Local Hero Sean Malenfant Makes History as First NCAA Wrestling All-American from Alfred State

Alfred State junior, Sean Malenfant, became the first wrestling All-American of the NCAA era. He secured this title at the 2024 NCAA Division III National Championships, finishing fifth in the 184 lb. bracket with a 4-2 record. Malenfant's path to All-American began with a 5-0 win over Gavin Layman, making him the first Pioneer to win a match at Nationals.

Despite a 7-6 loss in the quarterfinals, Malenfant recovered by defeating Trent Furman in 6:15, earning his All-American title. He won a 4-2 match against Jack Ryan on Saturday, but lost 7-2 in the consolation semifinals.

In the 5th place match, Malenfant concluded his season with a 10-1 win over Dylan Wellbaum. His season record was 36-4.

Zach Levey, another Pioneer competitor, had a commendable performance. He competed in the 133 lb. bracket, ending with a 1-2 record. Despite a 9-8 loss in the first match, Levey won against Danny Haws in 3:59. However, he lost in overtime, finishing his junior season with a 30-5 record.

The Pioneers team ranked 27th with 14.5 points at the National Championships, where 66 teams participated. This result is a significant achievement for Alfred State wrestling.

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