BEREA, Ohio – Baldwin Wallace University junior All-American 149-pounder Michael Petrella (Reynoldsburg/Bishop Hartley) has been named The Open Mat.com NCAA Division III Men's Wrestler of the Year.

Petrella garners the honor after winning his second straight NCAA Division III Championship in Lacrosse, Wisconsin on March 16.

This season, he claimed his second straight undefeated season as he posted a record of 43-0.  His 43 wins led BW, who claimed its eight Ohio Athletic Conference Championship in the last nine years, including a school-record tying fourth straight.   Petrella was second on the team with a career-high 16 pins.  He was third on the squad with a career-best 16 technical falls.  Petrella also added six major decisions. 

He was named the OAC Men's Wrestler of the Year and the NCAA Division III Central Region Most Outstanding Wrestler.  Petrella earned his third straight All-OAC first-team selection.  He also was named D3wrestle.com Wrestler of the Week on February 7 and the OAC Men's Wrestler of the Week on two occasions.

Petrella has now won 76 straight matches and has a record of 113-3 over the last three seasons.

For his career, Petrella is a three-time All-American, three-time national finalist and two-time champion.  He ranks seventh on the University's all-time wins list with a record of 115-4.  Petrella has recorded 43 pins, 24 technical falls and 16 major decisions.

Petrella and his father Paul became the first ever father and son national champions at the school in 2023.  His father, who is a member of the Athletics Alumni Hall of Fame, was the University's first national champion in 1978.