Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh wrestling garners academic individual, team recognition from NWCA
5/7/2014 2:29:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
Top 30 Academic Teams | NWCA All-Academic Team
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh wrestling program was once again honored for its work both on the mat and in the classroom as the National Wrestling Coaches Association announced its All-Academic Individuals and top 30 teams Wednesday afternoon. The Mountain Hawks tied for 17th in the nation with a 3.1 team GPA, while senior Joey Napoli, sophomore Mason Beckman and freshman Mitch Minotti were named to the individual All-Academic Team.
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The team grade-point average was determined using a system that includes 12 student-athletes from each program. A total of 10 of these came from the wrestlers that were entries in the NCAA tournament conference qualifier. If teams had less than 10 entries for their respective qualifier, they were allowed to fill those spots with wrestlers that competed in at least one varsity dual during the season.
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The individual All-Academic Team has qualifying standards based on grade point average and season record/accomplishments. Napoli earned NWCA All-Academic Team honors for the third time in his Lehigh career, while Beckman and Minotti were recognized for the first time.
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Napoli was a three-time NCAA Tournament qualifier and a 2013 EIWA Champion for the Mountain Hawks. Injuries limited Napoli to a 12-5 record in his senior season, but he still managed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament after finishing sixth in the EIWA at 157. Napoli carries a 3.33 cumulative grade point average in mechanical engineering.
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After deferring his eligibility in 2012-13, Beckman returned to the varsity lineup with a strong campaign this past season. Beckman won an EIWA title at 133 and capped a 28-6 sophomore campaign by earning All-America honors with a sixth place finish at the NCAA Championships. Beckman owns a 3.08 GPA as a supply chain management major.
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Minotti also garnered All-America honors after advancing to the NCAA semifinals and eventually placing sixth at 149 to become Lehigh's first freshman All-American in 11 years. He posted a 25-11 record in his first varsity season that included a title at the prestigious Midlands Championships in late December. Minotti holds a 3.31 GPA in Lehigh's College of Business and Economics.
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This year's Individual All-Academic Team featured 87 total athletes, three NCAA Champions, four NCAA runners-up, 33 All-Americans and 77 NCAA Qualifiers. Lehigh was one of nine schools to have three or more wrestlers named to the squad.
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Lehigh finished in the top 30 of the NWCA's All-Academic Teams list for the third consecutive season. The Mountain Hawks finished ninth in 2012 and tied for sixth in 2013. Eight of the EIWA's 18 member schools in 2013-14 cracked the top 30. Harvard topped the team rankings for the second straight year at 3.3657 followed by Old Dominion, Gardner-Webb, Appalachian State and Brown. The Mountain Hawks tied EIWA rivals Cornell and Princeton for 17th place.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh wrestling program was once again honored for its work both on the mat and in the classroom as the National Wrestling Coaches Association announced its All-Academic Individuals and top 30 teams Wednesday afternoon. The Mountain Hawks tied for 17th in the nation with a 3.1 team GPA, while senior Joey Napoli, sophomore Mason Beckman and freshman Mitch Minotti were named to the individual All-Academic Team.
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The team grade-point average was determined using a system that includes 12 student-athletes from each program. A total of 10 of these came from the wrestlers that were entries in the NCAA tournament conference qualifier. If teams had less than 10 entries for their respective qualifier, they were allowed to fill those spots with wrestlers that competed in at least one varsity dual during the season.
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The individual All-Academic Team has qualifying standards based on grade point average and season record/accomplishments. Napoli earned NWCA All-Academic Team honors for the third time in his Lehigh career, while Beckman and Minotti were recognized for the first time.
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Napoli was a three-time NCAA Tournament qualifier and a 2013 EIWA Champion for the Mountain Hawks. Injuries limited Napoli to a 12-5 record in his senior season, but he still managed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament after finishing sixth in the EIWA at 157. Napoli carries a 3.33 cumulative grade point average in mechanical engineering.
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After deferring his eligibility in 2012-13, Beckman returned to the varsity lineup with a strong campaign this past season. Beckman won an EIWA title at 133 and capped a 28-6 sophomore campaign by earning All-America honors with a sixth place finish at the NCAA Championships. Beckman owns a 3.08 GPA as a supply chain management major.
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Minotti also garnered All-America honors after advancing to the NCAA semifinals and eventually placing sixth at 149 to become Lehigh's first freshman All-American in 11 years. He posted a 25-11 record in his first varsity season that included a title at the prestigious Midlands Championships in late December. Minotti holds a 3.31 GPA in Lehigh's College of Business and Economics.
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This year's Individual All-Academic Team featured 87 total athletes, three NCAA Champions, four NCAA runners-up, 33 All-Americans and 77 NCAA Qualifiers. Lehigh was one of nine schools to have three or more wrestlers named to the squad.
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Lehigh finished in the top 30 of the NWCA's All-Academic Teams list for the third consecutive season. The Mountain Hawks finished ninth in 2012 and tied for sixth in 2013. Eight of the EIWA's 18 member schools in 2013-14 cracked the top 30. Harvard topped the team rankings for the second straight year at 3.3657 followed by Old Dominion, Gardner-Webb, Appalachian State and Brown. The Mountain Hawks tied EIWA rivals Cornell and Princeton for 17th place.
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