Vito Arujau

Vitali Orujov (Виталий Оруджов; born June 1, 1999) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes at 61 kilograms.

In freestyle, he is the reigning World Champion, as well as a two-time Pan-American gold medalist and the 2023 US National champion.

In folkstyle, Arujau is the reigning NCAA Division I National champion at 133 pounds out of Cornell University.

Arujau was born 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, and his mother Zhanna Sarnauskaya was a USSR National champion in solo's 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.

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 Cadet 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.

Arujau chose to grayshirt during his first year at Cornell, racking up a 9–1 record and a Cleveland Stete 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.

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.

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.

This result had him qualify for the US Olympic Team Trials in 2020.

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.

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.

After having 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.