MANHEIM, Pa. — The National Wrestling Coaches Association recognized its 2023-24 Division II Scholar All-Americans on Monday. The Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs had five individuals on the list and ranked in the top 25 nationally.

As a team, SMSU posted a 3.213 GPA, an uptick from last year’s 3.166 mark. After anking 19th nationally last year, they clocked in at No. 21 this season.

Jacob Dykes, Sean Howk, Hunter Pfantz, Elijah Sterner and Adam Sylvester were each recognized as individuals for the Mustangs on the 363-wrestler list. Howk was also recognized in last year’s Scholar All-Americans list.

Individual student-athletes must maintain a GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and compete in at least four separate dates of competition. The GPA threshold is lowered to 3.25 for athletes who qualified for the Division II Wrestling Championships and 3.0 for those named All-Americans at the national championships.

The Mustangs were among seven Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Schools to rank within the top 25. Minnesota State ranked fourth at 3.438, Minot State came in at No. 7 at 3.145, Augustana came in at No. 13 at 3.291, Umary No. 15 at 3.273 and Northern State No. 22 at 3.148. Upper Iowa, who recently exited the NSIC prior to the 2023-24 season, also ranked 24th at 3.128.