NWCA RELEASE
MANHEIM, Pa. – In its inaugural season the University of Montevallo Wrestling team is ranked No. 8 by the National Wrestling Coaches Association in the Top-25 Scholar All-America Team rankings.
Montevallo's 3.412 cumulative grade point average among qualified nominees as a team, is the eighth best in Division II wrestling for 2023-24.
In addition to the team rankings, Montevallo earned eight individual Scholar All-Americans.
Freshmen
Barrett Dempsey,
Carson Freeman, Trent Gilham,
Derek Hussey,
Aiden Knight,
Mark Pennison and
Savian Graham, along with graduate student
Gabe Hixenbaugh, each earned the distinction.
Montevallo was one of three Conference Carolinas programs in the top 25, ranking behind No. 6 Lincoln Memorial and ahead of No. 25 Mount Olive.
In addition, Montevallo's eight Scholar All-Americans are tied for the most among any Conference Carolinas and Super Region II program with UNC Pembroke.
Overall, 363 individuals from 61 institutions were honored as Scholar All-Americans.
For a student-athlete to be nominated to the Division II Scholar All-American 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 2024 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships and a 3.0 for those who were All-Americans at the 2024 Nationals. Wrestlers must have competed in four dates of competition.
