FAIRFAX, Va. – Add it to the resume! The University of Pennsylvania wrestling team had five grapplers compete at the 2024 Patriot Open on Sunday afternoon, with sophomore Max Gallagher winning an individual title.
 
#18 Gallagher won his second individual title for Penn this season after landing the 125 crown at Patriot for the first time in his career.
 
Quaker Notemeal
*Junior Kelly Dunnigan (149) also placed at the open, falling in the third-place bout to earn fourth at 149.
 
*Gallagher co-leads the Quakers in individual titles this season, also winning 125 at the Keystone Classic back in November.
 
*Spencer Barnhart (133), Paul Ognissanti (165), and Adam Thomson (165) also competed for the Red and Blue at the tournament.
 
How It Happened
Gallagher breezed through the 125 bracket, earning a bye in the round of 32 before topping App State's Bryson Terrell 5-1in the round of 16. The sophomore dominated in his quarterfinal bout, shutting Rider's Noah Michaels out 16-0 to win by tech fall.
 
Gallagher's semifinal match with American's JJ Peace was a nailbiter, with both grapplers only tallying escapes in the bout, but Gallagher came out on top 2-1. The New York native landed the 125 title off a medical forfeit from Davis Motyka (PRTC).
 
Up Next
The Quakers (1-2) have a few weeks off before heading to the Windy City on Sunday, Dec. 29, for the Midlands Championships.
 
125
#18 Max Gallagher – FIRST PLACE
R32: Bye
R16" Gallagher def. Bryson Terrell (App State), 5-1 DEC
QF: Gallagher def. Noah Michaels (Rider), 16-0 TF
SF: Gallagher def. JJ Peace (American), 2-1 DEC
FINAL: Gallagher def. Davis Motyka (PRTC), M FOR
 
 
133
Spencer Barnhart
R16: Takeo Davis (Gardner-Webb) def. Barnhart, 8-5 DEC
CONS 8 (1): Barnhart def. Kyle Hill (Rider), 15-0 TF
CONS 8 (2): Barnhart def. Geoffrey Whelan (George Mason), 15-0 TF
CONS 4: Andrew Binni (Naval Academy Prep School) def. Barnhart, 4-3 DEC
 
149
Kelly Dunnigan – FOURTH PLACE
R32: Bye
R16: Dunnigan def. Joey Giordano (Gardner-Webb), 9-3 DEC
QF: Dunnigan def. Mitchell Faglioni, 8-5 DEC
SF: Jaxon Joy (Spartan Combat RTC) def. Dunnigan, 9-2 DEC
3rd place: Ethan Mojena (Brown) def. Dunnigan, 4-2 DEC
 
165
Paul Ognissanti
R32: Ognissanti def. Grant Kress (Gardner-Webb), 20-5 TF
R16: Ognissanti def. Austin Craft (American), 12-4 MD
QF: Evan Maag (George Mason) TF Ognissanti,19-4 TF
CONS 8 (2): Ognissanti def, Mason Stefanelli (Virginia), 8-5 DEC, SV
CONS 4: Louie Cerchio (Spartan Combat RTC) def. Ognissanti, 6-3 DEC
 
Adam Thomson
R32: Oren Bost (App State) def. Thomson, 4:39 F
CONS 16 (1): Bye
CONS 16 (2): Thomson def. Connor Brady (Virginia Tech), FOR
CONS 8 (1): Gaven Bell def. Thomson, 17-4 MD