MANHEIM, Pa. – A total of three Southwest Minnesota State University senior wrestling student-athletes were named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic team for the 2018-19 season.

SMSU’s honorees include Cortez Arredondo from West St. Paul, Zach Beaumaster from Big Lake, and Griffin Osing from Blakesburg, Iowa.

In order for a student-athlete to be nominated to the Division II All-Academic Team, he must have a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale, with that benchmark at 3.25 for those who qualified for the 2019 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships and 3.0 for those who earned All-American status for the 2019 season. The athlete must also have competed in a minimum of six dates of competition.

“What we’ve seen across all levels of wrestling is the importance of the student part of the term student-athlete,” NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer said. “Coaches around the country understand the importance to the health of our sport isn’t just putting out good wrestlers and winning championships, but providing an environment where we foster growth in the classroom and in turn, develop the next generation of teachers and coaches to continue that mindset.”

Those ranked on the 2018-19 team included 212-student athletes from 41 institutions with Maryville leading the way with 15 wrestlers honored, while NSIC competition, Upper Iowa, came in second placing 12 student-athletes on the All-Academic list.

Southwest Minnesota State finished the 2018-19 season with a 1-8 dual record, while Arrendondo and Osing qualified for the NCAA Championships. Arredondo was also the Super Regional V Champion at 157.

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