Wrestling team and five individuals receive academic honors from the NWCA
Prior to the start of the 2017 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships, the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) presented its annual academic awards. For the 18th time in school history, including the sixth straight year, the Olivet College wrestling team has finished in the top 15 of the National Academic Championship.
OLIVET, Mich. – Prior to the start of the 2017 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships, the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) presented its annual academic awards. For the 18th time in school history, including the sixth straight year, the Olivet College wrestling team has finished in the top 15 of the National Academic Championship.
The 2016-17 team placed ninth with a 3.30 grade point average (GPA) to earn the Scholar Team Award. To determine the GPA, the head coach submits the average cumulative GPA for up to 14 wrestlers on his squad. The 14 wrestlers are the 10 wrestlers who competed at the NCAA Regional qualifying tournament and the four wrestlers with the highest cumulative GPA who did not compete at the regional and participated in at least half of the scheduled competitions during the season.
Top 10 Teams
1. Case Western (Ohio) 3.48
2. Augsburg (Minn.) 3.46
3. Johns Hopkins (Md.) 3.45
4. St. Johns (Minn.) 3.40
5. Chicago (Ill.) 3.39
6. New York Univ. 3.37
T7. Williams (Mass.) 3.31
T7. Trinity (Conn.) 3.31
9. OLIVET 3.30
10. Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.) 3.29
In addition, juniors Jared Brickley and Davon Jackson, and seniors Curtis Blackwell, Jesse Judge and Austin Kelley received the Individual Scholar All-American awards. Brickley and Kelley earned the honor for a second straight year.
To be eligible for this honor, the student-athlete must have a 3.20 or higher GPA and meet one of three criteria: qualify for the NCAA Championships, place in top six at the NCAA qualifier, or win more than 66 percent of matches and wrestle in 50 percent of scheduled dates.