The 2018 FloWrestling NCAA Awards
The 2018 FloWrestling NCAA Awards
Behold, back for the first time, the FloWrestling NCAA Awards!
They're back, for the first time ever, the annual FloWrestling NCAA Awards!
The season was replete with amazing storylines, as evidenced but these insane brackets and these tumultuous rankings. Now that the FloWrestling brain trust has had a moment to reflect on the season, we've cobbled together the following awards, in recognition of these NCAA DI outstanding performances in the fields of excellence!
MVW (Most Valuable Wrestler)
Bo Nickal (Penn State)
We kick off our 2018 Award Ceremony with the most coveted honor in collegiate sports, the Most Valuable Wrestler award. This season produced many great contenders. Spencer Lee scored the most team points at NCAAs last month in Cleveland, Zain Retherford won his second consecutive Hodge, Kyle Snyder is Captain America, and Jason Nolf is a dang warlock. But it was Bo Nickal who clinched the team victory for Penn State with a pin over Myles Martin and whose cinematic leap into his coach Cael Sanderson's arms that clinched him the MVW trophy.
Honorable Mention
Zain Retherford (Penn State)
Kyle Snyder (Ohio State)
Jason Nolf (Penn State)
Spencer Lee (Iowa)
Comeback Wrestler of the Year
Jason Tsirtsis (Arizona State)
This very real award that was invented during the post-NCAA rankings explanations goes to Jason Tsirtsis, who overcame unspeakable heartache when he lost both his sister and best friend in tragic accidents in 2015. He then ran into academic trouble at Northwestern that necessitated a transfer if he wanted to use his final year of eligibility. After all the NCAA paperwork finally came through, he was able to make his triumphant return to the All-American podium at Arizona State. A truly inspiring performance by Jason Tsirtsis.
Honorable Mention
Chance Marsteller (Lock Haven)
Kyle Conel (Kent State)
Youngest Champion Award, Sponsored By Fortnite
Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell)
Oldest Champion Award, Sponsored By Metamucil
Michael Macchiavello (NC State) (or maybe Zain Retherford, I couldn't find Macch's actual birthdate).
Most Pitiless, Merciless, And Remorseless Slaughtering Machine Award
Zain Retherford (Penn State)
It's not called the Zain Train of Pain because it's a pleasant experience for his opponents.
The Doug Vollaro Memorial 'Are They Really Still Wrestling?' Award
Conan Jennings (Northwestern) vs Matt Voss (George Mason)
The final match of Thursday evening at NCAAs went to tiebreakers because of course it did.
The Blood-Round Monkey Removal Award
Domenic Abounader (Michigan)
Dom was a four-time qualifier and two time round of 12 finisher before his fifth-place senior season.
Most Butt Pats Award, Sponsored By Gold Bond
Chris Bono & Jon Reader (South Dakota State)
We counted 17 butt pats on senior David Kocer's All-American victory lap around the Quicken Loans Arena. Surely a record.
Raw emotion after earning All American status. Kocer gets over the hump.#GetJacked pic.twitter.com/M1RYLtTfTE
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) March 17, 2018
The FloWrestling Reverse Curse Award
Spencer Lee (Iowa)
The FloWrestling Real Curse Award
Austin DeSanto (Drexel)
The Cash Wilcke 'Making The Most Of It' Award
Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern)
Last year, Cash Wilcke gained an invite to the NCAAs after Jake Smith was a late injury scratch. Wilcke went on to make the most of his situation and finished in the round of 12, one match away from All-American status. This year Colin Valdiviez got to wrestle because Jason Renteria missed weight and then went on to win two matches at his first NCAA tournament. Way to take advantage of every opportunity, Colin!
The Mad Max Ultimate Road Warrior Award
Emery Parker (Illinois)
Parker dropped his first match to Chip Ness but then reeled off seven straight double-yous, included a revenge win over Ness, to storm through every round of the consolations and earn the third-place step on the podium.
The William R. Saylor Memorial Coach Of The Year Award
Scott Moore (Lock Haven)
Let it not be said that Willie does not put his money where his mouth is.
