UVU Ranks Sixth in Nation on the NWCA D-I All-Academic Team

(June 4, 2009) MANHEIM, Pa. — Utah Valley University’s wrestling team ranked sixth in the nation on the Division I All-Academic Top 30 Team as it finished with a 3.1623 combined GPA and junior Jeffrey Newby (141 lbs.) led the way for the Wolverines individually as he ranked fourth in the country with a 3.83 GPA as announced by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) for the 2008-09 season.

Utah Valley led all schools with four wrestlers earning All-Academic accolades followed by The United State Military Academy (ARMY), Old Dominion University, and Northwestern University with three individuals named to the All-Academic Team.

“Our guys should be really proud of themselves,” UVU head wrestling coach Greg Williams said. “Our goal as a team has been to get over a 3.0 (GPA) and I think our guys really took that to heart and worked very hard in the classroom. They bought into the fact that they are not just here to wrestle; they are also here to get an education.”

Sitting at the top of the All-Academic Team is NCAA Qualifier Nicholas Amuchastegui of Stanford University who holds a 3.928 in Mechanical Engineering. Rounding out the top five individuals were Liberty’s Christian Smith (3.92), Tucker Lane (3.919) of Nebraska, Jeffrey Newby (3.83) of Utah Valley, and Jarrod King (3.78) of Edinboro University.

Also making the All-Academic Individual Team from UVU were sophomore’s Flint Ray (133 lbs.) who had a 3.69 GPA, Justin Morrill (149 lbs.) who finished right behind with a 3.62 GPA, and Casen Eldredge (184 lbs.) who posted a 3.45 GPA.

“All four of these guys work really, really hard,” Williams said.  “To be able to stay that focused in the classroom after doing all of the things that we ask of them on the mat, it is an honor for all four of these guys. Jeff (Newby) is just a outstanding person and a great leader and anybody who holds a 3.83 GPA and works as hard as Jeff does is a phenomenal student as well.”

The 2008-09 All-Academic individual team is highlighted by a total of 51 NCAA Qualifiers, 17 NCAA All-Americans, 8 NCAA Finalist and 5 NCAA Champions. In total 73 individuals representing 45 schools are being honored this year on the All-Academic Team.

Individually, wrestlers must have at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA, been an NCAA qualifier or won 60 percent of his total schedule – and must have competed in at least 60 percent of said schedule. The other way to qualify for the All-Academic team is have a 3.0 cumulative and been an NCAA All-American.

“The student-athletes on this All-Academic Team exemplify what we are looking for in the sport of wrestling. You see teams and individuals from the largest institutions that sponsor wrestling to the smaller colleges listed. There is diversity here that you do not always get to see when it comes to compiling these type of teams,” said Jim Beichner NWCA President.

American University Eagles led the Division I teams with GPA of 3.2839 after tying with Duke University in 2008. American was closely followed by Harvard University which had their highest team finish under head coach Jay Weiss. Rounding out the top six teams are Stanford University, Duke University, Davidson College and Utah Valley University finishing in sixth.

For teams to be eligible for consideration, the team GPA is comprised of 12 student athletes, including the 10 wrestlers that were the entries in the NCAA tournament conference qualifier. If teams had less than 10 entries for their respective qualifier, they may fill those spots with wrestlers that competed in at least one varsity dual during the season.