3rd at 70 kg at the 2018 Senior National Men's Freestyle National Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also placed 3rd at the 2018 Senior World Team Trials at 70 kg in Rochester, Minnesota

### 2019

Alec won the 70 kg U23 National Championships in Akron, Ohio, and was bestowed the Outstanding Wrestler Award by USA wrestling following a remarkably dominant performance. Pantaleo posted a perfect 7–0 record and outscored his opponents by a margin of 69–2. Additionally, he secured his spot as a 2019 U23 World Team Member. Later that year, Pantaleo finished 8th in the world at the U23 World championships in Budapest, Hungary. In the opening round Pantaleo defeated Stefan Tonu of Moldova by a score of 8–0. He then fell to Daud Ibragimov of Azerbaijan by a score of 9–8. Pantaleo finished with a record of 1-1.
Domestically, Pantaleo also placed 4th at the 70 kg 2019 Senior National Men's Freestyle championships in Las Vegas, Nevada at and 8th at 74 kg in Fort Worth, Texas

### 2020

Pantaleo won gold at the Cerro Pelado International in Havana, Cuba with a perfect 5–0 record while representing the United States at 70 kg. In the finals Pantaleo beat former United States national champion/ world team member Reece Humphrey by a score of 7–2.

### 2021

Pantaleo earned a 3rd-place finish at the inaugural Flowrestling 150 lb 8-man bracket challenge in Austin, Texas. Pantaleo went 2–1 in route to a bronze medal, beating former NCAA national champions Jordan Oliver and Anthony Ashnault. Pantaleo fell to James Green by a score of 4–2 in the semi-finals.
Pantaleo claimed the 70 kg title at the Matteo Pellicone International in Rome, Italy in April 2021. Pantaleo beat 2019 world-finalist Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan in the opening round and gold medal match with respective scores of 6-2 and 4–0.
Domestically, Alec took 2nd at the 2021 U.S. Senior National Championships while competing at 70 kg. Pantaleo fell to James Green in the gold medal bout by a score of 2–7.
In June 2021, Alec Pantaleo won gold at the 2021 Pan American Wrestling Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Pantaleo won all three of his matches by technical superiority, beating Carlos Romero Millaqueo from Chile with a score of 12–0 in the gold medal bout.
Pantaleo also claimed the 2021 Poland Open championship in Warsaw, Poland. Pantaleo defeated James Green in the final bout by a score of 5–3. In his semi-final bout, Pantaleo defeated three-time world champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist Haji Aliyev of Azerbaijan with a score of 6-6.
Pantaleo closed out his 2021 campaign with a medical withdrawal from the 2021 United States World Team Trials (wrestling). In his semi finals bout it is recorded that he sustained a rib related injury, causing for a medical forfeit. At that time of injury, Pantaleo was the top ranked wrestler in the world at 70 kg, according to United World Wrestling.

