The Open Mat presents awards annually in three categories for each division of college wrestling at the conclusion of the season. Awards are presented for Freshman of the Year, Coach of the Year and Wrestler of the Year.

For the second straight year, Mike Petrella of Baldwin Wallace finished as an undefeated NCAA Division III national champion at 149 pounds.

On Wednesday, Petrella was named 2024 NCAA Division III Wrestler of the Year by The Open Mat.

Petrella was dominant all season long, going 43-0 with 16 pins, 16 technical falls and eight major decisions. He started the season at 157 pounds before moving down to 149 pounds in late November. Petrella won six tournament titles this season, capped off by his 5-0 run at the 2024 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He earned bonus-point victories in three of his five victories at the NCAAs, including his championship match, which he won by pin over second-seeded Tyler Goebel of UW-La Crosse. Petrella ended the season on a 76-match win streak after going 33-0 last season.

He won the Central Region Outstanding Wrestler Award and was named the Ohio Athletic Conference Men's Wrestler of the Year

Petrella is now a three-time All-American, three-time national finalist and two-time national champion. He has a record of 112-2 over the past three seasons.

His father Paul was Baldwin Wallace's first-ever wrestling national champion in 1978 at 177 pounds.