Eleven Air Force Wrestlers Earn WWC Academic Honors
4/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
April 7, 2009
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Four Air Force wrestlers have been named to the Western Wrestling Conference All-Academic Team, as announced by the league today. Meanwhile, seven other Falcons have been named to the Coaches' Honor Roll for the 2008-09 season. This year's academic awards will honor a total of 52 student-athletes from the seven conference schools. Air Force's 11 academic honorees this season are the most for any conference institution.
To qualify for the All-Academic team, student-athletes had to secure a minimum 3.20 grade point average, be a starter or key reserve and be a sophomore or higher in academic standing. This year's WWC All-Academic squad honors 14 student-athletes. Meanwhile, the Coaches' Honor Roll recognizes student-athletes who have maintained a 3.0 grade point average. This year's Coaches' Honor Roll is comprised of 38 WWC student-athletes.
Named to the WWC All-Academic Team for Air Force this season were senior captain Stephen Crozier (Monona, Iowa), along with Brett Boyce (So., Brigham City, Utah), Neil Delaney (So., Grand Rapids, Mich.) and Joshua Smith (Jr., Orem, Utah). Crozier, the NCAA West Regional runner-up at 174 pounds this season, earns all-academic honors for the third-straight season. Crozier, an economics major with a 3.62 GPA, led the Falcons in total wins for the second-straight season, compiling a 25-16 record on the year.
Boyce, who moved into the starting lineup at 184 pounds in the latter half of the season, is a biology/chemistry double-major with a 3.79 GPA. Boyce finished the year tied for second on the team with five falls. Delaney, who saw action at 197 pounds, holds a 3.24 GPA in systems engineering management. Smith, who also recorded five falls on the year, currently holds a 3.58 GPA in aeronautical engineering.
Meanwhile, earning spots on the Coaches' Honor Roll for the Falcons were David Heitstuman (Fr., Sasebo, Japan), Kazden Ikehara (So., Mililani, Hawaii), Samuel Mitchel (Fr., Peru, Ind.), Mengyuan Qiu (Fr., Glendale, Ariz.), Joseph Stafford (So., Loomis, Calif.), Wesley Stowe (Fr., The Colony, Texas) and Tanner Weltzin (Fr., Alexandria, Minn.).
The Western Wrestling Conference is comprised of seven schools including the Air Force Academy, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Utah Valley State and Wyoming. The conference formed in April 2006.
2008-09 WWC All-Academic Team
Andrew Anderson (UNI), Sr., 197 lbs., Sioux City, Iowa - 3.25 GPA, Business Management
Brett Bahe (UNC), So., 133 lbs., Great Bend, Kan. - 3.32 GPA, Business Management
Brett Boyce (Air Force), So., 184 lbs., Brigham City, Utah - 3.79 GPA, Biology/Chemistry
Stephen Crozier (Air Force), Sr., 174 lbs., Monona, Iowa - 3.62 GPA, Economics
Neil Delaney (Air Force), So., 197 lbs., Grand Rapids, Mich. - 3.24 GPA, Systems Engineering Management
Casen Eldredge (UVU), So., 184 lbs., Monticello, Utah - 3.45 GPA, Business Management/Entrepreneurship
Charlie Ettelson (UNI), Jr., 149 lbs., Hudson, Iowa - 3.54 GPA, Biomedical Sciences
Dane Fuhrman (Wyoming), Jr., 165 lbs., Moberly, Mo. - 3.736 GPA, Communication
Ryan Johnson (UNC), Sr., 174 lbs., Colorado Springs, Colo. - 3.62 GPA, Marketing & Applied Statistics
Justin Morrill (UVU), So., 149 lbs., Logan, Utah - 3.62 GPA, Social Work
Jeff Newby (UVU), Jr., 141 lbs., Brigham City, Utah - 3.83 GPA, Business Management/International Business
Flint Ray (UVU), So., 133 lbs., Roy, Utah - 3.69 GPA, Business Management/International Business
Joshua Smith (Air Force), Jr., 174 lbs., Orem, Utah - 3.58 GPA, Aeronautical Engineering
Jason Stripling (SDSU), R-Sr., 285 lbs., Minneota, Minn. - 3.503 GPA, Civil Engineering
2008-09 WWC Coaches' Honor Roll
Adam Aho (NDSU); Dustin Bauman (UNI); Weston Blasius (SDSU); Cole Dallaserra (Wyoming); Tyler Davis (Wyoming); Mark Erickson (NDSU); Moza Fay (UNI); Steven Fitzgerald (UNI); Weston Ginther (SDSU); Cody Grant (Wyoming); Matt Grimlie (SDSU); David Heitstuman (Air Force); Alfonso Hernandez (Wyoming); Kazden Ikehara (Air Force); Tyler Johnson (NDSU); Will Johnson (NDSU); Brandon Kammerzell (UNC); Ben Kjar (UVU); Zach Maes (UNC); Ed Matthews (UNC); Kriss McCleary (NDSU); David Michaud (SDSU); Samuel Mitchel (Air Force); Gabriel Mooney (NDSU); Joe O'Farrell (Wyoming); Mitchell Polkowske (UNC); Mengyuan Qiu (Air Force); Drew Ross (NDSU); Justin Solberg (NDSU); Trent Sprenkle (NDSU); Joseph Stafford (Air Force); Wesley Stowe (Air Force); Jeremy Swier (SDSU); Justin Tuell (UNC); Cory VomBaur (Wyoming); Tyler Wells (NDSU); Tanner Weltzin (Air Force); Cole Zempel (UNI).