## Freestyle record

Senior Freestyle Matches :
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Score | Date | Event | Location |
| 2022 US World Team Trials DNP at 70 kg |||||||
| Loss | 66–24 | Sammy Sasso | 6–12 | May 21–22, 2022 | 2022 US World Team Trials Challenge Tournament | Coralville, Iowa |
| Loss | 66–23 | Zain Retherford | 2–5 | May 21–22, 2022 | 2022 US World Team Trials Challenge Tournament | Coralville, Iowa |
| Win | 66–22 | Tyler Berger | 3–2 | May 21–22, 2022 | 2022 US World Team Trials Challenge Tournament | Coralville, Iowa |
| 2022 US Open at 70 kg |||||||
| Win | 65–22 | Jordan Oliver | 4–2 | April 27 – May 1, 2022 | 2022 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 64–22 | Doug Zapf | 3–2 | April 27 – May 1, 2022 | 2022 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 63–22 | Ed Scott | 8–1 | April 27 – May 1, 2022 | 2022 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 62–22 | Riley Gurr | TF 14–4 | April 27 – May 1, 2022 | 2022 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 61–22 | Luka Wick | 18–10 | April 27 – May 1, 2022 | 2022 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 60–22 | Jordan Oliver | 4–1 | March 16, 2022 | Rudis+: Snyder vs. Cox | Detroit, Michigan |
| 2022 Ivan Yarygin Golden Grand Prix DNP at 70 kg |||||||
| Loss | 59–22 | Alan Kudzoev | 4–4 | January 27, 2022 | Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin 2022 | Krasnoyarsk, Russia |
| 2021 US World Team Trials DNP at 70 kg |||||||
| | | Zain Retherford | FF | September 11–12, 2021 | 2021 US World Team Trials | Lincoln, Nebraska |
| Loss | 59–21 | Ryan Deakin | INJ (4–10) | September 11–12, 2021 | 2021 US World Team Trials | Lincoln, Nebraska |
| Win | 59–20 | Brayton Lee | 9–0 | September 11–12, 2021 | 2021 US World Team Trials | Lincoln, Nebraska |
| 2021 Poland Open at 70 kg |||||||
| Win | 58–20 | James Green | 5–3 | June 8, 2021 | 2021 Poland Open | Warsaw, Poland |
| Win | 57–20 | Haji Aliyev | 6–6 | June 8, 2021 | 2021 Poland Open | Warsaw, Poland |
| Loss | 56–20 | James Green | 0–8 | June 8, 2021 | 2021 Poland Open | Warsaw, Poland |
| Win | 56–19 | Oleksii Boruta | TF 10–0 | June 8, 2021 | 2021 Poland Open | Warsaw, Poland |
| 2021 Pan American Championships at 70 kg |||||||
| Win | 55–19 | Carlos Romero Millaqueo | TF 12–0 | May 30, 2021 | 2021 Pan American Continental Championships | Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| Win | 54–19 | Vincent De Marinis | TF 11–0 | May 30, 2021 | 2021 Pan American Continental Championships | Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| Win | 53–19 | João Victor dos Santos Silva | TF 10–0 | May 30, 2021 | 2021 Pan American Continental Championships | Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| 2021 US Open at 70 kg |||||||
| Loss | 52–19 | James Green | 2–7 | May 1–2, 2021 | 2021 US Open National Championships | Coralville, Iowa |
| Win | 52–18 | Tyler Berger | 6–2 | May 1–2, 2021 | 2021 US Open National Championships | Coralville, Iowa |
| Win | 51–18 | Parker Kropman | TF 10–0 | May 1–2, 2021 | 2021 US Open National Championships | Coralville, Iowa |
| Win | 50–18 | Ryan Ojeda | TF 12–2 | May 1–2, 2021 | 2021 US Open National Championships | Coralville, Iowa |
| Win | 49–18 | Zachary Wigzell | TF 10–0 | May 1–2, 2021 | 2021 US Open National Championships | Coralville, Iowa |
| 2020 US Last Chance OTT DNP at 74 kg |||||||
| Loss | 48–18 | Tyler Berger | 6–6 | March 27, 2021 | 2020 US Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Loss | 48–17 | Chance Marsteller | 0–7 | March 27, 2021 | 2020 US Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Win | 48–16 | Joshua Shields | 7–5 | March 27, 2021 | 2020 US Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Win | 47–16 | Carlos Cuevas | TF 10–0 | March 27, 2021 | 2020 US Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Win | 46–16 | Ryan Ojeda | TF 10–0 | March 27, 2021 | 2020 US Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Win | 45–16 | Sammy Cokeley | TF 10–0 | March 27, 2021 | 2020 US Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier | Fort Worth, Texas |
