Michigan Grappler - Everything wrestling in Michigan

Churella wins New York AC International Title

11/23 - The New York Athletic Club hosted their annual

International Open last weekend, which traditionally

attracts some of the top freestyle wrestlers from around

the world to take on some of America's best.

Former University of Michigan NCAA Runner-Up and Novi

High School graduate Josh Churella won the 66kg title

with a 3-2, 3-0 win over Kohei Fujimoto of Japan.

On his way to the finals, Churella downed former NCAA

runner up Joe Johnston in the 1st round, former NCAA

Champ J Jaggers in the quarterfinals, and Russian

Vladimir Vilmov in the semifinals. Churella comes in off

his best year of International wrestling last year, where he

finished 4th at the World Team Trials.

The only other Michigan native to place in the event was

Davison native and former NCAA Champ Paul Donahoe,

who finished 6th at 121lbs. Donahoe, who now lives in

Iowa and trains with the Hawkeye Wrestling Club,

advanced to the semifinals before falling to eventual

champion Nariman Israpilov of Russia 6-0, 5-3.

Click here to view full brackets from the NYAC International Open.

121lbs - Paul Donahoe (Hawkeye WC) - 6th

145lbs - Josh Churella (NYAC) - 1st

May not be reproduced without expressed written consent