Trine wrestlers honored

The Trine University wrestling program put the final touches on the best season in program history with its annual awards banquet.

“These awards honor great efforts and outstanding performances by our wrestlers,” Head Coach Dan Callahan said. “I’m especially pleased with the academic recognition. We tell our kids you can’t be truly successful if you don’t succeed in the classroom.”

Eight Trine University wrestlers earned academic all-conference honors from the Mid-States wrestling conference and one wrestler was recognized nationally.

Here are the awards:

National Wrestling Coaches Scholar All-American: Louis Posa, (184, Sr., Tecumseh, Mich./Clinton, Math Education)

To be eligible for NWCA Scholar All-American honors, the student-athlete must have a 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for the previous, full academic year. The student-athlete must also have met one of the following three criteria: was a national qualifier; placed at a national qualifying tournament at least sixth for Midwest Regional and at least fourth for all other national qualifying tournaments; the student-athlete must have competed in 50% of the school’s total scheduled NCAA sanctioned events and have a .670 won/loss record.

Mid-States Conference Academic All-Conference:

Bryan Wight (141 lbs, Sr., Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead, Mechanical Engineering)
Louis Posa, (184, Sr., Tecumseh, Mich./Clinton, Math Education)
Nick Kraus (174, Jr., Rolling Prairie, Ind./New Prairie, Health/Physical Education)
George Markou (149, Fr. Peru, Ind./Peru, Undecided)
Josh Patterson (149, Fr., Granger, Ind./Penn, Undecided)
Jason Alber (165, Fr., Manchester, Mich./Manchester, Management)
Jake Allen (165, Fr., Medina, Ohio/ Medina, Mechanical Engineering)
Matt Kulbida (Fr., Orland Park Ill./Carl Sandberg, Mechanical Engineering)

The coaching staff also awarded several team awards.

Most Improved Wrestler: Tye Bowman (133, Fr., Michigantown, Ind.,/Clinton Central, Undecided)

Mental Attitude/Sportsmanship Award: Brandon Harvey, (125, Fr., Osceola, Ind.,/Elkhart Memorial, Biology)

Outstanding Wrestler: Nick Kraus (174, Jr., Rolling Prairie, Ind./New Prairie, Health/Physical Education)

The Thunder finished tied for second at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional, climbed as high as 21st in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Top-25 poll, won their first ever tournament (Spartan Mat Classic at Manchester College) and finished 11-5 in dual meets.

“We are seeing the fruits of our labor. Guys like Bryan Wight and Louis Posa are the guys who helped build the program from the ground up.”