(Editor’s note: National Wrestling Coaches Association release)
MANHEIM, Pa. – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) is proud to announce this year’s NAIA Men’s Scholar all-American award winners for the team and individual divisions. This year’s top team is Montana State University-Northern.
The Lights of Havre, Montana edged out last year’s champions, Bethany College (KS) by the slightest of margins with a team GPA of 3.362. Bethany College finished with a 3.338 GPA. MSU-Northern placed four wrestlers on the individual Scholar all-American team, including two who finished in top three and one being a national finalist. The squad also finished their season with a 10th place finish at the NAIA National Championships.
Andrew Bartel, Isaac Bartel, Chase Short and Matt Weber represented the Lights as 2019 NWCA NAIA Scholar all-Americans. Andrew Bartel and Weber finished their senior seasons this winter, while Isaac Bartel and Short were both sophomores this season.
The individual team included 54 Scholar all-Americans, led by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s six wrestlers followed by Grand View University’s five, while four other institutions claimed four of their own. Twenty-two NAIA all-Americans received recognition, six of whom were finalists, with four finishing atop the podium as national champions.
“NAIA institutions continue to show that they are a great place for wrestlers to not only continue competing at the collegiate level, but also a terrific place for them to achieve academic excellence on their way to earning their college degrees,” said Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director. “We want to congratulate these individuals and teams on their academic success and thank the colleges and universities for their dedication to and support of their student-athletes.”
Former Sidney High School four-time state champion Gresh Jones, who completed his junior season at Dickinson State, and former Great Falls High and current University of Providence wrestler Casey Dobson, were also recognized on the NWCA NAIA Scholar all-American team.
To view the complete list of NWCA NAIA Scholar all-Americans, please click here. The top 15 NWCA NAIA Scholar all-American teams can be found by clicking here.
