TexasWrestling
Walsh Ironman Champ. That has a good sound to it.
To make even better, Melissa’s Angelo Ferrari became a 3x Walsh Ironman Champ; a Texas record.
In a stunning display of skill and tenacity, Angelo Ferrari etched his name into the history of Texas high school wrestling lore, clinching his third Walsh Ironman individual championship.
The 2023 Ironman Wrestling Tournament at Walsh Jesuit High School, a battleground for the nation’s elite grapplers, witnessed Ferrari’s ascent to a rarefied echelon, marking him as a three-time Ironman champion.
The finals were nothing short of electrifying, with Ferrari facing off against Joe Sealey of Wyoming Seminary (PA), a highly-touted Penn State wrestling commit. This clash of titans, eagerly anticipated as the highlight of the Ironman Wrestling Tournament finals, saw Ferrari, an Iowa commit, overcoming Sealey in a nail-biting ultimate-tie-breaker contest. The atmosphere in the Walsh Jesuit High School gym was electric, with every spectator perched on the edge of their seats, witnessing a wrestling masterclass.
165 – #1 (170) Angelo Ferrari (Melissa) 6-0 won in the ultimate tie breaker over #1 (160) Joe Sealey (Wyoming Seminary (PA)) 5-1 (UTB 2-2)
The rivalry between Ferrari and Sealey is steeped in history, tracing back to their encounter at 2022’s Who’s Number One, where Ferrari triumphed with a major decision. This latest encounter, however, was a different beast. Sealey’s strategic adjustments made for a low-scoring but high-octane bout, with every point fiercely contested.
The match’s climax came in a tense 30-second period where any score from Sealey would have tipped the scales in his favor. Yet, in a display of sheer resilience, Ferrari maintained control, exhibiting gritty determination to secure the win and etch his name in the history books as a three-time Ironman champion.
Ferrari’s journey to this triumphant moment is a testament to his unwavering dedication and skill. His first Ironman title in 2021 at 157 lbs was a harbinger of the dominance to follow, as he bested Logan Ours, now a seasoned wrestler at Wyoming. The following year, he clinched the title by defeating Lorenzo Norman from Blair Academy, who recently made waves at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational by defeating NCAA champion Shane Griffith.
Ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2024 class by FloWrestling and No. 5 by MatScouts, Ferrari’s credentials are impeccable. Not only is he a two-time champion at the Walsh Ironman and a victor at FloWrestling’s Who’s Number One event, but he also boasts impressive performances at the Super 32 Challenge and Cadet world team trials.
Ferrari’s state championship accolades span multiple regions – from Oklahoma in 2022 to Texas in 2023 – further underscoring his versatility and dominance in the sport. His latest conquest at the Texas 5A state title at 175 pounds for Melissa High School cements his status as a force to be reckoned with in the world of high school wrestling. As he continues to dominate the mats, the wrestling community watches with bated breath, witnessing the rise of a legend in the making.
