BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Fairmont State Wrestling Head Coach Gennaro Bonaventura has been selected as the Mountain East Conference Wrestling Co-Coach of the Year, the conference revealed on Wednesday (April 5).
 
"It is a tremendous honor to be selected as the MEC Co-Coach of the Year," remarked Bonaventura. "I would like to thank the coaches who voted for me. Our league is filled with great coaches and it motivates me every day to be the best coach I can be."
 
Bonaventura led the Falcons to 13 dual meets in his first season in charge of the program during the 2022-23 season after Fairmont State finished the 2021-22 season with a 2-8 record. The Falcons earned the most dual wins in a single season and posted the highest win percentage since the program was reinstated in 2019. Under Bonaventura's guidance, Fairmont State finished third at the MEC Wrestling Championships, which was the highest finish in program history. Nine of Bonaventura's wrestlers placed in the event, and four of his wrestlers (Nate Pelesky, Caleb Everhart, Colton Stoneking and Kolton Parsons) earned All-MEC accolades for their performances at the conference tournament.
 
Additionally, Bonaventura mentored Austin Gibson, who qualified for the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championships after winning the 184-pound third-place match at the Super Regional I Tournament. Gibson was the first Fairmont State wrestler to compete at the national tournament since Lukas Martin's national title run in 2021.
 
"This is a team award," said Bonaventura. "Our wrestlers bought into my vision from day one and worked hard all year. I want to thank Fairmont State University for giving me this opportunity to coach this team. I also want to thank my assistant coach John Ferens for helping me build this program. We are excited to continue to grow this offseason and take the Fairmont State wrestling program to new heights."
 
Glenville State's Dylan Cottrell was also voted as MEC Coach of the Year with Bonaventura. Ty McGeary of West Liberty and Gavin Quiocho of Glenville State were named co-winners of MEC Wrestler of the Year. West Liberty's Khyvon Grace was picked for MEC Freshman of the Year to round out the conference wrestling awards.