Cain Named NWCA All-Academic
Mar 8, 2018
MANHEIM, Pa. - The National Wrestling Coaches Association released its Top 30 Division III All-Academic teams and the top 189 All-Academic individuals this week. The University of Dubuque's Ethan Cain earned honors for the Spartans in 2018. Cain placed 5th at 197 lbs. - NCAA Division III Lowest Midwest Regional earlier this month. He finished the season with a 26-10 overall record with 15 win by falls. His quickest pin was in 1:11.
Overall, 67 different institutions were represented, which accounts for over 64 percent of active Division III wrestling programs nationwide. Nominees must have at least a 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for the previous full academic year. Transfers and freshmen are eligible if they’ve been in residence at their current institution beginning in the fall of 2016. On the competition side, wrestlers much be a national qualifier in 2016-17 and have a minimum win percentage of at least .500.
Additionally, wrestlers can also be considered if they placed in the top six at their respective regional tournament, a win percentage of .500 or better and competed in half of the institution’s scheduled competition in NCAA championship events. A wrestler can also be considered if they have a win percentage of .670 or better and competed in half of the institution’s scheduled NCAA events.
“This just continues to show the importance of how athletes in Division III balance their athletic careers and their educational opportunities,” said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. “Division III is the largest in number of teams at the NCAA level and we know these athletes are competing without athletic scholarships and their experiences on the mat and in the classroom exemplify what it means to compete in Division III and in the sport of wrestling.”
“The landscape of Division III really can provide student-athletes with exactly what they want, between a smaller, liberal arts college or a larger state school,” said Moyer. “We’ve seen tremendous academic performances in some of our nation’s finest academic institutions, and many of them exist in Division III. I like to say that college wrestling provides the next generation of our teachers and coaches, but some of these kids are our next generations of doctors, rocket scientists and biochemists.”
UD Wrestling (4-4, 5th Place in IIAC)
Quincy Kalkbrenner 4th at 157 lbs. - NCAA Division III Lowest Midwest Regional
Ethan Cain 5th at 197 lbs. - NCAA Division III Lowest Midwest Regional
Robert Melise 5th at 285 lbs. - NCAA Division III Lowest Midwest Regional
NWCA Division III All-Academic Team
Ethan Cain
Academic All-Iowa Conference
Ethan Cain
All-Iowa Conference
Quincy Kalkbrenner (157 lbs.)
Robert Melise (285 lbs.)
