Three-time All-American
Travis McKillop (184 lbs.) and 2013 All-American
Dave Cawley (141 lbs.), were both named 2013-14 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division II All-Academic Wrestling First-Team, while
John Blankenship (165 lbs.) earned a spot on the second team...
(Full NWCA Release)
       The 2013-2014 Division II All-Academic Wrestling Team consists of 181 student-athletes from 38 universities and colleges. Forty-seven members were named to the first team, 39 members to the second team, and 95 were named as honorable mention. The University of Indianapolis and Western State College of Colorado both placed four on the first team. Six student-athletes were named to the team for the fourth time. They were Ben Sergent and Adam Walters, both from The University of Findlay, Carl Broghammer from the University of Upper Iowa, Trevor Grant from Colorado State University-Pueblo, Trevor Donarski from Mesa State College, and Rory Wilkinson from Fort Hays State University.
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       McKillop, a three-time All-American on the mat, has a 3.12 GPA in Biology. McKillop placed seventh at the National Tournament in 2012 as a true freshman, before posting a 33-2 overall record in 2012-13 and finishing third at nationals. In 2014, McKillop was the National Runner-up at 184 lbs. He finished his junior season with a 27-5 overall record.
       Cawley an All-American in 2013 with a seventh-place finish, was named First-Team NWCA All-Academic Wrestling Team for the second straight season. Cawley, whose senior season came to an end due to an injury. Has a 3.33 overall GPA in Finance and Accounting.
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       Blankenship, who was 7-6 overall and 5-2 in dual meets as a red-shirt freshman in 2013-14, was tabbed a Second-Team NWCA All-Academic Team member with a 3.63 overall GPA in Mechanical Engineering Technology.
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       California Baptist University recorded the highest team grade point average (GPA) in the 21st Annual Division II All-Academic Wrestling Team competition and has won the NCAA II Wrestling Academic National Championship. This is the first time that California Baptist University has achieved this honor. Eleven other NCAA II schools have also won the National Championship. They include the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Fort Hays State University, the University of Indianapolis, Colorado School of Mines, Truman State University, West Liberty State College, Minnesota State University-Mankato, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the University of Nebraska at Kearney, the University of Mary and Mercyhurst University. The Team GPA is calculated by averaging the cumulative grade point averages of ten wrestlers from each team, of which eight of those wrestlers must have competed in their team's Super Regional Qualifying Tournament.
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       In order for a student-athlete to be nominated to the Division II All-Academic Team, he needed to have a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale. He must also be in at least his second full year at his school, be a varsity member on his team or a key reserve, demonstrate a degree of skill and have a minimum of two letters of recommendation (academic advisor and coach) submitted on his behalf.