Mason McDaniel | www.siuecougars.com
Mason McDaniel | www.siuecougars.com
Mason McDaniel, a redshirt freshman wrestler from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville claimed a gold medal for the USA at the Junior Pan Am Wrestling Championships in Lima, Peru.
He took first place in the 74-kilogram weight class in the freestyle competition. On his way to the gold, McDaniel went 4-0, with three of his wins coming via pinfall. In the gold medal match, he took on Canadian Johnathon Michaelis. McDaniel won the gold medal match by a 10-0 tech fall.
Wrestling coach Jeremy Spates said in a press release that McDaniel turned in a great performance in Peru and said he believes this win will help McDaniel progress and improve as a wrestler.
McDaniel is an exciting prospect for SIUE. While in high school he racked up 103 wins and was his high school’s team captain for three years.