Van Vleet and Phippen Earn NWCA Scholar All-American Honors
5/20/2021 12:09:00 PM | Wrestling
The pair were two of 191 individuals recognized for their academic and athletic achievements
MANHEIM, Pa. – Air Force Academy wrestlers, junior Jared Van Vleet and sophomore Cody Phippen, were named to the 2021 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-American Team the organization announced Thursday, May 20. Van Vleet and Phippen are two of 191 Division I wrestlers to be recognized for both their athletic and academic accomplishments this past season.
The duo are the sixth and seventh Falcon wrestlers to be recognized as a Scholar All-Americans all-time and the first since Garrett O'Shea earned the honor at the conclusion of the 2018-19 campaign.
Van Vleet, a biochemistry major, adds the honor to his resume after completing his best season yet in a Falcon singlet. He earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Championships at 133 lbs., where he won a pair of matches. On the season, he was ranked as high as 11th in the national polls, and finished with seven wins, including four in Big 12 dual action.
Phippen, a management major, wrestled his first full season as a Falcon in 2021, and had a highly successful campaign going 12-4, including 5-2 in Big 12 duals. He won five matches via bonus points. At the Big 12 Championships, he placed for the second time in as many attempts at 125 lbs., taking seventh place and just missing out on at at-large bid to NCAAs.
The duo are the sixth and seventh Falcon wrestlers to be recognized as a Scholar All-Americans all-time and the first since Garrett O'Shea earned the honor at the conclusion of the 2018-19 campaign.
Van Vleet, a biochemistry major, adds the honor to his resume after completing his best season yet in a Falcon singlet. He earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Championships at 133 lbs., where he won a pair of matches. On the season, he was ranked as high as 11th in the national polls, and finished with seven wins, including four in Big 12 dual action.
Phippen, a management major, wrestled his first full season as a Falcon in 2021, and had a highly successful campaign going 12-4, including 5-2 in Big 12 duals. He won five matches via bonus points. At the Big 12 Championships, he placed for the second time in as many attempts at 125 lbs., taking seventh place and just missing out on at at-large bid to NCAAs.
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