Five NCAA champs also earn academic AA honors
By Mike Finn
Updated: May 28, 2015
Five wrestlers who won NCAA individual championships in 2015 — Matt Brown of Penn State, Gabe Dean of Cornell, Kyven Gadson of Iowa State, Nick Gwiazdowski of NC State and Nathan Tomasello of Ohio State — also ended the year by earning NWCA Academic All-American honors.
Meanwhile, Eastern Michigan, which ranked 30th in the 2014 NWCA academic standings, replaced Harvard as the top-ranked school in the NWCA’s Top 30 Academic School ratings for 2014-15.
The following are the Top 30 Schools:
| Rank | School | GPA | Conference | Last Year | ’15 NCAA |
| 1. | Eastern Michigan | 3.382 | MAC | 30 | 53 |
| 2. | Harvard | 3.372 | EIWA | 1 | 65 |
| 3. | American | 3.358 | EIWA | 9 | 46 |
| 4. | Gardner-Webb | 3.352 | SoCon | 3 | 67 |
| 5. | Brown | 3.328 | EIWA | 4 | 46 |
| 6. | Duke | 3.302 | ACC | 6 | 28 |
| 7 (tie). | Bucknell | 3.264 | EIWA | 7 | 46 |
| 7 (tie). | Stanford | 3.264 | Pac-12 | 8 | 35 |
| 9. | SIU-Edwardsville | 3.242 | SoCon | — | 58 |
| 10. | Minnesota | 3.207 | Big Ten | 22 | 8 |
| 11. | Chattanooga | 3.201 | SoCon | — | 45 |
| 12. | Penn State | 3.194 | Big Ten | 10 | 6 |
| 13. | Princeton | 3.190 | EIWA | 17 | 31 |
| 14. | Old Dominion | 3.182 | MAC | 2 | 22 |
| 15. | Nebraska | 3.180 | Big Ten | 28 | 9 |
| 16. | Kent State | 3.168 | MAC | 13 | 26 |
| 17. | Drexel | 3.157 | EIWA | 14 | 41 |
| 18. | Penn | 3.145 | EIWA | — | 38 |
| 19 (tie). | Davidson | 3.114 | SoCon | — | 53 |
| 19 (tie). | Michigan State | 3.114 | Big Ten | — | 69 |
| 21. | Northwestern | 3.103 | Big Ten | 23 | 15 |
| 22. | George Mason | 3.091 | EWL | 29 | 65 |
| 23. | South Dakota State | 3.090 | WWC | — | 53 |
| 24. | North Dakota State | 3.078 | WWC | 26 | 23 |
| 25. | Arizona State | 3.076 | Pac-12 | — | 29 |
| 26. | Cornell U. | 3.065 | EIWA | 17 | 5 |
| 27. | Ohio U. | 3.055 | MAC | 11 | 31 |
| 28. | CSU Bakersfield | 3.052 | Pac-12 | — | 58 |
| 29. | Cleveland State | 3.031 | EWL | — | 53 |
| 30. | NC State | 3.029 | ACC | — | 16 |
The following are the individual NWCA Academic All-Americans for 2014-15:
| School | Name | Yr | Wt | Major | 2015 Season |
| Air Force | Jesse Stafford | SR | 165 | Civil Engineering | NCAA Qualifier |
| American | John Boyle | JR | 157 | Accounting | NCAA Qualifier |
| Appalachian State | Dominic Parisi | Grad | 125 | Higher Education | NCAA Qualifier |
| Appalachian State | Denzel Dejournette | SO | 285 | Exercise Science | NCAA Qualifier |
| Army | Chandler Smith | SR | 165 | Political Science | 21-7 |
| Binghamton | Jack Mckeever | JR | 184 | Financial Economics | NCAA Qualifier |
| Binghamton | Tyler Deuel | Grad | 285 | Management (MBA) | NCAA Qualifier |
| Brown | JusIn Staudenmayer | SO | 157 | Business, Entrepreneurship, and Organizations | NCAA Qualifier |
| Brown | Billy Watterson | RS-SR | 125 | History | 24-13 |
| Brown | Ricky McDonald | SR | 174 | Mechanical Engineering | 24-17 |
| Brown | Ophir Bernstein | SR | 184 | Business (BEO); Political Science | NCAA Qualifier |
