MANHEIM, Pa. (March 15, 2019)  – The Stevens Institute of Technology wrestling team finished fourth in the country with a 3.704 GPA to earn 2018-19 All-Academic Team honors, the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) announced Thursday. 

Johns Hopkins University topped the Division III All-Academic Team standings with a 3.776 GPA. Baldwin-Wallace University finished second at 3.766, followed by Wesleyan University (3.714) and Stevens, with Ithaca College coming in a 3.668 to round out the top five. 

The Ducks were one of 30 Division III teams recognized by the NWCA and Stevens earned a top-four placement for the second straight season.

"These guys grind in the wrestling room every day and on the weekends they go out and perform," said head coach Joe Favia. "Most of the time, all people see is what happens on the mats and rarely do the fans see what happens behind the scenes. Well, this is it! [Our student-athletes] are grinding in the classroom with the same amount of passion and commitment. Each year, we [increase] our team GPA and increase the number of academic All-Americans, which is not an easy feat, but these guys are driven: they want to be the best and we believe [that] winning in the classroom is just as important as winning on the mats."

Seven Ducks earned Academic All-America status. Senior Joey Borai, juniors Troy Stanich and Dylan Van Sickell, along with sophomore Brett Kaliner and freshman Michael Dooley, Robert Gennat and Joseph Schneider, were among 261 student-athletes representing 83 institutions recognized by the NWCA as academic All-Americans. Stevens was one of just 10 Division III schools to have seven or more wrestlers receive the distinction. The academic distinction was the third career Academic All-America honor for Stanich, while Borai, Van Sickell and Kaliner earned their second. It was the first All-America distinction for Dooley, Gennat and Schneider.

To receive  the honor, student-athletes must have a GPA of 3.2 or higher for the previous academic year, or have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 of higher. Individuals also must either be an NCAA qualifiers with a winning record, finish in the top six at the NCAA regional, or win at least 67% of his matches while competing in at least 50% of his team's scheduled competitions. 

Click here for the NWCA's official announcement.

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