Hilltoppers’ Ty McGeary Named Division II Wrestler Of The Year
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MANHEIM, Pa. - West Liberty's two-time NCAA Division II national champion wrestler Ty McGeary knew something was up, he just didn't know what it was.
Well, the Hilltoppers junior standout found out Tuesday what head coach Danny Irwin had hinted about on Monday when he was named the NCAA Division II National Wrestler of the Year.
"Coach called me on Monday and said there would be some news coming that I would like," McGeary said in a telephone interview Tuesday afternoon. "It's pretty exciting."
The legacy continues to grow for McGeary as he becomes the first Hilltopper wrestler in the program's storied history to be named the NCAA Division II National Wrestler of the Year as he was announced by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) as the 2024 recipient. Additionally, he becomes the first wrestler from the Mountain East Conference to earn the award since the league began sponsoring the sport in the 2019-20 season.
"What an honor for Ty to receive," stated Irwin. "He had an incredible year where I believe he only surrendered one takedown all season. It is great for wrestling as a whole, too, as Ty embodies being a student-athlete as a double major in cyber security & accounting. The best thing about him is that he is an amazing person who has God as the center of his life!"
The McDonald, Pa., native earned the 13th national title by a Hilltopper wrestler on March 16 in Park City, Kan., as he went back-to-back at 184 pounds and finished the 2023-24 season with a 33-0 mark. En route to the title he went 4-0 in Newman Arena as he defeated Anthony Yacovetti of Lander by a 14-5 major decision; No. 8 Billy Higgins of Nebraska-Kearney by a 14-5 major decision; No. 5 Reece Woracheck of Wisconsin-Parkside by a 5-3 decision; and No. 3 Matt Weinberg of Kutztown by a 9-1 major decision.
"There are a bunch of weight classes and you don't get to wrestle everyone, but this means a lot to me," he said of the announcement. "It shows that all my hard work has paid off."
The good news for West Liberty, but bad news for everyone else, is that McGeary has one year of eligibility remaining and plans to use it next year at West Liberty.
"I'm getting my masters in business and plan on trying for a third title next season," he said.
Among this year's 10 national champions he was one of just three to post an unblemished record on the year. With the conclusion of the season, he finished second in the NWCA's DII Most Dominant standings with 24 bonus point victories and was eighth in the NWCA's DII Falls leaders with ten victories ending by way of a pin.
McGeary's dominance during his time on the hilltop has resulted in a 97-6 career record in the Black & Gold as he is a two-time national champion (2023 & 2024), three-time All-American (2022, 2023, & 2024), two-time Super Region 3 Champion (2022 & 2024), and a three-time Mountain East Conference Champion (2022, 2023, & 2024). His success has also carried off the mat and into the classroom as he has been selected as a two-time NWCA Scholar All-American (2021 & 2023), a CSC Academic All-America Men's At-Large Second Team selection (2023), and a CSC Academic All-District selection (2023).
Joining McGeary among the 2024 NCAA Division II National Wrestler of the Year finalists was 149 pound national champion from Pitt-Johnstown, Jacob Ealy (Super Region 1), 133 pound national champion from Montevallo, Gabe Hixenbaugh (Super Region 2), 197 pound national champion from Indianapolis, Derek Blubaugh (Super Region 4), 157 pound national runner-up from St. Cloud State, Nick Novak (Super Region 5), and 149 pound national runner-up from Colorado School of Mines, Cody Thompson (Super Region 6).