Nine Titans Receive Scholar All-American Wrestling Awards
A record-nine members of the UW-Oshkosh wrestling team were named NCAA Division III Scholar All-Americans by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.
Recognized from UW-Oshkosh were seniors Wesam Alabed and Mike Baumann; juniors Raiden Montero and Muzi Sitshela; sophomores Guyon Cyprian, Elijah Sanchez, Luc Valdez and Beau Yineman; and freshman Preston Morgan.
The NWCA honored 413 Division III wrestlers for owning a 3.20 cumulative grade-point-average or higher, including 36 from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. UW-Eau Claire had a WIAC-high 11 Scholar All-Americans, while UW-Oshkosh followed with nine, UW-Whitewater six, UW-La Crosse five, UW-Stevens Point three and UW-Platteville two.
Washington & Lee University (Va.) led all Division III schools with 16 Scholar All-Americans.
Alabed owns a 3.50 GPA as an information systems major. He compiled a 5-3 record (1 pin) this past season and placed third in the 149-pound weight class at the WIAC Championship. Alabed previously finished third in 2018 and sixth in 2019 as a 141-pound competitor at the WIAC Championship.
A political science major with a 3.78 GPA, Baumann finished the 2021 season with a 0-5 record after competing in the 174-pound weight class at the WIAC Championship.
Cyprian possesses a 3.29 GPA as a criminal justice major. He tallied a 5-3 record (4 pins) this past year and finished fifth in the 285-pound weight class at the WIAC Championship. He was a sixth-place finisher in the 285-pound weight division at the 2020 WIAC Championship.
Montero holds a 3.88 GPA as a Japanese studies major. He went winless in his four 141-pound contests this past season.
A biomedical science major with a 3.55 GPA, Morgan registered a 2-4 record this past season after competing in the 165-pound weight class at the WIAC Championship.
Sanchez has a 3.53 GPA as an electrical engineering major. He concluded the 2021 season with a 1-2 record at 141 pounds.
Sitshela possesses a 3.20 GPA as a marketing major. He earned a 3-4 record this past year and was a participant in the 157-pound weight class at the WIAC Championship. Sitshela placed sixth at the conference meet in both 2019 and 2020 at 157 pounds.
A business major with a 3.91 GPA, Valdez marked a 5-3 record (1 pin) this past season and finished third in the 133-pound weight class at the WIAC Championship. He placed sixth in the 125-pound weight division at the 2020 WIAC Championship.
Yineman owns a 3.44 GPA as a physical education major. He won all seven of his matches (3 pins) this past season and captured the 197-pound title at the WIAC Championship. Yineman was a second-place conference finisher at 197 pounds in 2019.
"In what has been a trying season for all, I'm excited to recognize these talented athletes who stayed the course in the classroom and continued their pursuit of excellence as they work toward their degrees," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "The NWCA and our Board of Directors remain committed to honoring outstanding academic performance and would like to thank the coaches, support staff, and administrators at these institutions for their commitment to their student-athletes."
UW-Oshkosh compiled a 2-2 dual record during the abbreviated 2021 season and placed third at WIAC Championship with 115.5 points. The Titans' finish at the league championship was their highest since 1997.