MALVERN >> It’s not supposed to look as easy as Malvern Prep’s Jack Consiglio made it look in February.
The Friars’ junior scored bonus points in all seven of his postseason matches, winning the finals in both the Pennsylvania Independent Schools wrestling tournament and National Preps via fall.
Consiglio’s flurry of a finish came from a season’s worth of being refined, on top of years and years of cultivation.
On a team full of stars, Consiglio shone brightest, and for that he is the 2023 Daily Local News’ Wrestler of the Year.
Malvern Prep’s Jack Consiglio used a gauntlet of tough regular season tournaments to propel him to a dominant postseason. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
On his way to state and national prep titles, Consiglio (132 pounds) took fifth at the nationally-renowned Ironman and Powerade tournaments, as well as a runner-up finish at the Escape the Rock. He also went 4-0 in the Showcase Duals in New Orleans.
“It’s a long season for sure,” Consiglio said. “That four-run tournament, it’s a grind for sure. I’m not really talking to anybody else but the guys on the team. I’m very focused and I’m working on my school work of course, but it’s a grind.”
Malvern Prep’s Jack Consiglio finishes off Bethlehem Catholic’s Cael McIntyre in an 8-2 decision. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
Like many wrestlers, Consiglio’s introduction to the sport was as an outlet for an energetic five-year old. Consiglio’s spent his early years on the Methacton youth team, before making his way to Malvern in sixth grade.
It took him some time to find the starting lineup, but in January of his freshman season, Consiglio introduced himself with a title at Powerade at 106 pounds, beating former state champ, Branden Wentzel of Montoursville, eventual champion Louie Gill of Hickory and multiple-time state medalist Tyler Chappell of Seneca Valley. Consiglio won the National Prep Open later that season.
After placing second at prep states and nationals a year ago, Consligio took another leap this winter.
Malvern Prep’s Jack Consiglio gets his hand raised after pinning Wyoming Seminary’s Mike Trujillo in the prep state finals. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
“He’s an extremely hard worker and passionate,” Malvern Prep coach Nate Lautar said. “He’s an emotional wrestler and you get that out of him. He puts so much into it that you get a lot of emotion out.”
Consligio finished the season ranked No. 14 in the country, according to MatScouts, with a 41-5 record. All five of his losses were to top-15 wrestlers in the nation.
“Of course I want to end up on top, but when I go place fifth and have two good wins at a tournament, it’s like hey, it wasn’t my best showing but I proved to myself that I could win that tournament,” Consiglio said.
Malvern Prep’s Jack Consiglio cradles and pins Wyoming Seminary’s Mike Trujillo in the prep state finals. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
Lautar credits Consiglio’s mindset in finishing tournaments with wins after getting knocked off prior to the finals.
“That mental toughness, to be able to take a loss and be able to bounce back is important,” Lautar said. “You have people quitting after a loss and not wrestling back, but you have to learn to respond through hard matches and hard seasons.”
Last week Consiglio committed to wrestle at Stanford University after his senior year. He had his pick from many Ivy League and Patriot League schools, but Malvern’s sprawl will spread west.
Malvern Prep’s Jack Consiglio. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
There’s one more run for Consiglio. One more chance for him to become the program’s third three-time national champ and one more opportunity for Consiglio to navigate Malvern’s challenging schedule the way he’d prefer.
“My perfect season is winning every single tournament and being No. 1 in the nation,” Consiglio said. “There’s roadblocks in the way of that, whether you don’t perform as well or whatever it is, where you have to hone in as a wrestler and focus on mistakes. My goal is just to be the best possible wrestler I can be.”
Malvern Prep’s Jack Consiglio. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