| Bucknell | Paul Petrov | JR | 125 | AccountIng and Financial Management | NCAA Qualifier |
| Chattanooga | John Shrader | RS-SO | 184 | Criminal JustIce | 15-8 |
| Chattanooga | Jared Johnson | RS-SO | 285 | Chemical Engineering | NCAA Qualifier |
| Chattanooga | Sean Boyle | RS-SR | 125 | Masters In Education | NCAA Qualifier |
| Clarion | Michael Pavasko | RS-JR | 174 | Business Administration | 21-14 |
| Cleveland State | Ben Willeford | RS-SR | 125 | Communications | NCAA Qualifier |
| Cleveland State | Riley Shaw | JR | 285 | Political Science | NCAA Qualifier |
| Columbia | Markus Scheidel | SO | 157 | Undeclared | NCAA Qualifier |
| Cornell | Brian Realbuto | SO | 157 | Applied Econ and Management | NCAA Runner-Up |
| Cornell | Gabe Dean | SO | 184 | Applied Econ and Management | NCAA Champion |
| Cornell | Dylan Palacio | SO | 165 | Development Sociology | NCAA Qualifier |
| CSU Bakersfield | Ian Nickell | RS-JR | 133 | Petroleum Engineering | NCAA Qualifier |
| CSU Bakersfield | Matthew Williams | RS-FR | 197 | Criminal JustIce | 23-12 |
| Duke | Marcus Cain | SR | 149 | Computer & Electrical Engineering | NCAA Qualifier |
| Duke | Brian Dorsey | RS-SO | 174 | Mechanical Engineering | 17-11 |
| Duke | Conner Hartmann | RS-JR | 197 | Economics | 6th NCAA |
| Duke | Jacob Kasper | SO | 184 | Sociology | NCAA Qualifier |
| Eastern Michigan | Brandon Zeerip | Grad | 157 | Masters in Business Administration | NCAA Qualifier |
| Edinboro | Victor Avery | RS-JR | 184 | Comprehensive Business Administration | 3rd NCAA |
| Edinboro | Vincent Pickett | JR | 197 | Early Childhood Education | NCAA Qualifier |
| George Mason | Jacob Kettler | RS-SR | 285 | Integrated Studies – Organizational Administration | NCAA Qualifier |
| Harvard | James Fox | SR | 197 | Psychology | 15-3 |
| Hofstra | Cody Ruggirello | Grad | 149 | Finance | NCAA Qualifier |
| Iowa | Nathan Burak | JR | 197 | Health & Human Physiology | 7th NCAA |
| Iowa | Josh Dziewa | SR | 141 | Leisure Studies | NCAA Qualifier |
| Iowa State | Kyven Gadson | RS-SR | 197 | Masters of Higher Education, Learning and Leadership | NCAA Champion |
| Iowa State | Mike Moreno Jr | RS-SR | 165 | Masters of Higher Education & Administration | NCAA Qualifier |
| Iowa State | Gabe Moreno | RS-SO | 149 | Psychology | NCAA Qualifier |
| Kent State | Mackenzie McGuire | JR | 133 | Speech Pathology & Audiology | NCAA Qualifier |
| Lehigh | Mason Beckman | RS-JR | 133 | Business Supply Chain Management | 6th NCAA |
| Lehigh | Mitch Minotti | RS-SO | 157 | Finance | 8th NCAA |
| Lehigh | SantIago MartInez | Grad | 174 | Educational Leadership | NCAA Qualifier |
| Lehigh | Doug Vollaro | RS-SO | 285 | Industrial and systems Engineering | NCAA Qualifier |
| Lock Haven | Phil Sprenkle | RS-JR | 197 | Sport Administration | 18-9 |
| Michigan | Adam Coon | SO | 285 | Aerospace Engineering | NCAA Runner-Up |
| Minnesota | Michael Kroells | RS-SO | 285 | Aerospace Engineering | 8th NCAA |
| Minnesota | Brett Pfarr | RS-SO | 184 | Agricultural and Food Business Management | NCAA Qualifier |
