Lycoming College

A national title at 285 pounds to highlight a record-breaking career helped Wesneski earn the college's top male athletic honor. The MAC Wrestler of the Year, Wesneski finished 28-1 overall during his senior year, reeling off 25 wins in a row to finish the season, tied for the eighth-longest win streak in school history. He was a perfect 8-0 during the postseason, starting as the No. 2 seed at the NCAA Southeast Regional in the Keiper Recreation Center. After a technical fall and a pin on the first day of the tournament, he downed eighth-ranked Paul Triandafilou of Gettysburg, 3-0, in the semifinals to earn a bid to the national tournament. Then Wesneski provided one of the most dramatic wrestling wins ever in Williamsport, using two first-period takedowns to down defending national champion, Jake Evans, in the finals, 5-4. Evans entered the match with a 50-1 record, which included a 6-3 win over Wesneski in the season's opening tournament at Washington & Jefferson. In the NCAA Championships, Wesneski was seeded fifth and once again, he cruised through the first day of the tournament, posting a major decision and a pin to ensure All-American honors. On the second day, he beat Wartburg's Bowen Wileman, 4-3, in the semifinals and then took out Augustana's undefeated Adarios Jones, seeded second at the tournament, in sudden-victory, 9-7, to win Lycoming's 10th national title.
 
Wesneski finished his two-year career at Lycoming with a 66-5 overall record, his .930 winning percentage the best in program history. Along with Saturday night's national championship, Wesneski was also a two-time Southeast Region champion and the 2019 Southeast Region Most Outstanding wrestler.
 
The corporate communication major is the 19th wrestler to earn the award and the third in four years, joining Seth Lansberry (2017) and Nolan Barger (2016).