Wrestler of the Week: Michael Petrella

The d3wrestle.com Wrestler of the Week is Michael Petrella of Baldwin Wallace. Petrella won the 149 lbs. weight class and helped lead the home team to the title at the John Summa Invitational on Saturday. The top-seeded Petrella scored two falls and two tech falls on his way to the finals where he defeated the #6 ranked Division II wrestler Nico Taddy of West Liberty 5-1. His semifinal win was the 100th victory of his career. This is the second time Petrella has been named Wrestler of the Week.

Petrella, a senior from Reynoldsburg, Ohio, is the top-ranked wrestler at 149 lbs. and is the defending NCAA champion. He was the national runner-up in 2022. This season, he is 29-0 and won titles at the Ithaca and North Central Invitationals. His career record is 101-4, and he has won a pair of Central Regional titles. His father Paul was Baldwin Wallace’s first ever NCAA wrestling champion in 1978. Baldwin Wallace secured the OAC team championship after winning last night against Wilmington and will next compete on Friday against Notre Dame College.