Joe Sealey named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Joe Sealey (High Point, N.C./Wyoming Seminary) has been selected as USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week on April 11.
Sealey, a 2022 U17 World champion in men’s freestyle, won his match in a USA vs. the World dual meet, then claimed a gold medal at 160 pounds in the High School A division at the Journeymen World Classic at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. last weekend.
On April 7, Sealey scored an impressive 10-0 technical fall over Armenia’s U20 European champion Hayk Papikyan via 10-0 technical fall at 160 pounds, as Team USA I defeated Team World I, 33-24.
On April 8, Sealey won a tough 160-pound weight class at the Journeymen World Classic with four victories. He opened with a 10-0 technical fall over Kyler Keough of National Capital WC in his pool. In the championship bracket, he stopped Charlie Millard of Askren Wrestling Academy, 13-6 in the quarterfinals, then controlled Bekbol Izabekov of Kyrgyzstan, 8-1 in the semifinals. In a rematch from the day before, he won a tough 8-6 bout against U20 European champion Hayk Papikyan of Armenia, 8-6 in the finals.
Sealey won the 71 kg weight class at the 2022 U17 World Championships last summer. He earned his spot on the team with a victory at the 2022 U17 World Team Trials. In 2023, Sealey was the 2023 National Prep School champion at 157 pounds as a junior for Wyoming Seminary. He is currently the No. 13 pound-for-pound wrestler in the nation by FloWrestling and is ranked No. 2 in the nation at 160 pounds. He has committed to Penn State.
To nominate a wrestler for this honor please send the athlete's name, wrestling program, weekly accomplishments and career accolades to USA Wrestling Director of Communications Gary Abbott at gabbott@usawrestling.org
