MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Former Wesleyan standout Jefferson Ajayi '13 will be inducted into the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2023. The announcement was made by Dylan Foley, Vice President of the NEWA, on Tuesday morning. Ajayi joins an induction class that includes five inductees, four wrestlers (Ajayi, Williams' Corey Paulish, Bridgewater State's Frank Cammisa, and Brandon Gauthier of Rhode Island College) and one head coach (Jay Jones of RIC).
 
Armed with a career 106-31 record, Ajayi graduated as one of the top Cardinal wrestlers in recent memory. A three-year starter, Ajayi was a two-time NEWA finalist at 184 pounds while he won the New England 184-lb title as a junior in 2012. He was the runner-up in the first-ever Northeast Region finals in 2013.
 
On the national stage, Ajayi was a two-time NCAA qualifier, competing at nationals in 2012 and 2013. He placed seventh at 184 in the 2012 NCAA Championships held in Wisconsin, earning All-American honors for the first time in his career. As a senior, Ajayi put together his best win-loss season of his career, going 35-9 to reach the 100-career win mark. He graduated from Wesleyan in 2013 with a bachelor's degree as a double major in biology and environmental studies.
 
The induction ceremony will take place before the NEWA Dual Meet Championship Finals on Sunday, January 23 at Springfield College.