Wrestling’s Michael O’Malley Wins 174-lb Division at Wilkes Open

Saturday, December 22

Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

All Day

Drexel University

Wilkes Open

Wrestling’s Michael O’Malley Wins 174-lb Division at Wilkes Open

12/22/2018 9:44:00 PM | Wrestling

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Freshman Michael O'Malley of the Drexel wrestling team won the 174-lb division at the 86th Annual Wilkes University Open on Saturday, Dec. 22 at the Marts Centers in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Drexel sent a total of seven wrestlers to the one-day event.

O'Malley made his debut for the Dragons, going 4-0 with two pins and a major decision. He earned two falls in his first two bouts over Brandon Belfonti (Wilkes; 1:04) and Chris Bolletino (Franklin and Marshall; 1:24).

In the semifinals, he earned a 16-4 major decision over Sacred Heart's Anthony Falbo. O'Malley took an 8-0 lead after the first behind a takedown, two-point nearfall and four-point nearfall to take a commanding lead. He added a takedown and reversal to go up 12-3 in the second and a takedown and riding time to win 16-4.

In the championship bout for the 174-lb division, the Drexel freshman won a close 4-3 decision over Anthony Falbo of Alderson Broaddus behind a three-point first period (takedown and escape).

Freshman Dante Mininno also picked up a win in a 125-lb bout against Wilkes' Nick Bauer by a 9-8 decision as fellow freshman Max Livingston earned a 16-0 technical fall victory over Wilkes' Andrew Rivera at 149 pounds.

DANTE MININNO – 125 – FRESHMAN
Dante Mininno (Drexel) def. Nick Bauer (Wilkes) / D, 9-8
Ryan Burns (Sacred Heart) def. Dante Mininno (Drexel) / D, 14-12
Kyle Trout (Wilkes) def. Dante Mininno (Drexel) / D, 8-6

MICHAEL MARTINAK – 149 – FRESHMAN
Jimmy Hoffman (Lehigh) def. Michael Martinak (Drexel) / TF, 19-3 (4:57)
Josh Brown (Wilkes) def. Michael Martinak (Drexel) / D, 6-3

MAX LIVINGSTON – 149 – FRESHMAN
Cort Schuyler (Lehigh) def. Max Livingston (Drexel) / TF, 18-3 (5:31)
Max Livingston (Drexel) def. Andrew Rivera (Wilkes) / TF, 16-0 (2:20)
Grant Bond (Bloomsburg) def. Max Livingston (Drexel) / MD, 12-3

FELIX BELGA – 157 – SOPHOMORE
Brian Friery (Penn State) def. Felix Belga (Drexel) / MD, 10-2
Matt Grippi (NC State) def. Felix Belga (Drexel) / D, 3-1 (SV)

BEN SALAS – 157 – FRESHMAN
Emmett Licastri (Franklin and Marshall) def. Ben Salas (Drexel) / TF, 18-3 (5:40)
Matt Grippi (NC State) def. Ben Salas (Drexel) / MD, 13-5

MICHAEL O'MALLEY – 174 – FRESHMAN – 1ST PLACE
Michael O'Malley (Drexel) def. Brandon Belfonti (Wilkes) / F, 1:04
Michael O'Malley (Drexel) def. Chris Bolletino (Franklin and Marshall) / F, 1:24
Michael O'Malley (Drexel) def. Anthony Falbo (Sacred Heart) / MD, 16-4
Michael O'Malley (Drexel) def. Gino Sita (Alderson Broaddus) / D, 4-3

DAKOTA GREENE – 174 – JUNIOR
Gino Sita (Alderson Broaddus) def. Dakota Greene (Drexel) / MD, 10-2
John Ciaramella (Rutgers) def. Dakota Greene (Drexel) / Forfeit