MANHEIM, Pa. – Eight members of Coach Danny Irwin's nationally-ranked West Liberty University wrestling team were honored as 2022 National Scholar All-Americans this weekend when the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) released its annual NCAA Division II All-Academic Team.
    Five of West Liberty's eight NWCA Scholar All-Americans are repeat selections with two-time NCAA Division II 125-pound national champion Cole Laya leading the way. Now a rare 4-time NWCA Scholar All-American, Laya was one of only 26 Scholar All-Americans to post a perfect 4.00 GPA.
    Joining Laya on the Hilltoppers' list of multi-year honorees are three-time selection Connor Craig and two-time honorees Ty McGeary, Jonah Smith and Brett Goff. Keaton Grider, Luke Miller and Jacob Simpson are West Liberty's first-time picks.
    In order for a student-athlete to be nominated to the NWCA Division II All-Academic Team, he must have a minimum 3.40 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale, with that benchmark lowered to 3.25 for wrestlers who qualified for the 2022 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships and 3.00 for those who earned All-America status.
    Drury (Mo.) University earned its first national academic championship with a 3.542 team GPA. West Liberty, which placed third among Super Region 3 teams with a 3.067 team GPA, is one of 14 NCAA Division II schools with at least one national academic championship to its credit.
    Here are quick snapshots of the Hilltoppers' 2022 NWCA Scholar All-Americans:
    COLE LAYA is a junior 125-pounder from Fairmont, W.Va. who wrestled at East Fairmont High School. A 2021 NCAA Division II Academic All-American, Laya is a 4-time NWCA Scholar All-American in the classroom and a 4-time NCAA Division II All-American on the mat. Now a 2-time defending national champion at 125 pounds and the 2022 Super Region 3 Wrestler of the Year, Laya is majoring in Exercise Physiology.
    CONNOR CRAIG is a graduate student wrestling at 184 pounds from Cincinnati (Ohio) Elder High School. A 3-time NWCA Scholar All-American, Craig is a 4-time NCAA Division II All-American on the mat and earned national runner-up honors at 184 in each of the past two seasons. He is completing his Masters of Business Administration at West Liberty.
    TY McGEARY is a redshirt freshman 174-pounder from McDonald, Pa. who wrestled at West Allegheny High School. A 2-time NWCA Scholar All-American, McGeary was a Mountain East Conference and Super Region 3 champion this winter and earned his first NCAA Division II All-America honor with a third-place finish at nationals. McGeary is majoring in Cybersecurity.
    JONAH SMITH is a sophomore 149-pounder from Findlay, Ohio who wrestled at Findlay High School. A 2-time NWCA Scholar All-American, Smith was chosen as MEC Wrestler of the Week after winning the 149-pound title at the 2022 Spartan Mat Classic. He is majoring in Exercise Physiology.
    BRETT GOFF is a sophomore 165-pounder from Geneva, Ohio who wrestled at Geneva High School. Honored as an NWCA Scholar All-American for the second straight year, Goff is an Accounting major at West Liberty.
    KEATON GRIDER is a freshman 197-pounder from Fort Wayne, Ind. who wrestled at Southside High School. A first-time NWCA Scholar All-America selection, Keaton is pursuing a Management major at West Liberty.
    LUKE MILLER is a freshman 133-pounder from Ripley, W.Va. who wrestled at Ripley High School. The Hilltoppers' starter at 133 for most of the season, this is Miller's first NWCA Scholar All-America award. He is pursuing a Business Pathway major on the hilltop.
    JACOB SIMPSON is a junior 149-pounder from Tampa Bay, Fla. who wrestled at University High School in Morgantown, W.Va. A three-year letterwinner with the Black and Gold, this is Simpson's first NWCA Scholar All-America award. He is majoring in Sports, Recreation and Wellness at West Liberty.