By Jacob Gordon
This week’s Meet the Athlete features Charlie Maloy, a graduate student majoring in civil engineering. Hailing from Pocono Summit, PA, Maloy has been a key member of the Western New England University men’s wrestling team for the past four years. Now, he is entering his fifth season, competing in the 197 lb. weight class.
Heading into the 2025-2026 season, Maloy is ranked number one in the New England region and recently earned a national honorable mention recognition from d3wrestling.com in their first national ranking of the season. Over his Western New England University career, he has amassed 58 wins, placed first in the 197 lb. weight class at the Tonee Ellis Memorial Invite at Alvernia University, and took seventh place at the NCAA Division III Region I Championships. He was also named a 2025 NCAA Division III Men’s Scholar All-American, made the All-NEWA Honorable Mention Team, and is a four-time NEWA All-Academic Team selection.
Maloy’s wrestling journey began in third grade, when a friend convinced him to join the wrestling team so they could spend more time together. It was then that a new chapter of his life would begin. “It started as a way for me to hang out with my friends,” he explained, “and eventually that turned into my love for the sport.” What began as a casual activity soon developed into a lifelong passion. Charlie says one of the main reasons he has stuck with wrestling is because of the sport’s individual nature. “I like how it’s individual and how you don’t rely on anyone else,” he said. “I also enjoy the people involved in the sport, who have been very supportive.”
His dedication and love for wrestling have clearly paid off. Being recognized nationally by d3wrestling.com is a major milestone for any Division III athlete, and Maloy says the acknowledgement means a lot. “It feels good that all the work I’ve put in has paid off with national recognition,” he said. His success serves as a reflection of the years of effort he’s put in both on the mat and in the classroom.
Maloy also talked about his position as one of the veterans and leaders on the team. When asked to describe this year’s team, he chose one word: potential. “There are a lot of young guys on the team who I believe have the opportunity to make a name for themselves this year,” he said. His confidence in his teammates reflects the strong culture of growth and determination that defines Western New England University wrestling. This program’s recent success, including a regional champion last season and being ranked 6th in the region as a team, is proof of the team’s drive. It’s also benefited from the incredible support of the coaching staff, led by Mike Sugermeyer. With the amount of younger talent he has found, as Maloy talked about, Coach Sugermeyer is training these younger athletes to become regional or even national champions, as he did for Charlie Maloy when he first started.
When asked what his go-to cheat meal was, he didn’t hesitate, “A bacon cheeseburger with fries and a shake from Five Guys,” he said. After countless hours of training and competing, that well-earned meal sounds like the perfect reward for one of Western New England University’s hardest-working athletes.