| Minnesota | Scott Schiller | RS-SR | 197 | Business and Marketing Education | 4th NCAA |
| Missouri | Alan Waters | RS-SR | 125 | Health Science | 3rd NCAA |
| Missouri | Zachary Synon | RS-SO | 133 | Business | NCAA Qualifier |
| Missouri | Joseph Lavallee | SO | 157 | Health Science | NCAA Qualifier |
| Missouri | John Eblen | Grad | 174 | Graduate Studies- Positive Coaching | NCAA Qualifier |
| Missouri | William Miklus | RS-FR | 184 | Psychology | 7th NCAA |
| Navy | Michael Woulfe | JR | 184 | Physics | 20-14 |
| Nebraska | Robert Kokesh | RS-SR | 174 | Agronomy | 3rd NCAA |
| Nebraska | Timothy Lambert | RS-SO | 125 | Fisheries and Wildlife | NCAA Qualifier |
| Nebraska | Aaron Studebaker | RS-SO | 197 | Animal Science | NCAA Qualifier |
| Nebraska | AustIn Wilson | RS-JR | 165 | Biological Sciences | NCAA Qualifier |
| North Carolina | Ethan Ramos | RS-FR | 165 | Undeclared | 6th NCAA |
| N.C. State | Nick Gwiazdowski | RS-JR | 285 | Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management | NCAA Champion |
| N.C. State | Pete Renda | SO | 174 | Business Administration | NCAA Qualifier |
| North Dakota State | Evan Knutson | SR | 285 | Animal Science | NCAA Qualifier |
| North Dakota State | Clayton Ream | RS-FR | 149 | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | NCAA Qualifier |
| North Dakota State | Hayden Zillmer | RS-JR | 184 | Physical Education/Health Education | 6th NCAA |
| Northern Colorado | Brian Macchione | RS-SO | 285 | Criminal Justice | 18-9 |
| Northern Iowa | Jarrett Jensen | RS-JR | 157 | Biology | 21-13 |
| Northern Iowa | Curt Maas | RS-SO | 174 | Biology: Biomedical | 19-12 |
| Northwestern U. | Pierce Harger | RS-SR | 165 | Industrial Engineering | NCAA Qualifier |
| Northwestern U. | Michael McMullan | RS-SR | 285 | Journalism | 3rd NCAA |
| Ohio State | Nathan Tomasello | RS-FR | 125 | Sports industry | NCAA Champion |
| Ohio State | Bo Jordan | RS-FR | 165 | Athletic Training | 3rd NCAA |
| Ohio University | Spartak Chino | RS-SR | 157 | Marketing | NCAA Qualifier |
| Ohio University | Cody Walters | RS-SR | 174 | Physical Education | NCAA Qualifier |
| Oklahoma | Clark Glass | RS-SO | 165 | Biology | NCAA Qualifier |
| Oklahoma State | Dean Jacob Heil | SO | 141 | Undeclared | 4th NCAA |
| Oklahoma State | Anthony Frank Collica | SO | 157 | Business – Undeclared | NCAA Qualifier |
| Old Dominion | Chris Mecate | RS-JR | 141 | Communication | 6th NCAA |
| Old Dominion | Tristan Warner | RS-SR | 165 | Criminal Justice & Communications | NCAA Qualifier |
| Old Dominion | Kevin Beazley | RS-SO | 197 | Sports Management | NCAA Qualifier |
| Old Dominion | Jacob Henderson | RS-SR | 285 | Exercise Science | NCAA Qualifier |
| Oregon State | Seth Thomas | RS-JR | 165 | NCAA Qualifier | |
| Penn State | Jordan Conaway | RS-JR | 125 | Rehab and Human Services | 8th NCAA |
| Penn State | Garett Hammond | RS-FR | 165 | Public Relations/Advertising | 23-12 |
| Penn State | Matt Brown | RS-SR | 174 | Criminology/International Politics | NCAA Champion |
| Penn State | