BEREA, Ohio – Baldwin Wallace University senior All-American and Academic All-American men's wrestling 197-pounder Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg/Bishop Hartley) has been named the Yellow Jacket Men's Athlete of the Month for January.

To be considered for the monthly honor, a male student-athlete must have been nominated for at least one Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) weekly award in his or her respective sport. From the pool of nominees, members of the Athletic Communications staff, together with student assistants from the department's social media team, select the monthly winner.

Petrella, who is ranked No. 1 nationally, earns the January accolade after being named the OAC Men's Wrestler of the Week on two occasions to kick off the 2026 calendar.  He was men's wrestler of the week on January 19 and January 26.

During January, Petrella posted an impressive record of 12-0 with seven pins, three technical falls and one major decision.  He captured the Tom Jarman Spartan Mat Classic 197-pound Title on January 17.

This season, Petrella is 15-0 with eight pins, four technical falls and two major decisions.
 
In three seasons at BW, Petrella has a record of 58-8 with 20 pins, 19 technical falls and four major decisions.
 
Off the mat, he is a two-time Academic All-OAC honoree, 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-American, 2025 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-American, 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection, Dean's List student, Jacket Scholar and a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society.

The No. 25 nationally ranked Yellow Jackets are back in action on Friday, February 6 when they host a non-conference match against crosstown rival John Carroll University in the Ursprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center at 7 p.m.

BW hosts the 39th John Summa Invitational and Seniors' Day on Saturday, February 7 inside the Lou Higgins Center Fieldhouse at 10 a.m.