WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – Five members of Coach Danny Irwin's nationally-ranked West Liberty University wrestling team have been named to the 2023 NCAA Division II Men's At-Large Academic All-District® 2 Team as part of the men's wrestling cohort.
    Representing the Black and Gold mat squad on the Men's At-Large Academic All-District® 2 Team are Brett Goff, Cole Laya, Ty McGeary, Jacob Simpson and Jamar Williams.
    Selected by the College Sports Communicators (CSC), the 2023 CSC Academic All-District® Awards recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined achievements on the court and in the classroom. In order to be considered for the award, student-athletes must be a starter or key reserve on their teams and participate in at least 50 percent of all matches while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher.
    The At-Large Academic All-District Awards® program honors student-athletes from across a broad spectrum of NCAA Division II athletics including Women's Beach Volleyball, Bowling, Crew/Rowing and Field Hockey; Men's and Women's Fencing, Golf, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rifle, Skiing and Water Polo; and Men's Volleyball and  Men's Wrestling.
    Goff is a junior 165-pounder from Geneva, Ohio who carries a 3.81 GPA as an Accounting major. A 3-time NWCA Scholar All-American, Goff made his mark on the mats this season with a third-place finish at the John Summa Invitational and also picked up a pair of first-period falls at the Adrian (Mich.) Duals.
    Laya is a fifth-year senior 125-pounder from Fairmont, W.Va. with a 3.57 GPA as an Exercise Physiology major. One of the most decorated wrestlers in WLU history, Laya is a 5-time NCAA Division II All-American, a 5-time NWCA Scholar All-American and a 2-time NCAA Division II national champion. He repeats as an Academic All-District selection after earning NCAA Division II Academic All-America honors a year ago.
    McGeary is a junior 184-pounder from McDonald, Pa. who carries a 3.70 GPA as a Cybersecurity major. He won the 2023 NCAA Division II Most Dominant Wrestler Award as the 184-pound national champion. McGeary finished the year with a 28-1 record, also topping the podium at the Findlay Open, John Summa Invitational and the MEC Championships. Now a 2-time NCAA Division II All-American, McGeary is a member of the MEC All-Academic Team and a 3-time NWCA Scholar All-America honoree.
    Simpson is a senior 149-pounder from Tampa, Fla. with a 3.56 GPA as a Sports Recreation and Wellness major. A 2-time NWCA Scholar All-American, Simpson posted a 26-8 record on the mat in a huge senior season. The hard-working Hilltopper cracked the national rankings and earned his first trip to the NCAA D2 Nationals with an unbeaten run to a Super Region 3 title. He also helped WLU roll to its third straight MEC team championship by taking the 149-pound crown at the MEC Championships.
    Williams is a graduate transfer 157-pounder from Alderson Broaddus who carried a 3.50 GPA in the MBA program at West Liberty. Despite battling injury throughout the season, he finished with an 18-3 record and was ranked as high as No. 4 nationally for the Black and Gold. The NWCA Scholar All-American won his second MEC championship and earned his second trip to the NCAA nationals as a regional runner-up only to fall one win shy of NCAA Division II All-America honors in Cedar Rapids.
    The 2023 CSC NCAA Division II Men's At-Large Academic All-District® 2 Teams include student-athletes from the Mountain East Conference (MEC), Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) along with independents Bluefield State and Salem (W.Va.).
    As CSC Academic All-District® selections, all five Hilltopper grapplers automatically advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. The first-, second- and third-team NCAA Division II Men's At-Large Academic All-America® honorees will be announced on June 21.