| 2021 Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series at 70 kg |||||||
| Win | 44–16 | Daulet Niyazbekov | 4–0 | March 6, 2021 | Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series 2021 | Rome, Italy |
| Win | 43–16 | Vishal Kaliraman | TF 10–0 | March 6, 2021 | Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series 2021 | Rome, Italy |
| Win | 42–16 | Mustafa Kaya | FF | March 6, 2021 | Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series 2021 | Rome, Italy |
| Win | 41–16 | Daulet Niyazbekov | 6–2 | March 6, 2021 | Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series 2021 | Rome, Italy |
| Flo 8-Man Challenge at 150 lbs |||||||
| Win | 40–16 | Anthony Ashnault | 8–1 | December 18, 2020 | Flo 8-Man Challenge: 150 lbs | Austin, Texas |
| Loss | 39–16 | James Green | 2–4 | December 18, 2020 | Flo 8-Man Challenge: 150 lbs | Austin, Texas |
| Win | 39–15 | Jordan Oliver | 4–4 | December 18, 2020 | Flo 8-Man Challenge: 150 lbs | Austin, Texas |
| FloWrestling RTC Cup at 65 kg as CKWC |||||||
| Win | 38–15 | Matthew Kolodzik | 8–6 | December 4–5, 2020 | FloWrestling RTC Cup | Austin, Texas |
| Win | 37–15 | Tariq Wilson | TF 10–0 | December 4–5, 2020 | FloWrestling RTC Cup | Austin, Texas |
| Win | 36–15 | Kevin Jack | 7–2 | December 4–5, 2020 | FloWrestling RTC Cup | Austin, Texas |
| Win | 35–15 | Brayton Lee | TF 10–0 | December 4–5, 2020 | FloWrestling RTC Cup | Austin, Texas |
| Loss | 34–15 | Zain Retherford | 2–3 | September 19, 2020 | NLWC I | State College, Pennsylvania |
| 2020 Cerro Pelado International at 70 kg |||||||
| Win | 34–14 | Reece Humphrey | FF | February 9–17, 2020 | 2020 Cerro Pelado International | Havana, Cuba |
| Win | 33–14 | Orislandy Perdomo | 9–1 | February 9–17, 2020 | 2020 Cerro Pelado International | Havana, Cuba |
| Win | 32–14 | Albaro Camacho | 4–1 | February 9–17, 2020 | 2020 Cerro Pelado International | Havana, Cuba |
| Win | 31–14 | Julio Cesar Cruz | 4–2 | February 9–17, 2020 | 2020 Cerro Pelado International | Havana, Cuba |
| Win | 30–14 | Reece Humphrey | 7–2 | February 9–17, 2020 | 2020 Cerro Pelado International | Havana, Cuba |
| 2019 US Senior Nationals 8th at 74 kg |||||||
| Loss | 29–14 | Joey Lavallee | 2–7 | December 20–22, 2019 | 2019 US Senior National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Loss | 29–13 | Anthony Valencia | TF 0–10 | December 20–22, 2019 | 2019 US Senior National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 29–12 | Tyler Berger | 10–2 | December 20–22, 2019 | 2019 US Senior National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Loss | 28–12 | Nazar Kulchytskyy | TF 3–14 | December 20–22, 2019 | 2019 US Senior National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 28–11 | Muhammed McBryde | 4–2 | December 20–22, 2019 | 2019 US Senior National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 27–11 | Shabaka Johns | TF 11–1 | December 20–22, 2019 | 2019 US Senior National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 2019 U23 World Championships 9th at 70 kg |||||||
| Loss | 26–11 | Daud Ibragimov | 8–9 | October 28 – November 3, 2019 | 2019 U23 World Championships | Budapest, Hungary |
| Win | 26–10 | Stefan Tonu | 8–0 | October 28 – November 3, 2019 | 2019 U23 World Championships | Budapest, Hungary |
| 2019 US U23 World Team Trials at 70 kg |||||||
| Win | 25–10 | Jimmy Hoffman | TF 11–0 | May 31 – June 2, 2019 | 2019 US U23 World Team Trials | Akron, Ohio |
| Win | 24–10 | Jimmy Hoffman | 7–1 | May 31 – June 2, 2019 | 2019 US U23 World Team Trials | Akron, Ohio |
| Win | 23–10 | Mike D'Angelo | TF 11–1 | May 31 – June 2, 2019 | 2019 US U23 World Team Trials | Akron, Ohio |
