CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (Mar. 11) – For the first time in program history, the University of Mount Olive men's wrestling program earned All-American honors following an eighth-place podium finish by redshirt junior Michael Vernagallo at the NCAA National Championships in the 165-weight class.

In its fourth year as a program, Mount Olive qualified a program-record five wrestlers for the national event and finished tied for 29th overall in a field of over 30 teams. The Trojans were the third-highest finishers in Super Region II, as Lander finished national runner-up and Newberry placed 27th. UMO had a stellar season on the mat posting a 12-6 overall record with a 6-4 mark in the league while boasting a program-best three all-conference recipients.

Vernagallo recorded a 3-3 overall record at the two-day event, including one of the biggest upsets of the tournament in the blood round to become an All-American. In the preliminary round, he made quick work of Drew Wiechers of Ashland with a 26-15 major decision before suffering a close 3-2 loss via the decision to Ty Lucas of Central Oklahoma to fall into the consolation bracket. Vernagallo responded with a 14-12 decision against Will Kuster of Drury to enter the blood round. He faced No. 1 seeded Shane Gantz of Wisconsin-Parkside, who entered the event undefeated this season, and in just 34 seconds pinned him to claim a top-eight spot in the 165-weight class. The following day, Vernagallo fell late in a defeat via fall in consolation round three before suffering an injury in the next match to ultimately place eighth overall.

Redshirt freshman Dallas Wilson posted a 2-2 record in the 149-weight class, but fell in the blood round on Friday evening. He battled to a 5-2 decision over Austin Fietz of Lake Erie before suffering a 27-6 technical fall to Wyatt Turnquist of Northern State. Wilson responded in the consolation bracket with a 12-0 major decision over Evan Davis of Ashland but fell in the following bout to Brik Filippo of Central Oklahoma by a slight 3-0 decision.

Freshman Calan Staub was the only other UMO wrestler to record a win at nationals with a 12-10 decision over Dayton Fields of Newberry before back-to-back losses.

Redshirt senior Nico Ramirez and redshirt freshman Taylor Robinson each made their first appearance at Division II Nationals but dropped from the competition after consecutive losses.
 
Individual Results

133
Prelim - Collin Metzgar (Colorado Mesa) def. Taylor Robinson (Mount Olive), Dec 5-4
Champ. Round 1 - Reece Barnhardt (Mary) def. Taylor Robinson (Mount Olive), Fall 2:54

149
Prelim - Dallas Wilson (Mount Olive) def. Austin Fietz (Lake Erie), Dec 5-2
Champ. Round 1 - Wyatt Turnquist (Northern State) def. Dallas Wilson (Mount Olive) TF 27-6
Cons. Round 1 - Dallas Wilson (Mount Olive) def. Evan Davis (Ashland), MD 12-0
Cons. Round 2 - Brik Filippo (Central Oklahoma) def. Dallas Wilson (Mount Olive), Dec 3-0

165
Prelim - Michael Vernagallo (Mount Olive) def. Drew Wiechers (Ashland), MD 26-15
Champ. Round 1 - Ty Lucas (Central Oklahoma) def. Michael Vernagallo (Mount Olive), Dec 3-2
Cons. Round 1 - Michael Vernagallo (Mount Olive) def. Will Kuster (Drury), Dec 14-12
Cons. Round 2 - Michael Vernagallo (Mount Olive) def. Shane Gantz (Wisconsin-Parkside), Fall 0:34
Cons. Round 3 - Alec Cook (West Liberty) def. Michael Vernagallo (Mount Olive), Fall 6:20
7th Place Match - Anthony Herrera (St. Cloud State) def. Michael Vernagallo (Mount Olive), Inj. 0:20

174
Prelim - Calan Staub (Mount Olive) def. Dayton Fields (Newberry), Dec 12-10
Champ. Round 1 - Anthony Des Vigne (Central Oklahoma) def. Calan Staub (Mount Olive), Dec 7-3
Cons. Round 1 - Owen Butler (Indianapolis) def. Calan Staub (Mount Olive), Dec 8-4

285
Prelim - Cale Gray (Indianapolis) def. Nico Ramirez (Mount Olive), Dec 3-1
Prelim - Mason Watt (Chadron State) def. Nico Ramirez (Mount Olive), Fall 4:47