University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Eight Panther wrestlers earn NWCA Scholar All-American honors
3/29/2024 7:04:00 PM | Wrestling
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI wrestling led all Big 12 Conference opponents with eight National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-American selections, as announced by the NWCA on Friday afternoon.
A total of 338 student-athletes from 78 institutions were recognized for their outstanding achievements in the classroom.
Of UNI's eight selections, five qualified for the 2024 NCAA Championships, including a pair of Big 12 Conference champions:
- Trever Anderson, Redshirt Freshman | 125 pounds | Marketing: Sales Management
- Ryder Downey, Redshirt Freshman | 157 pounds | Biochemistry and Biology
- Julian Farber, Redshirt Sophomore | 133 pounds | Supply Chain Management
- Tyrell Gordon, Graduate | HWT | Post-Secondary Education: Student Affairs
- Parker Keckeisen, Redshirt Junior | 184 pounds | Construction Management
- Jared Simma, Redshirt Sophomore | 174 pounds | Kinesiology and Exercise Science
- Connor Thorpe, Redshirt Sophomore | 141 pounds | Kinesiology and Exercise Science
- Wyatt Voelker, Redshirt Freshman | 197 pounds | Kinesiology and Exercise ScienceÂ
"It is a privilege to honor these exceptional athletes for their remarkable accomplishments," said Mike Moyer, Executive Director of the NWCA. "Congratulations to all the awardees, and we extend our best wishes for their continued success in their academic and athletic endeavors."
Oregon State led the nation with nine honorees, while UNI, Penn, Cornell and Minnesota each boasted eight Scholar All-American selections. Additional details regarding team awards will be announced at a later date.
The Panther wrestling team posted a 3.37 semester grade-point average (GPA) during the fall 2023 term, the second-highest among all of UNI's men's athletic teams. Just over 44% of the roster recorded a semester GPA over 3.50.
