RALEIGH, N.C. – South Dakota State University wrestler Tanner Sloan will represent the United States in international competition later this summer after winning the 97-kilogram division at the UWW Junior Freestyle World Team Trials over the weekend.
A native of Alburnett, Iowa, and a member of the Jackrabbit Wrestling Club, Sloan posted a 4-0 record over two days. Seeded first in the bracketed portion of the event, Sloan received a first-round bye before defeating Jake Boyd, 13-2, in the semifinals and Kyle Lightner of the Scarlet Knights Wrestling Club, 11-0, in Friday’s championship bout. Boyd competed unattached.
That set up a best-of-three series Saturday against Sam Schuyler of the Bulls Wrestling Club (Buffalo, New York), who defeated Sloan three weeks ago at the Marine Corps U.S. Open in Las Vegas, Nevada. This time, Sloan came away victorious, defeating Schuyler by scores of 7-6 and 6-4 to earn a berth in the 2019 Junior World Championships Aug. 12-18 in Tallinn, Estonia.
The junior division features wrestlers ages 17-20. Sloan redshirted for the Jackrabbits during the 2018-19 season, but posted a 24-2 record in open tournaments.
