LARAMIE, Wyo.– Following the recent completion of the 2009-10 school year, the Western Wrestling Conference has announced its All-Academic Team and Coaches’ Honor Roll for the past season. This year’s academic awards honor 56 student-athletes from the seven conference schools for their work in the classroom.
The All-Academic team features 20 grapplers who balanced school work and time on the wrestling mat to meet the fourth-year league’s highest academic standards. South Dakota State led all conference teams with five wrestlers on the list. In the top two spots, North Dakota State’s Tyler Johnson boasts a perfect 4.00 GPA in biology (pre-dental) and the Jackrabbits’ Aaron Pickrel has a 3.90 GPA in pre-medicine.
36 additional student-athletes were named to the Coaches’ Honor Roll for their dedication to academics. The Air Force Academy had the most student-athletes on the two combined teams with 16.
The 2009-10 total of 56 is a slight increase over last season when 53 wrestlers were placed on the lists.
To qualify for the All-Academic team, student-athletes had to secure a minimum 3.20 cumulative grade point average, be a starter or key reserve and be a sophomore or higher in academic standing. The Coaches’ Honor Roll recognizes student-athletes who have maintained a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
The Western Wrestling Conference is comprised of seven schools including the Air Force Academy, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Utah Valley and Wyoming.
2009-10 Western Wrestling Conference All-Academic Team
Cole Dallaserra (Wyoming), 149, Jr. - 3.36, Range Ecology/Watershed Management
Tyler Davis (Wyoming), 157, So. - 3.33, Finance
Neil Delaney (Air Force), 197, Jr. - 3.38, Systems Engineering Management
Casen Eldredge (Utah Valley), 184/Hwt., Jr. - 3.29, Business Management/Entrepreneurship
Charlie Ettelson (Northern Iowa), 149, RSr. - 3.46, Biology
Alfonso Hernandez (Wyoming), 197, So. - 3.40, Kinesiology/Health Promotion
Tyler Johnson (North Dakota State), 165, So. - 4.00, Biology (pre-dental)
Brandon Kammerzell (Northern Colorado), 174, So. - 3.20, Accounting/Finance
Kevin Kelly (South Dakota State), Hwt., RJr. - 3.30, Health/Physical Education & Recreation
Ed Matthews (Northern Colorado), 197, Jr. - 3.78, Biological Sciences/Secondary Teaching
David Michaud (South Dakota State), 184, RSo. - 3.29, Journalism
Seth Moe (South Dakota State), 149, Fr. - 3.59, Pre-Pharmacy
Justin Morrill (Utah Valley), 149, Jr. - 3.57, Social Work
Jeffrey Newby (Utah Valley), 141, Sr. - 3.75, Business Management/International Business
Aaron Pickrel (South Dakota State), 125, RFr. - 3.90, Pre-Medicine
Joe Rasmussen (South Dakota State), 174, Fr. - 3.27, Civil Engineering
Flint Ray (Utah Valley), 133, Jr. - 3.76, Business Management/International Business
Vince Salminen (North Dakota State), 157, Jr. - 3.26, Construction Management
Joshua Smith (Air Force), 174, Sr. - 3.68, Aeronautical Engineering
Justin Solberg (North Dakota State), 125, So. - 3.66, Finance
2009-10 Western Wrestling Conference Coaches’ Honor Roll
David Alvarez (Northern Colorado), Hwt., Sr. - 3.50, Masters in Sociological Practice
Brett Bahe (Northern Colorado), 133, RSo. - 3.14, Business Management
Dustin Bauman (Northern Iowa), 197, RJr. - 3.08, Construction Management
Bryce Drefke (South Dakota State), 184, Fr. - 3.10, Pre-Nursing
Caleb Egli (Air Force), 197, So. - 3.06, History
Jared Erickson (Air Force), 197, Fr. - 3.58, Civil Engineering
Mark Erickson (North Dakota State), 141, RFr. - 3.02, Physical Education
Michael Erickson (Air Force), 157, Sr. - 3.01, Behavioral Sciences
Jonathan Fonbuena (Air Force), 133, Fr. - 3.31, Biology
Clay Frost (Utah Valley), 157, Fr. - 3.18, Undeclared
Thomas Gorry (Air Force), 157, Sr. - 3.02, Aeronautical Engineering
Nick Hagar (South Dakota State), 149, Fr. - 3.12, Biology
Kazden Ikehara (Air Force), 197, Jr. - 3.18, Systems Engineering Management
Ryan Jauch (Northern Iowa), 125, RFr., - 3.01, Biology
Tyler Johnson (South Dakota State), 133, Fr. - 3.03, Manufacturing Engineering
Will Johnson (North Dakota State), 174, RFr. - 3.60, University Studies
Benjamin Kjar (Utah Valley), 125, Jr. - 3.17, Business Management/Entrepreneurship
Joshua Larson (Air Force), 197, Jr. - 3.02, Computer Science
Stephen Larson (Air Force), Hwt., Sr. - 3.03, Management
Joe LeBlanc (Wyoming), 184, So. - 3.11, Kinesiology/Health Promotion
Josh Mohr (Air Force), 197, Fr. - 3.01, Systems Engineering Management
Brandon Mueller (Air Force), 141, Fr. - 3.72, Undecided
Daniel Nissen (Air Force), 165, Fr. - 3.55, Undecided
Kevin O'Brien (Northern Colorado), 165, Fr. - 3.33, Mathematics/Secondary Teaching
Joe O'Farrell (Wyoming), 184/197, So. - 3.59, Finance
Michael Poulos (Wyoming), 184, RFr. - 3.59, Kinesiology/Health Promotion
Mengyuan Qiu (Air Force), 125, So. - 3.46, Economics
Wyatt Ray (Utah Valley), 141, RFr. - 3.08, Undeclared
Monte Schmalhaus (Utah Valley), 165/184, Fr. - 3.35, Undeclared
Jeremy Swier (South Dakota State), Hwt., Sr. - 3.11, Aviation Education
Justin Tuell (Northern Colorado), Hwt., Sr. - 3.19, Nursing
Cory VomBaur (Wyoming), 133, Sr. - 3.13, Communication
Tyler Wells (North Dakota State), 157, RFr. - 3.33, Business
Dake Williams (Air Force), Hwt., Fr. - 3.21, Undecided
Josh Wilson (Utah Valley), 149, RFr. - 3.70, Accounting
Lee Wise (Air Force), 125, Fr. - 3.25, Undecided






