Jacob Bayless named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare
by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
Jacob Bayless (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) has been named the USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week, presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare, on May 30, 2024.
The 15-year-old wrestling out of Bishop Hartley High School in Columbus, Ohio, posted a remarkable performance at the 2024 Ohio USA Wrestling Freestyle and Greco-Roman State Championships over the weekend.
Bayless secured five pins and four technical falls across the Greco-Roman and freestyle tournaments in the 16U 144-pound division, the most bonus point victories of any wrestler at the event. His fastest fall came in 24-seconds during the Greco-Roman semifinals against Westin Larson of Lutheran West Wrestling, which ranked as the fifth-fastest pin of the tournament.
The Ohioan went 4-0 on his path to the Greco-Roman title, bonusing his way through the bracket. He topped Ambrose Ieropoli of Avon Lake Wrestling Club by technical fall, 10-1, in the championship match.
Moving to the freestyle competition, Bayless emerged with a 5-1 record, all five wins by either pin or technical fall. After starting the event strong with three impressive victories, he dropped a tough 10-6 semifinal to Beast Mode Wrestling’s Isaiah Callahan. Bayless rebounded admirably to place third in the weight class, icing his run with a 15-4 technical fall over Mitch Tetreault for bronze.
Bayless is qualified to compete at the prestigious 16U National Championships held this July in Fargo, N.D., where he will test himself against the best in the U.S.
To nominate a wrestler for this honor please email the athlete's name, wrestling program, weekly accomplishments, and career accolades to communications@usawrestling.org.
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