2022-23: The 157-pounder ranked #25 in the NCAA Coaches poll led the Green & Gold in win percentage with a 24-5 overall record... The Plainview, N.Y. native made history as the first Patriots wrestler to earn a MAC Championship in the four-year history as members of the MAC... Pappas defeated NCAA Qualifier Ashton Eyler 3-1 in sudden victory in the MAC Championship final becoming the first conference champion since 2019, when Mason was a member of the Eastern Wrestling League....
NCAAs: Competing for the first time in the NCAA Tournament, Pappas entered as the No. 23 seed.... Battled with three-time NCAA Qualifier Kaden Gfeller before the Oklahoma State and two-time Big 12 Champion defeated the Patriot in SV-2 with a takedown in the first round... Earned a win against Ohio's Peyten Kellar in the consolation round... Won the team's Dan Wotring Outstanding Wrestler Award... NWCA Scholar All-America honor...2023 Wrestling Academic All MAC Team.
2021-22: Transfer from Edinboro.
EDINBORO:
2019-20
- Went 16-13 in his redshirt sophomore season, including a 10-10 record in dual matches.
- Placed 5th at the Navy Classic and won five matches in the tournament overall.
2018-19
Redshirted … competed five open tournaments at 157 lbs., finishing with a 17-4 record with a technical fall and 4 major decisions … finished first at the Michigan State Open (freshman/sophomore division) and the Storm Open … also captured second place at the Cleveland State Open and was third at the Findlay Open … tied for seventh at Ohio Intercollegiate Open (match not wrestled) … won all four of his matches at Michigan State Open, winning two by major decision.
2017-18
Served as the starter at 149 lbs. until late January before sitting out the rest of the season ... finished with an 11-8 record with a technical fall and 3 major decisions ... placed second at the PSAC Championships, reaching the finals with a 6-5 decision over Austin Shaw of Seton Hill and a 10-3 decision over Mercyhurst's Logan Gross before falling to top-seeded Ronnie Perry of Lock Haven, 10-0, in the finals ... took home third place in the Eastern Michigan Open freshman & sophomore division, going 3-1 ... defeated teammate Matthew Dowler in the third place match ... went 2-2 at the Las Vegas Invitational.
HIGH SCHOOL
A four-time New York state qualifier for head coach Mike Doria … was a three-time New York state finalist, winning the NYSPHSAA Division I state championship at 152 lbs. as a senior after finishing second as a freshman and sophomore … won a 7-3 decision over Matt Grippi of Fox Lane in the finals to cap a perfect 42-0 season last year … posted a 183-10 career record … was a three-time Section VIII champion, along with a five-time county qualifier champion, four-time county finalist, and two-time county champion … a five-time all-conference honoree and five-time all-county selection … competed at 132 lbs. as a junior, finishing second in the Section VIII Division I Championships and finishing with a 33-4 record … finished second at 106 lbs. as a freshman, and then second at 120 lbs. as a sophomore … lost both times to Hilton’s.Yanni Diakomihal … finished with a 41-4 record as a sophomore, finishing as the Nassau County champion and second at the Section VIII Championship … was 39-1 as a freshman, again winning Section VIII title … a two-time NHSCA All-American and two-time Super 32 All-American
PERSONAL
Born October 6, 1999 … Criminal Justice major … son of Andrea and Billy Pappas …has one sister (Elisa).
