Michael O’Malley Wins 79kg Title at UWW Junior Nationals

OMAHA, Neb. – Redshirt-sophomore Michael O'Malley went a perfect 6-0 across two days of competition to claim the 79kg junior national title at the United World Wrestling U23 and Junior Nationals held Nov. 14-15 at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. In addition, teammates Evan Barczak and Parker Kropman placed in their respective U23 brackets.

A 2020 NCAA qualifier, O'Malley won his junior national title in decisive fashion by pinning four-time Minnesota state champion and current Iowa Hawkeye Patrick Kennedy in just 70 seconds. Along the way, O'Malley topped Tanner Mendoza (8-2) and Jared McGill (9-3) before winning by technical superiority against Chris Fasano, 10-0 in 2:03, in the round of 16. The Hasbrouck Heights, N.J. native added wins over Albert Urias (5-2) and Nick Incontrera (6-3) in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.

Wrestling in the U23 competition, both Barczak and Kropman reached the quarterfinals, and eventually the podiums, in their respective brackets. Barczak marched to the semifinals at 74kg behind a victory by technical superiority (12-1, 3:00) over Alfred Daniel in the round of 32 and a pinfall victory against Patrick Schoenfelder in 3:48 in the quarters. The redshirt-junior from Central Valley, N.Y. stumbled in the semifinals before an eventual victory by technical superiority (12-2, 1:50) against Jacori Teemer, the reigning Pac-12 champion at 157 pounds and former No. 4 pound-for-pound recruit in the country, in the fifth-place match.

Kropman reached the quarterfinals at 70kg before earning seventh in the competition. He defeated Tristan Lara (7-4) in the round of 32 before a 10-0 (0:40) victory by technical superiority over David Hollingsworth in the round of 16. The redshirt-senior from Rochester, N.Y. battled two-time All-American Kaleb Young of Iowa in the quarterfinals, narrowly dropping the match by a 9-6 score. Kropman rallied with a 10-0 win by technical superiority in the consolation bracket before a 6-1 loss to Cory Crooks in the consolation quarters. Kropman punctuated his tournament run with his third victory by technical superiority in the seventh-place match, besting Jonathan Millner, 10-0 in 35 seconds.

Also featuring in the competition were Antonio Mininno (57kg U23), Vincent Foggia (61kg U23), Gabe Onorato (65kg U23), Michael Martinak (70kg Junior Nationals) and Felix Belga (70kg U23).

Results

Michael O'Malley – 1st Place, 79kg Junior Nationals
Rd. of 64 – Michael O'Malley VPO1 Tanner Mendoza, 8-2
Rd. of 32 – Michael O'Malley VPO1 Jared McGill, 9-3
Rd. of 16 – Michael O'Malley VSU Chris Fasano, 10-0 (2:03)
QFs – Michael O'Malley VPO1 Albert Urias, 5-2
SFs – Michael O'Malley VPO1 Nick Incontrera, 6-3
Finals – Michael O'Malley VFA Patrick Kennedy, 1:10

Evan Barczak – 5th Place, 74kg U23 Freestyle
Rd. of 32 – Evan Barczak VSU1 Alfred Daniel, 12-1 (3:00)
Rd. of 16 – Evan Barczak VPO Laurence Kosoy, 4-0
QFs – Evan Barczak VFA Patrick Schoenfelder, 3:48
SFs – Danny Braunagel VPO1 Evan Barczak, 11-3
Cons. SFs – Quentin Perez VSU1 Evan Barczak, 12-1 (4:43)
5th/6th – Evan Barczak VSU1 Jacori Teemer, 12-2 (1:50)

Parker Kropman – 7th Place, 70kg U23 Freestyle
Rd. of 64 – Parker Kropman BYE
Rd. of 32 – Parker Kropman VPO1 Tristan Lara, 7-4
Rd. of 16 – Parker Kropman VSU David Hollingsworth, 10-0 (0:40)
QFs – Kaleb Young VPO1 Parker Kropman, 9-6
Cons. Rd. of 8 #2 – Parker Kropman VSU Tyler Shilson, 10-0 (2:57)
Cons. QFs – Cory Crooks VPO1 Parker Kropman, 6-1
7th/8th – Parker Kropman VSU Jonathan Millner, 10-0 (0:35)

Antonio Mininno – 57kg U23 Freestyle
Rd. of 64 – Antonio Mininno BYE
Rd. of 32 – Antonio Mininno VPO1 Hasan Krigger, 11-9
Rd. of 16 – Rayvon Foley VSU Antonio Mininno, 10-0 (1:46)
Cons. Rd. of 16 #2 – Antonio Mininno VFA Joey Jones, 2:25
Cons. Rd. of 8 #1 – Mason Naifeh VPO1 Antonio Mininno, 6-1

Vincent Foggia – 61kg U23 Freestyle
Rd. of 32 – Josh Kramer VSU1 Vincent Foggia, 13-2 (5:26)
Cons. Rd. of 16 #1 – Vincent Foggia VSU Brandon Loperfido (2:40)
Cons. Rd. of 16 #2 – Nicholas Meling VSU1 Vincent Foggia, 12-2 (4:59)

Gabe Onorato – 65kg Junior Nationals
Rd. of 64 – Sammy Alvarez VPO1 Gabe Onorato, 9-3
Cons. Rd. of 32 #1 – Gabe Onorato VSU1 Marco Ruffinelli, 11-1 (5:29)
Cons. Rd. of 32 #2 – Gabe Onorato VPO1 Kaya Sement, 6-4
Cons. Rd. of 16 #1 – Gabe Onorato VSU1 Hunter Gilmore, 11-1 (3:57)
Cons. Rd. of 16 #2 – Legend Lamer VSU1 Gabe Onorato, 12-1 (2:15)

Michael Martinak – 70kg Junior Nationals
Rd. of 64 – Zeb Gnida VSU1 Michael Martinak, 12-2 (5:36)
Cons. Rd. of 32 #1 – Michael Martinak BYE
Cons. Rd. of 32 #2 – Cody Harrison VPO1 Michael Martinak, 11-2

Felix Belga – 70kg U23 Freestyle
Rd. of 64 – Felix Belga BYE
Rd. of 32 – Felix Belga VSU1 Edison Brooks, 2:38 (16-5)
Rd. of 16 – Jake Keating VSU1 Felix Belga, 12-2 (1:11)
Cons. Rd. of 16 #2 – Felix Belga VSU Brawley Lamer, 11-0 (2:41)
Cons. Rd. of 8 #1 – Tyler Shilson VSU1 Felix Belga, 16-6 (2:37)

Dragons Calendar.

Michael O’Malley Wins 79kg Title at UWW Junior Nationals

Players Mentioned

Evan Barczak

Felix Belga

Vincent Foggia

Parker Kropman

Michael Martinak

Antonio Mininno

Mickey O'Malley

Gabe Onorato

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