Jonathan Aiello
American freestyle wrestler
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jonathan Aiello is an American freestyle wrestler[3] who has represented the United States on both the U23 and Senior Level.[4] His most notable finish is capturing a bronze medal[5] at the 2021 U23 World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, at the 97 kg.[6] He is Currently training as a part of the Ohio Regional Training Center and competing at 97 kg.[7]
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Jonathan Leonard Aiello | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nickname | Jay | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | July 13, 1998 Virginia, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home town | Centreville, Virginia, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 97 kg (214 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Wrestling | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Event(s) | Folkstyle and Freestyle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Virginia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Ohio Regional Training Center | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Steve Garland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest world ranking | 18[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Over the past few years he has recorded notable victories over world medalists, including over 2023 92 kg World Champion Rizabek Aitmukhan at the 2024 Kunayev Tournament held in Taraz, Kazakhstan.[8]
Career
High school
Aiello excelled as a multiple sport athlete for Westfield High School, being named to the Washington Post All-Metro area football and wrestling teams his senior year 2015-2016.[9][10] He was also named the Virginia Division 6A player of the year in football.[11]
College
Aiello was a five-year starter for the University of Virginia wrestling team, competing in the 197 lb weight class. His collegiate career is highlighted by a 2020 First team All-American Honor and a 2020 ACC Championship at 197 lbs.[12]
Freestyle career
Aiello is a two time U.S. National Team member, having represented the United States on the senior level multiple times.[13][14]
U23
2021
Aiello made his international freestyle debut at the 2021 U23 World Wrestling Championships where won a bronze medal in the 97 kg division. During the tournament he recorded a win over Feyzullah Aktürk, a Senior World Bronze Medalist in 2023.[15]
Senior
2022
Coming off of his bronze medal in Serbia, Aiello competed to claim a world team spot at 92 kg, coming up short placing 3rd at the 2022 US World Team Trials.[16] His third-place finished earned him any opportunity to claim a National Team slot at Final X by wrestling for true third against Isaac Trumble. Aiello prevailed in the bout winning 8–6 to make the US National Team.[17] Later in the year he would compete at the 2022 Poland Open winning the tournament with a win over, Andriy Vlasov, who had placed 5th at the 2021 World Wrestling Championships.[18]
2023
Aiello competed in the Grand Prix de France Henri Deglane 2023, placing 2nd with a lone loss to fellow American Eric Shultz Jr.[19] He also competed at the 2023 Grand Prix Zagreb Open, failing to place, suffering losses to multiple time senior world medalist Osman Nurmagomedov and another American, Kollin Moore.[20] Later in the year Aiello would once again compete to make a US senior world team, this time coming up short and failing to make the medal stand.[21] Aiello would finish the year capturing a third-place finish at the 2023 US Senior Nationals.[22]
2024
Aiello started the year off capturing a silver medal at the 2024 Yasar Dogu Tournament, recording wins over Ertuğrul Ağca and Radu Lefter, but ultimately losing in the finals to the reigning World Champion at 97 kg champion, Akhmed Tazhudinov at the Yasar Dogu.[23] Aiello then competed at the Olympic Team Trials recording a win over 2018 NCAA Champion Michael Macchiavello, but ultimately failed to make the medal stand.[24] Aiello competed next at the 2024 Bill Farrell Memorial International Tournament, placing third.[25]
In December 2024 Aiello travelled to Taraz, Kazakhstan to compete in the Kunayev D.A., an international tournament. Aiello captured the gold medal-winning the tournament by defeating 2023 World Champion Rizabek Aitmukhan and 2024 Olympian from China, Awusayiman Habila.[26]
2025
Coming off of a great finish in 2024, Aiello competed in the 2025 Grand Prix Zagreb Open, dropping a match in the semifinals to Abolfazl Babaloo of Iran, he finished the tournament capturing the bronze medal.[27][28] Aiello would then compete in April at the 2025 CLAW U.S. Open Championships, finishing second. His only loss of the tournament was to World and Olympic Champion Kyle Snyder.[29] A month later Aiello would place second at the 2025 Senior World Team Trials, losing in the finals to 2022 World Team Member Hayden Zillmer.[30] His second-place finish would secure him a spot on the 2025 US National Team.[31]
In July, Aiello traveled to Budapest for the 2025 Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial Tournament a United World Wrestling Ranking Series event. After dropping his first match on criteria to a 2024 Olympian Zbigniew Baranowski, he battled back and took home a bronze medal.[32] Aiello would take the mat again 4 days later at PWL 9, defeating Konstantin Pshenichnikov of Russia 8–1 to secure one of the US's 4 victories in the dual meet against the Russian National Team.[33] Aiello was invited to compete in PWL 10, this time taking the mat against world #8 Ranked Russian, Alikhan Ktsoev.[34] After a back and forth bout Aiello came up short as he almost scored as time expired, losing the bout 5-4. [35]
