National Qualifier
Senior National Qualifier Geno Morelli is coming off his best year as a collegian in 2015-16, earning an at-large bid to his first NCAA Championship and turning that into a 2-2 run that garnered key points for Penn State in its NCAA team title performance. Morelli will once again be a factor at 165 or 174 as the new year unfolds.
Parents: Peter an Susanne Morelli -- Major: Energy, Business & Finance
Year-by-Year:
2015-16: Went 5-1 to take second at 165 at the Binghamton Open on 11/8...went 5-0 to win the Nittany Lion Open crown on 12/6, including two tech falls and a win over #20 Shakur Rasheed of Penn State in the finals...made Penn State dual meet debut in BJC Dual on 12/13, nearly upsetting #3 Isaac Jordan of Wisconsin before dropping last-second 5-4 decision...went 5-2 with a tech fall at 2016 Southern Scuffle to take fifth place at 165...tough 3-2 loss to #14 Austin Wilson of Nebraska on riding time on 1/15...lost tough 3-2 dec. to #2 Bo Jordan on late takedown on 2/5 in BJC...picked up first dual meet win as a Nittany Lion with Big Ten victory over Dean Vettese of Michigan State on 2/13...nine of Morelli's 12 losses were either by one point or in extra time.
Big Ten Championships (2-3, 8th, NCAA Qualifier): Went 2-3 in his first-ever trip to the Big Ten Championships (qualifying with an at-large bid).
NCAA Championships (2-2, DNP): Went 2-2 at first NCAA tournament...downed #11 John Staudenmayer of North Carolina in first round..dropped tough 3-1 (sv2) dec. to #6 Steven Rodriguez of Illinois in second round..also picked up 5-2 win over Duke's Jake Faust at NCAAs.
2014-15: Redshirt season after transferring from Pitt.
2013-2014: Started at 165 for Pittsburgh, going 14-15 overall...8-8 mark in dual meets...three pins and a tech fall...wrestled for Pitt in the 2013-14 BJC dual in front of an NCAA record crowd.
2012-13:Posted a 21-12 record in open tournaments for Pittsburgh...two pins and four majors.
High School/Personal: Recorded back-to-back fifth place state finishes his junior and senior seasons...two-time PIAA Class AAA place winner.