Posted
August 31, 2026
Domenic Abounader ’13 understands that elite achievement is rarely fueled by raw talent alone. For the Gates Mills native, success was forged through an early embrace of radical consistency and sacrifice. Raised by his parents, Michelle and Sam, who routinely upended their own comfort to support his athletic dreams—his father working late nights while his mother spearheaded cross-country tournament road trips—Abounader carried that same blueprint for grit to St. Edward High School, where he built a legendary legacy grounded in pure discipline.
On the wrestling mat, Abounader was dominant. A three-time individual state wrestling champion, he finished his spectacular senior season undefeated at 36-0, securing his spot as InterMat’s top-ranked 182-pound wrestler in the nation. He compiled an astonishing 135-8 career record while pushing the Eagles to multiple team state championships.
His favorite memory remains his first sophomore title. Bouncing back from a tough freshman finish, he remembers sprinting directly off the mat into the stands to see the proud smiles of his parents and late grandfather.
Beyond wrestling, the standout student-athlete earned All-Ohio football honors, helping anchor the historic 2010 squad during a flawless 15-0 season to capture the school’s first Division I state football championship.
Abounader took his grappling skills to the University of Michigan, captaining the Wolverines while securing a 2015 Big Ten championship and NCAA All-American status. He graduated in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in sociology and peaked globally that same year by claiming a spectacular silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games.
After three years of coaching wrestling at Cleveland State University, Abounader continues to share his passion for the sport with the next generation, guiding youth wrestlers through camps and lessons. He also co-owns Abo’s Grill, a family Italian restaurant, alongside his father and brother, Joe ’07. He resides in the Cleveland area with his wife of five years, Madi, and their daughters, Letty (4), Ella (2), and Aria (9 months).