Flashes Honored for Nation's Fourth Highest GPA
4/19/2017 11:25:00 AM | Wrestling
Kent State was honored by The National Wrestling Coaches Association for having the fourth highest team grade point average in the nation. Additionally, sophomore Anthony Tutolo (Concord, Ohio) was named to the NWCA All-Academic Team.
Carrying a 3.423 cumulative grade point average, the Golden Flashes recorded their highest academic ranking in program history for the second straight year. The 2016-17 season marked the second straight year Kent State cracked the NWCA's Top 5 and its fourth straight year in the Top 20.
"This once again shows our athletic department's commitment to academics and I think it shows that we have one the best academic staffs around," Head Coach Jim Andrassy said. "Between the support we get and the dedication of our wrestlers, I'm just really proud of what everyone's been doing."
Tutolo, a redshirt sophomore, carries a 3.6 GPA as a communications major. He won 19 matches on the season, winning 133-pound titles at the Navy Classic and the Clarion Open. Tutolo also earned an automatic qualifying spot to the NCAA Championships.
"Anthony's a really good example of why our academics are so high," Andrassy said.
For the fourth time in five years, Harvard claimed top academic team spot. Five Mid-American Conference teams were represented in the Top 30.
| Team | GPA |
| 1. Harvard | 3.586 |
| 2. Brown | 3.475 |
| 3. American | 3.466 |
| 4. Kent State | 3.423 |
| 5. North Dakota State | 3.396 |
The strong academic year for the Golden Flashes has included a conference-high eight 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
