Masanosuke Ono

Masanosuke Ono
Personal information
Native name
小野正之助
Born10 February 2004 (2004-02-10) (age 22)
Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, Japan
Height160 cm (5 ft 3 in)
Sport
Country Japan
SportWrestling
Weight class
61 kg
Event
Freestyle
ClubNittany Lion Wrestling Club
Coached byCael Sanderson
Yuka Takahashi (formerly)
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing  Japan
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2024 Tirana61 kg
Asian Championships
Bronze medal – third place2024 Bishkek65 kg
Grand Prix
Gold medal – first place2024 Antalya61 kg
Japan National Championships
Gold medal – first place2024 Tokyo61 kg
Silver medal – second place2023 Tokyo65 kg
U20 World Championships
Gold medal – first place2024 Pontevedra61 kg

Masanosuke Ono (小野正之助, Masanosuke Ono; born 10 February 2004) is a Japanese freestyle wrestler who competes in the 61 kilogram class.[1] In 2024, Ono became the World Champion, the Japan National champion and the U20 World champion.[2]

Early life

Ono was born in Shimano Prefecture, where he started wrestling at three years old.[3] He attended Tosu Technical High School.[4] During his teenage years, he won the Japan National tournament in different age-groups multiple times.[1]

Career

2022–2023

In June 2022, Ono placed eleventh at the Japan National Championships, making his senior level debut.[5] In December 2023, he went up to 65 kilograms and earned a silver medal at the tournament, only losing in the finals to eventual Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka.[6]

2024

In March, Ono made his international debut at the Yasar Dogu International, earning the championship at 61 kilograms.[7] In April, he earned a bronze medal at the Asian Championships, up at 65 kilograms.[8] In May, Ono became the Japanese National champion at 61 kilograms, earning the right to compete at the World Championships in October.[9]

After making the U20 team earlier in the year, Ono became the U20 World champion at 61 kilograms in September, notably defeating Marcus Blaze in the semifinals.[2]

In October, Ono competed at the World Championships in Albania, becoming the gold medalist at 20 years old.[10] Outscoring his opposition 55–2, he notably defeated Olympic champion Zaur Uguev from Russia, reigning World champion Vito Arujau from the United States, and U23 World finalist Ahmet Duman from Turkey on his way to first World title.[11]

2025

On February 26, Ono dropped down to 59.5 kilograms and defeated Olympic silver medalist Spencer Lee from the United States on points, in the main event of FloWrestling: Night in America.[12]

Pennsylvania State University

2025–2026

After months of training in the United States with the Pennsylvania State wrestling team, it was announced on March 24 that Ono had committed to the Nittany Lions and would look to debut in folkstyle.[13] As he had transferred from Yamanashi Gakuin University in Japan, he was granted two years of NCAA eligibility, though would go on to redshirt during the 2025–2026 season.[14]

Ono had registered to compete at 57 kilograms for November's Bill Farrell Memorial International in the United States, though would later withdraw a few days before the event.[15] Then, he registered at the same weight class for the Emperor's Cup in Japan, set to take place in December, though would later withdraw once again, now due to kidney issues.[16]

2026–2027

In July 2026, Ono returned to freestyle action at the Corporate All-Japan Championships, which took place in Nagoya, Japan. He racked up four technical falls to claim the gold medal without surrendering a point.[17] He is set to compete at RAF 12 in August, facing US Open and NCAA finalist Ben Davino.[18]

Freestyle record


References

  1. 1 2 "小野正之助 | JWF WRESTLERS DATABASE : 日本レスリング協会 選手＆大会データベース". db.japan-wrestling.jp. Archived from the original on 2023-12-06. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  2. 1 2 "Lockett, Barr, Kueter earn silver, Blaze gets bronze, U.S. wins men's freestyle team title at U20 World Championships". www.themat.com. 2024-09-08. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  3. ↑ "U20 Worlds: Iran wins golds, U.S. team title". uww.org. 2024-09-08. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  4. ↑ "レスリングU20世界選手権 男子フリースタイル61キロ級の小野正之助（鳥栖工高出身）が優勝 | スポーツ | 佐賀県のニュース". 佐賀新聞 (in Japanese). 2024-10-02. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  5. ↑ "2022年全日本選抜選手権（男子フリースタイル） | JWF WRESTLERS DATABASE : 日本レスリング協会 選手＆大会データベース". db.japan-wrestling.jp. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  6. ↑ "2023年全日本選手権（男子フリースタイル） | JWF WRESTLERS DATABASE : 日本レスリング協会 選手＆大会データベース". db.japan-wrestling.jp. Archived from the original on 2024-10-07. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  7. ↑ "Larkin, Hillger win bouts on final day of men's freestyle at Yasar Dogu in Turkey". www.themat.com. 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  8. ↑ "Iran freestyle team win 2024 Asian Wrestling Championships". Tehran Times. 2024-04-12. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  9. ↑ "2024年全日本選抜選手権（男子フリースタイル） | JWF WRESTLERS DATABASE : 日本レスリング協会 選手＆大会データベース". db.japan-wrestling.jp. Archived from the original on 2024-07-18. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  10. ↑ "Arujau falls in men's freestyle semifinals, Taylor pulled into repechage at World Championships". www.themat.com. 2024-10-30. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
  11. ↑ "World Championships: Sadulaev caps golden return with 92kg title". uww.org. 2024-11-01. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
  12. ↑ "Ono edges Lee in FloWrestling Night In America main event". www.thegazette.com. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  13. ↑ PennLive, Jim Carlson | Special to (2025-03-24). "Penn State wrestling receives commitment from Japan world champion Masanosuke Ono". pennlive. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  14. ↑ "World Champion Ono Commits to Penn State". InterMat. 2025-03-24. Retrieved 2026-06-04.
  15. ↑ "Over 260 athletes registered for 2025 Bill Farrell Memorial International". www.themat.com. 2025-10-31. Retrieved 2026-06-04.
  16. ↑ "Olympic champ Fumita joins Ono as late withdrawal from Emperor's Cup". uww.org. 2025-12-17. Retrieved 2026-06-04.
  17. ↑ "レスリング・スピリッツ : WRESTLING SPIRITS : 日本で唯一のレスリング専門Webメディア新旧世界チャンピオンが優勝…2026年全日本社会人選手権・第1日（男子フリースタイル） |" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-07-13.
  18. ↑ "Penn State's Masanosuke Ono to Make Intriguing Real American Freestyle Debut". Penn State Nittany Lions On SI. 2026-07-03. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
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