American University Wrestling Earns Nation-Best Five All-Academic Team Selectio
American University Wrestling Earns Nation-Best Five All-Academic Team Selectio
American University Wrestling Earns
Nation-Best Five All-Academic Team Selections; Mitchell Posts Second-Best
GPA
The American University wrestling team recorded five NWCA All-Academic Team honorees, tied for the most in Division I wrestling, the organization announced Tuesday. Additionally, junior Daniel Mitchell's 3.95 cumulative grade-point average is good for the second-highest in the country.
This marks the second straight season that the Eagles have earned the most All-Academic Team selections in the country as their five selections are tied with Nebraska. Last season, American registered a NWCA-record six All-Academic Team picks. AU is the only team to earn NWCA All-Academic Team honors and finish in the top-30 at the NCAA Championships each of the last seven years. In total, American has had 25 individuals honored as All-Academic Team selections since 2005.
As a team, the Eagles placed third in the country with a 3.3278 GPA. Nebraska led the country with a 3.4623 mark while Harvard was second with a 3.3766 GPA. This is the fifth straight season that American has finished in the top-three nationwide in team GPA, which included first-place results in both 2008 and 2009.
"Our program's tradition of academic excellence is something we take very seriously at American," remarked Head Coach Teague Moore. "These positive results are a testament to the commitment and dedication of our student-athletes both in the classroom and on the mat. Our guys work hard in all facets of their lives and the national results are impressive."
Mitchell, the NCAA's Elite 89 award winner in Division I wrestling for the highest GPA of a NCAA Championships participant, led the way for American with his second-place finish amongst individuals. The Business Administration major in the Kogod School of Business has maintained a 3.95 cumulative GPA and is now a two-time All-Academic Team honoree. The Broomfield, Colo., native has qualified for the NCAA Championships in each of his three seasons at American at 197 lbs., and has posted a 60-28 record with 15 falls and 11 major decisions.
Joining Mitchell on the All-Academic Team for the second straight season are Ryan Flores and Matt Mariacher. On the mat, Flores is a two-time All-American, a three-time conference champion, and the 2011 national runner-up at heavyweight. Hailing from Clovis, Calif., he posted a 47-9 record in his two seasons at American with 27 falls, which is good for the second-most in program history. The Psychology major in the College of Arts and Sciences registered the third-highest GPA in the country in 2011.
Mariacher was a two-time EIWA Champion at 141 lbs. and qualified for the NCAA Championships in each of the last two seasons. He completed his AU career with a 93-43 record, and his 93 victories are seventh-most in AU history. His 19 career major decisions are also good for the second-most in program history. The Buffalo, N.Y., native will earn his Master's degree in Public Communication from the School of Communication this summer.
Classmate Thomas Williams picks up his first All-Academic Team honor after finishing with a 72-54 career record as an Eagle at 125 lbs., which included two trips to the EIWA podium. Hailing from San Dimas, Calif., he posted winning record in each of his four campaigns at 125 lbs., including a 15-13 mark this season. Williams will graduate with a degree in International Studies from the School of International Service.
Junior Kevin Tao is American's final honoree, recording his first-career All-Academic Team recognition. The Kent, Wash., native qualified for his first NCAA Championship this season after a second-place effort at the EIWA Championships at 149 lbs. In his two seasons at AU, the Health Promotion major in the College of Arts and Sciences is 37-31 with 11 major decisions.
The NWCA's team rankings are based on the average GPA of 12 student-athletes from each team, including the 10 who competed at their conference qualifier. For individuals to earn All-Academic Team status, they must have at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA, been an NCAA qualifier or won 60 percent of his total schedule, or been an NCAA All-American with at least a 3.0 GPA.
Link to release on AUeagles.com: AU Wrestling
Nancy Yasharoff
Associate AD - Communications
American University Athletics
202-531-0162
The American University wrestling team recorded five NWCA All-Academic Team honorees, tied for the most in Division I wrestling, the organization announced Tuesday. Additionally, junior Daniel Mitchell's 3.95 cumulative grade-point average is good for the second-highest in the country.
This marks the second straight season that the Eagles have earned the most All-Academic Team selections in the country as their five selections are tied with Nebraska. Last season, American registered a NWCA-record six All-Academic Team picks. AU is the only team to earn NWCA All-Academic Team honors and finish in the top-30 at the NCAA Championships each of the last seven years. In total, American has had 25 individuals honored as All-Academic Team selections since 2005.
As a team, the Eagles placed third in the country with a 3.3278 GPA. Nebraska led the country with a 3.4623 mark while Harvard was second with a 3.3766 GPA. This is the fifth straight season that American has finished in the top-three nationwide in team GPA, which included first-place results in both 2008 and 2009.
"Our program's tradition of academic excellence is something we take very seriously at American," remarked Head Coach Teague Moore. "These positive results are a testament to the commitment and dedication of our student-athletes both in the classroom and on the mat. Our guys work hard in all facets of their lives and the national results are impressive."
Mitchell, the NCAA's Elite 89 award winner in Division I wrestling for the highest GPA of a NCAA Championships participant, led the way for American with his second-place finish amongst individuals. The Business Administration major in the Kogod School of Business has maintained a 3.95 cumulative GPA and is now a two-time All-Academic Team honoree. The Broomfield, Colo., native has qualified for the NCAA Championships in each of his three seasons at American at 197 lbs., and has posted a 60-28 record with 15 falls and 11 major decisions.
Joining Mitchell on the All-Academic Team for the second straight season are Ryan Flores and Matt Mariacher. On the mat, Flores is a two-time All-American, a three-time conference champion, and the 2011 national runner-up at heavyweight. Hailing from Clovis, Calif., he posted a 47-9 record in his two seasons at American with 27 falls, which is good for the second-most in program history. The Psychology major in the College of Arts and Sciences registered the third-highest GPA in the country in 2011.
Mariacher was a two-time EIWA Champion at 141 lbs. and qualified for the NCAA Championships in each of the last two seasons. He completed his AU career with a 93-43 record, and his 93 victories are seventh-most in AU history. His 19 career major decisions are also good for the second-most in program history. The Buffalo, N.Y., native will earn his Master's degree in Public Communication from the School of Communication this summer.
Classmate Thomas Williams picks up his first All-Academic Team honor after finishing with a 72-54 career record as an Eagle at 125 lbs., which included two trips to the EIWA podium. Hailing from San Dimas, Calif., he posted winning record in each of his four campaigns at 125 lbs., including a 15-13 mark this season. Williams will graduate with a degree in International Studies from the School of International Service.
Junior Kevin Tao is American's final honoree, recording his first-career All-Academic Team recognition. The Kent, Wash., native qualified for his first NCAA Championship this season after a second-place effort at the EIWA Championships at 149 lbs. In his two seasons at AU, the Health Promotion major in the College of Arts and Sciences is 37-31 with 11 major decisions.
The NWCA's team rankings are based on the average GPA of 12 student-athletes from each team, including the 10 who competed at their conference qualifier. For individuals to earn All-Academic Team status, they must have at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA, been an NCAA qualifier or won 60 percent of his total schedule, or been an NCAA All-American with at least a 3.0 GPA.
Link to release on AUeagles.com: AU Wrestling
Nancy Yasharoff
Associate AD - Communications
American University Athletics
202-531-0162