MANHEIM, Pa. – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) announced Friday that the West Liberty University wrestling team finished the 2023 season ranked No. 4 nationally in the NWCA academic team rankings and led the nation with 16 NWCA Scholar All-America selections.
    Coach Danny Irwin's Hilltoppers posted a 3.378 team grade-point average for the 2022-23 academic year to place fourth in the 2023 NWCA Academic Top 20. Maryville (Mo.) was No. 1 at 3.487, just ahead of Wisconsin-Parkside (3.466). Indianapolis (3.386) edged WLU for No. 3 with Northern State (S.D.) rounding out the Top 5 at 3.372.
    "Accomplishments at this level don't happen overnight," said Irwin, who has led WLU to three straight conference and regional championships capped by three consecutive Top 10 finishes at the NCAA Division II Nationals. "This goes all the way back to the student-athletes (former head coach Mitch) Smith and (former assistant coach Brian) Leggett had already recruited to the hilltop before I arrived. Since Day One, this program has worked to be the best on and off the mat. We have had tremendous buy-in from everyone so it's exciting for me to see these results in Year Four. I'm incredibly happy and proud of all 16 guys who were honored today; it's truly a testament to being on top of the details!"
    To qualify for the NWCA Division II All-Academic Team, student-athletes must have a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA on a 4.00 scale. That benchmark lowers to 3.25 for wrestlers who qualified for the 2023 NCAA D2 Nationals and 3.00 for those earning All-America status on the mat.
    Making the Hilltoppers' total of 16 NWCA Scholar All-Americans even more impressive is the fact that seven are repeat honorees. Two-time national champion and five-time NCAA D2 All-American Cole Laya was one of only 10 wrestlers nationwide to earn a fifth NWCA Scholar All-America Award. Reigning 184-pound national champion Ty McGeary picked up his third Scholar All-America Award. Seven of this year's 10 D2 national champions were Scholar All-Americans.
    Joining Laya and McGeary on WLU's list of multiple award winners were three-time honorees Brett Goff and Jonah Smith and two-time selections Keaton Grider, Luke Miller and Jacob Simpson. Earning their first NWCA Scholar All-America Awards this year were Parker Bentley, Alec Cook, Alexander Crane, Caden Kenworthy, Chance Morgan, Chase Morgan, Matt Simpson, Jamar Williams and Brock Wygle.
    "This is quite a cherry on top of their careers for many of these guys but I would to mention a couple of individuals in particular," Irwin said. "Matt Simpson had to work through some academic struggles in the first semester this year but never gave up. For him to make the jump from being on academic probation to Scholar All-American in one semester is a compliment to his fortitude to do the hard things each and every day! Matt's fighting spirit represents at the highest level the development we want to see from every Hilltopper.
    "Finally, what can you say about Cole Laya that hasn't already been said? It's incredibly hard to become a national champion once, let alone twice, and now Cole's a five-time All-American on the mat and a five-time All-American in the classroom. That's something that can only be equaled; it can never be topped! Cole is a shining example for the entire state of West Virginia that anything can be accomplished if you're willing to put in the work. He is truly one of a kind!"
    This was Maryville's fifth national academic championship in the past six years. West Liberty is one of only 14 NCAA Division II programs with at least one national academic team championship to its credit.


 
WRESTLING
2023 NWCA National Academic Top 20
Team                                                                       GPA
 1. Maryville (Mo.)                                                3.487
 2. Wisconsin-Parkside                                        3.466
 3. Indianapolis                                                      3.386
 4. WEST LIBERTY                                                 3.378
 5. Northern State (S.D.)                                     3.372
 6. Lake Erie (Ohio)                                               3.312
 7. Fort Hays State (Kan.)                                    3.307
 8. Mary (S.D.)                                                       3.285
 9. Drury (Mo.)                                                      3.253
10. Colorado School of Mines                            3.251
11. Augustana (S.D.)                                            3.235
12. Fairmont State                                               3.229
13. Tiffin (Ohio)                                                     3.211
14. Seton Hill (Pa.)                                                3.209
15. Ashland (Ohio)                                                3.199
16. American International (Mass.)                  3.192
17. Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.)                             3.188
18. Western Colorado                                         3.170
19. SW Minnesota State                                     3.166
20. Gannon (Pa.)                                                   3.100

West Liberty University Scholar All-Americans