| Win | 22–10 | Samuel Krivus | TF 10–0 | May 31 – June 2, 2019 | 2019 US U23 World Team Trials | Akron, Ohio |
| Win | 21–10 | Justin McCoy | TF 10–0 | May 31 – June 2, 2019 | 2019 US U23 World Team Trials | Akron, Ohio |
| Win | 20–10 | Kyler Rea | TF 10–0 | May 31 – June 2, 2019 | 2019 US U23 World Team Trials | Akron, Ohio |
| Win | 19–10 | Bryce Thurston | TF 10–0 | May 31 – June 2, 2019 | 2019 US U23 World Team Trials | Akron, Ohio |
| 2019 US World Team Trials 4th at 70 kg |||||||
| Loss | 18–10 | Brandon Sorensen | 2–5 | May 17–19, 2019 | 2019 US World Team Trials Challenge Tournament | Rochester, Minnesota |
| Win | 18–9 | Hayden Hidlay | 8–3 | May 17–19, 2019 | 2019 US World Team Trials Challenge Tournament | Rochester, Minnesota |
| Loss | 17–9 | Jason Chamberlain | 2–3 | May 17–19, 2019 | 2019 US World Team Trials Challenge Tournament | Rochester, Minnesota |
| 2019 US Open 4th at 70 kg |||||||
| Loss | 17–8 | Jason Nolf | 6–10 | April 24–27, 2019 | 2019 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 17–7 | Nazar Kulchytskyy | FF | April 24–27, 2019 | 2019 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Loss | 16–7 | Ryan Deakin | 4–8 | April 24–27, 2019 | 2019 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 16–6 | Brandon Sorensen | 5–3 | April 24–27, 2019 | 2019 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 15–6 | Jarod Verkleeren | TF 12–0 | April 24–27, 2019 | 2019 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 14–6 | Chayse Jackson | TF 10–0 | April 24–27, 2019 | 2019 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 13–6 | Mitch Finesilver | TF 11–1 | April 24–27, 2019 | 2019 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 2018 US World Team Trials 4th at 70 kg |||||||
| Win | 12–6 | Ryan Deakin | 5–0 | May 18–20, 2018 | 2018 US World Team Trials Challenge Tournament | Rochester, Minnesota |
| Win | 11–6 | Kyle Ruschell | FF | May 18–20, 2018 | 2018 US World Team Trials Challenge Tournament | Rochester, Minnesota |
| Loss | 10–6 | Frank Molinaro | 0–8 | May 18–20, 2018 | 2018 US World Team Trials Challenge Tournament | Rochester, Minnesota |
| Win | 10–5 | Griffin Parriott | 11–3 | May 18–20, 2018 | 2018 US World Team Trials Challenge Tournament | Rochester, Minnesota |
| 2018 US Open at 70 kg |||||||
| Win | 9–5 | Dylan Ness | 8–2 | April 24–28, 2018 | 2018 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 8–5 | Ryan Deakin | 13–5 | April 24–28, 2018 | 2018 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Loss | 7–5 | Hayden Hidlay | 5–7 | April 24–28, 2018 | 2018 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 7–4 | Dylan Ness | TF 11–1 | April 24–28, 2018 | 2018 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 6–4 | Mike DePalma | TF 10–0 | April 24–28, 2018 | 2018 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 5–4 | Kyle Kintz | TF 10–0 | April 24–28, 2018 | 2018 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 2017 US World Team Trials DNP at 70 kg |||||||
| Loss | 4–4 | Dylan Ness | 6–9 | June 9–10, 2017 | 2017 US World Team Trials Challenge Tournament | Lincoln, Nebraska |
| Loss | 4–3 | Jason Nolf | TF 2–13 | June 9–10, 2017 | 2017 US World Team Trials Challenge Tournament | Lincoln, Nebraska |
| 2017 US Open 5th at 70 kg |||||||
| Win | 4–2 | Jason Chamberlain | 5–1 | April 26–29, 2017 | 2017 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Loss | 3–2 | Steven Pami | 9–10 | April 26–29, 2017 | 2017 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Loss | 3–1 | Nazar Kulchytskyy | TF 0–10 | April 26–29, 2017 | 2017 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 3–0 | Jason Chamberlain | 8–6 | April 26–29, 2017 | 2017 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 2–0 | Robbie Mathers | 8–1 | April 26–29, 2017 | 2017 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Win | 1–0 | Jason Welch | TF 13–3 | April 26–29, 2017 | 2017 US Open National Championships | Las Vegas, Nevada |