UNK Wrestling Has Twelve Named All-American Scholars

KEARNEY – Twelve members of the Nebraska-Kearney wrestling team have earned Division II Scholar All-American honors from National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA).

In order for a student-athlete to qualify, he must have a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale, with that benchmark at 3.25 for those who qualified for the 2023 NCAA Championships and a 3.00 for those who were All-Americans at the NCAA’s. Additionally, a student-athlete must have competed in four dates of competition.​

Senior Austin Eldredge (McPherson, Kan.) was one of seven National Champions to qualify this year. This is his first time on the squad as it is for seven other Lopers; true freshman Joseph Airola (Ward, Colo.) and redshirt freshmen Jake Boley (Colorado Springs), Daniel DeRosier (Bellevue), Kaden Hart (St Peters, Mo.), Crew Howard (Clarinda, Ia.), Hector Serratos (Wichita) and Dylan Vodicka (Garrison).

Next, 2023 All-American Billy Higgins (Omaha Skutt) is a repeat selection with 2023 national qualifier Nick James (Kearney) and Alec Segarra (Hill City, Kan.) earning their third honors and Teontae Wilson (Kearney) now a four-time honoree. Finally, UNK’s tally ranked only behind West Liberty, W.V. (16) and Indianapolis (15) with Mary, N.D.) also having 12.

Maryville (Mo.) led a list of 20 schools in the Scholar All-American team race. The Saints had a 3.487 GPA and rank number one for the fifth time in six years.