Bonino and O'Malley Move on to Day 2 of NCAA's After Historic Upsets

Thursday, March 16

Tulsa, Okla.

ALL DAY

Drexel University

NCAA Championships

Bonino and O'Malley Move on to Day 2 of NCAA's After Historic Upsets

3/16/2023 9:48:00 PM | Wrestling

PHILADELPHIA - Brian Bonino and Mickey O'Malley upset the top ten seeds in a historic showing for the Dragons in the first round of championship competition in Session 1 on Thursday in Tulsa. Additionally, Evan Barczak competed for Drexel and earned a victory on the first day of the NCAA Championships at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. O'Malley and Bonino advanced to day two and are each set to wrestle EIWA opponents in the consolation brackets. This year's competition marked Barczak's third consecutive appearance at the NCAA Tournament, O'Malley's fourth straight appearance, and Bonino's first showing.

Barczak avenged a first-round fall to Hamiti of Wisconsin in an 11-2 major decision victory in the prelims against Cole Moody of Wyoming. His season ended in the wrestle backs against Peyton Hall of West Virginia in a heartbreaking 4-3 decision to close out his career. The grad student finished the year with a career-high 27-8 record and an overall record of 92-50.

O'Malley started off the tournament strong with a takedown and 4 near-fall points to take a 6-0 lead over No. 10 seed Rocky Jordan of Chattanooga at the end of the first period. After a comeback by Jordan, O'Malley earned a takedown and rode out the clock with thirty seconds left in regulation to secure the upset victory, 8-7. In the round of 16, he was not able to find success and fell 8-2.

Bonino matched up against No. 8 Matt Finesilver of Michigan in his first match at the championships. Finesilver held a 1-0 lead after he escaped early in the second period. The Dragon earned an escape point late in the second period to tie the bout. With about ten seconds left, Bonino shot low on his opponent and earned a takedown in the walk-off upset to advance to the second round of the championships. The graduate student was not able to carry his momentum into the round of 16 as he fell in a major decision against Isaiah Salazar of Minnesota.

O'Malley and Bonino will face familiar foes in Philip Conigliaro of Harvard and David Key of Navy in the wrestle backs. O'Malley fell to Conigliaro at the EIWAs in a close 5-2 decision. Bonino matched up against Key twice in the conference championships going 1-1.

Past Decisions This Season Against Day 2 Opponents
Mickey O'Malley vs Philip Conigliaro
2023 EIWAs: Philip Conigliaro (Harvard) def. Mickey O'Malley, 5-2

Brian Bonino vs David Key
2023 EIWAs: Brian Bonino def. David Key (Navy), 3-2
2023 EIWAs: David Key (Navy) def. Brian Bonino, 8-3

Day 1 Match Results
No. 30 Evan Barczak, 165lbs, 1-2
Champ Rd 1 - #3 Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) def. #30 Evan Barczak, Fall 1:24
Prelims - #30 Evan Barczak def. #32 Cole Moody (Wyoming), MD 11-2
Cons Rd 1 - #14 Peyton Hall (WVU) def. #30 Evan Barczak, 4-3

No. 23 Mickey O'Malley, 174lbs 1-1
Champ Rd 1 - #23 Mickey O'Malley def. #10 Rocky Jordan, 8-7
Champ Rd of 16 - #7 Peyton Mocco (Mizzou) def. #23 Mickey O'Malley, 8-2

No. 25 Brian Bonino, 184lbs, 1-1
Champ Rd 1- #25 Brian Bonino def. #8 Matt Finesilver (Michigan), 3-2
Champ Rd of 16- #9 Isaiah Salazar (Minnesota) def. #25 Brian Bonino, MD 12-0

Day 2 Upcoming Matches:
174 | Consolation Rd 2 - #23 Mickey O'Malley vs. #24 Philip Conigliaro (Harvard)
184 | Consolations Rd 2 - #25 Brian Bonino vs. #26 David Key (Navy)