Wheeling, W. Va. - When Wheeling University Wrestling alum Max Lacey was recruited, the Wheeling wrestling program was still in its infancy. He and 24 other young men made up the first Wheeling Wrestling team in 2013-14 and helped build the program to one of the top contending programs in the Mountain East Conference. However, after leaving Wheeling after the 2015-2016 season, Lacey's wrestling career continued as he earned dual citizenship and joined the Costa Rica National Wrestling team. 

He has been competing with the Costa Rica National team over the past three seasons and most recently competed in the 2021 Senior World Championships, where he competed in the 97-kilogram weight class. He is a well-decorated member of the team, winning a bronze medal at the 2021 Pam-American Championships and he also placed at the 2019 Pan Am Championship in Buenos Aires. Lacey was a strong competitor in his days here in Wheeling and has carried that competitive fire with him as he takes on the national stage. 

While Lacey was at Wheeling, he ranked top 10 in several categories in program history including career wins, career decisions, career pinfalls, and career dual matches wrestled. During his four-year career, he recorded two 20-win seasons, during his junior and senior years, and was ranked #4 in the region in the 285-pound weight class during his senior season. After his wrestling career was over, Lacey stayed on as an assistant in 2018 & 2019 under former head coach Danny Irwin and helped lead the team to be runners-up at the NCAA Division II National Championships. 

Currently, Lacey serves as an assistant wrestling coach at West Liberty university and still is an active member of the Costa Rica National team. He helped lead the Hilltoppers to a third-place finish at the 2022 NCAA Division II National Championships as he continues to use his experience to help the next generation of wrestlers. 

The 2022-2023 athletic season is just 41 days away as this generation of Wheeling University student-athletes look to write their story in Cardinal's history.