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