Keep doing great things @LockHavenWrstl . I know it's not much, but hopefully you can put it to good use. @scottymoorelhu pic.twitter.com/zsIwINHotL
— Willie Saylor (@WillieAtFLO) March 22, 2018
The Christian "CP" Pyles Dad Strength Award
Bo Jordan (Ohio State)
BoJo and CP both have two kids and a tremendous amount of dad strength, although Jordan probably has just a little bit more muscle than Pyles (we're assuming).
And Introducing The New Mayor Of Cleveland Award
Kyle Conel (Kent State)
This one should be self-explanatory by now.
And Also Introducing New Mayor of Tariqland, Ohio, Award
Tariq Wilson (NC State)
Another unseeded Ohio local had himself a tournament in Cleveland.
The Buffett Enjoyers Award, Sponsored By Golden Corral
Ethan Lizak, Mitch McKee, Tommy Thorn & Steven Bleise (Minnesota)
Coach Brandon Eggum said they're all bumping up, so let them eat!
Huge news from our program today! @BrandonEggum explains! Link to story from @PioneerPress!
— Minnesota Wrestling (@GopherWrestling) March 29, 2018
STORY: https://t.co/mmufQewlyo pic.twitter.com/2vgNDc4Di6
The 'Oh Yeah, We Probably Need To Also Give Kyle Snyder An Award' Award
Kyle Snyder (Ohio State)
The Champ!
The Round Of 12 Finisher But Still An All-American Twitterer Award
Ryan Preisch (Lehigh)
Give this man a follow!
Hmu if you want to get effed up pic.twitter.com/ULopn3WHG3
— Ryan M. Preisch (@PreischisRight) October 21, 2017
The Deja Vu Award For Repetitively Repeating Award
Vincenzo Joseph (Penn State)
Where have we seen this one before?
The Markus F. Bader Award For Best Hair
Bryce Meredith (Wyoming)
Dig that vest, too!
The Michael “Arthur” Malinconico Award For Excellence In The Field Of Hacky Sack
Team Iowa State
Hack it up, my dudes!
The Ryan "Mr." Holmes Award For Most Fire Kicks
Darian Cruz (Lehigh)
That's hot.
The Ryan “Arnold” Holmes Award For Most Shredded Pythons
Jacobe Smith (Oklahoma State)
We'll let those pipes speak for themselves.
The Steve "The K-Man" Bratke Award For Best West Virginian
Jared Haught (Virginia Tech)
The BWest Virginian.
The Danny Lobdell AKA "The Nomad Of Wrestling" Nomad Award
Eli Hale (Central Oklahoma)
Oklahoma State senior transferred to Central Oklahoma after the first semester and then promptly won a DII national championship.
Central's Eli Hale was named MIAA Wrestler of the Year! Congratulations Eli!https://t.co/rf9UFHTzB2 pic.twitter.com/fdVcNKPW32
— UCO Bronchos (@UCOBronchos) March 16, 2018
Honorable Mention
Pat Downey (Have to at least mention the "Unattached Assassin" here.)
The Joe "Bucs" Kania Award For Bergen Catholic Wrestler Of The Year
Johnny Sebastian (Northwestern)
Who could say no to this guy?
The Andrew "Jaroslav" Spey Award For Most Successful At Embarrassing Their Incompetent School Administers And Causing Great Shame To Their School President Award
Sa’Derian Perry (Eastern Michigan)
Have you heard about these guys? These fools who are supposedly running things at Eastern Michigan? Sa'Derian Perry is the program's first All-American since the 1990s, and THEN the administrators announce they are shutting the program down? A competitive team in the MAC that is earning academic accolades as well? A disgraceful display of so-called leadership. The shameful EMU admins don't deserve to share a blurb with the likes of Sa'Derian.
The Billy Baldwin Best Bearcat Award
Frank Garcia (Binghamton)
That last one left a bad taste in my mouth. Let's end on a more light-hearted note.
Congratulations, Frank!
And congratulations to all our award winners and nominees. Your prize of 1,000 FloCrpytoCoins will be delivered to you shortly! Thanks for tuning in and see you in the fall!