Flashes Boast Nation's Second Highest GPA
4/19/2018 3:05:00 PM | Wrestling
Kent State was honored on Thursday by The National Wrestling Coaches Association for having the nation's second highest team grade point average. Â Additionally, five Golden Flashes were named to the NWCA All-Academic Team.
Fifth-year senior Stephen Suglio (Richfield, Ohio), juniors Anthony Tutolo (Concord, Ohio) and Kyle Conel (Ashtabula, Ohio), sophomore Tim Rooney (Columbus, Ohio) and redshirt freshman Nick Monico (Meadville, Pa.) all received the individual honor. Kent State was one of just six teams with at least five wrestlers on the All-Academic Team.
Carrying a 3.49783 cumulative grade point average, the Golden Flashes recorded their highest academic ranking in program history for the third straight year. The 2017-18 season marked the third straight year Kent State cracked the NWCA's Top 5 and its fifth straight year in the Top 20.Â
"There's a core group of guys that have set the standard and help our team take a lot of pride in academics," Associate Head Coach Matt Hill said. "Having guys like Stephen (Suglio) and Chance (Driscoll), who have been getting academic honors for four years has really raised the bar for us. Having a certain GPA is almost a given now."
For the fifth time in six years, Harvard claimed top academic team spot. Five Mid-American Conference teams were represented in the Top 30.
Earlier academic highlights from the 2017-18 season included a program record nine Kent State wrestlers on the Academic All-Mid-American Conference Team.
The NWCA rankings factor in grades and total credit hours earned for each team's lineup at their NCAA conference qualifier, plus two additional wrestlers who spent time in the lineup.
For individuals to earn All-Academic Team status, they must have at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA, been an NCAA qualifier or won 60 percent of his total schedule, or been an NCAA All-American with at least a 3.0 GPA.
Players Mentioned
