University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI Wrestling: 2 Panthers Earn Distinguished Scholar Honors
4/20/2017 12:52:00 PM | Wrestling
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Two Panthers made the list among 11 wrestlers conference-wide as Distinguished Scholar Athletes as announced by the Mid-American Conference office today.Max Thomsen and Dylan Peters were honored as distinguished scholar athletes. It's a third-year award given to students who have excelled in athletics and academics.
Following each season from the winter sports schedule, any student with a 3.20 GPA and participation in at least 50 percent of the contests was automatically named to the previously announced Academic All-MAC Team from each sport. Also, first-year students, junior college and graduate school transfers in their first year of residence were not eligible for the award.
From the Academic All-MAC teams, the faculty athletic representatives selected the best of the best of our Academic All-MAC Teams to be honored with Distinguished Scholar Athlete Award for the 2016-17 season. The number of Distinguished Scholar Athletes from each sport were equivalent to the number of first-team selections or 33 percent of nominees, whichever was greater.
2016-17 MAC Wrestling Distinguished Scholar Athletes (11):
- Kyle Akins, Buffalo, Sophomore, 3.34 GPA, Occupational Therapy (Sycamore, Ill.)
- CJ Brucki, Central Michigan, Junior, 3.20 GPA, Accounting (Orland Park, Ill.)
- Austin Severn, Central Michigan, Senior, 3.57 GPA, Information Systems (New Lothrop, Mich.)
- Newton Smerchek, Central Michigan, Junior, 3.99 GPA, Physical Education (Casco, Wis.)
- Mason Smith, Central Michigan, R-Freshman, 3.73 GPA, Undecided (Clio, Mich.)
- Anthony Tutolo, Kent State, Junior, 3.60 GPA, Communication Studies (Concord, Ohio)
- John Erneste, Missouri, Sophomore, 3.762 GPA, Mathematics (Kansas City, Mo.)
- *Zach Synon, Missouri, Senior, 3.519 GPA, Business Administration (Cary, Ill.)
- Dylan Peters, Northern Iowa, Senior, 3.21 GPA, Movement and Exercise Science (Denver, Iowa)
- Max Thomsen, Northern Iowa, R-Freshman, 3.21 GPA, Management (La Porte City, Iowa)
- ^Kevin Beazley, Old Dominion, Junior, 3.37 GPA, Sport Management (Howell, Mich.)
*2015-16 Distinguished Scholar Athlete
^2014-15 Distinguished Scholar Athlete
Players Mentioned
UNI Panther Football: The Best Pod of your Day (Episode 5)
Wednesday, September 24
UNI Panther Football: The Best Pod of your Day (Episode 4)
Wednesday, September 17
UNI Football Highlights vs. Eastern Washington (Sept. 13, 2025)
Tuesday, September 16
UNI volleyball tops Iowa State at home
Friday, September 12