Penn State grad Megaludis wins another national wrestling title
Nico Megaludis captured his second national title in three months as he won gold last weekend at the University National Freestyle Championships in Akron, Ohio.
Representing the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, the recent Penn State graduate and 2016 NCAA champion rolled through the field at 57kg. to claim his second University national freestyle title.
Megaludis went 4-0 to reach the finals where he then beat American University's David Terao two times in a row (9-4 and 11-2) to win the crown.
His 6-0 overall record at the tournament included three technical falls.
Megaludis joined fellow Penn State graduate Morgan McIntosh as national champions.
McIntosh, a three-time All-American and 2016 national finalist with the Nittany Lions, went a perfect 7-0 in winning the title at 86kg.
Megaludis and McIntosh's national titles also helped them clinch spots on the United States University World Team.
McIntosh and Megaludis were parts of the 2016 Penn State squad that won its fifth NCAA national championship in the past six years, its fifth Big Ten title in the last six years, a share of the Big Ten regular season (dual meet) championship and the NWCA National Dual Meet Series title.
Individually, Megaludis, a Franklin Regional graduate, completed one of the top careers in the history of Penn State wrestling in March by winning the 125-pound national title at the NCAA Division I championships at Madison Square Garden in New York.
He finished 119-19 for his career, and the win total ranks him 11th on the Nittany Lions' all-time list.
Megaludis was a four-time NCAA All-American who also captured two national runner-up finishes and one third-place finish.
Shortly after the collegiate season ended, he turned his attention to the U.S. Olympic Trials in Iowa City.
When it was all said and done, Megaludis fought hard but came out on the short end of two close decisions, 4-3 and 5-4.
The 4-3 loss came to Ohio State's Nathan Tomasello in the first round.
Megaludis punched his ticket to the Olympic Trials based on his collegiate national-title victory.
He will have another chance to represent his country at the Olympics as he will be eligible to compete at the Olympic Trials again in 2020.
Megaludis also earned his third Academic All-Big Ten honor through his finance course of study.
Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412-388-5825 or at mlove@tribweb.com.
