WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Baldwin Wallace University junior All-American 149-pound men's wrestler Michael Petrella (Reynoldsburg/Bishop Hartley) has been named the Ohio Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Week for the first time in his career.

Petrella garners his first weekly honor after posting a perfect 6-0 record to help the No. 5 nationally ranked BW men's wrestling team to a fifth-place finish at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals last weekend.

The No. 1 nationally ranked wrestler at 149 pounds opened the duals with a with a pin in 1:58 over Darian Diaz of the University Dubuque (Iowa). Petrella then won a won a 6-1 decision over No. 4 nationally ranked Jake Burford of No. 9 nationally rankled University of Wisconsin at Whitewater. He posted a victory by pinfall in in 5:50 over Kristian Rumph of No. 1 nationally ranked and defending NCAA Division III Champion Wartburg (Iowa) College.  Petrella won by pinfall in 2:39 over Clayton McDonough of No. 23 nationally ranked Luther (Iowa) College and recorded a victory by injury default over No. 5 nationally ranked Javen Estrada of No. 7 nationally ranked North Central (Ill.) College.  He closed out the duals with a 15-2 major decision victory over Reis Ginter of No. 10 nationally ranked Loras (Iowa) College.

This season, Petrella is undefeated with a record of 16-0. He has tallied eight pins, three technical falls and one major decision. 

For his career, Petrella has a record of 55-4 with 20 pins, six major decisions and six technical falls.   He was the 2021 NCAA Division III National Runner-Up at 149 pounds and 2021 All-OAC first-team selection.  Petrella was named D3wrestle.com Wrestler of the Week on December 16, 2020.

Off the mat, he is an NWC Scholar All-American.

The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Saturday, January 14 when they travel to North Manchester, Indiana to compete in the annual Spartan Mat Classic hosted by Manchester University at 9 a.m.  BW returns home and to OAC action on Tuesday, January 17 when it hosts a dual match against Otterbein University in the Upsprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center at 7 p.m.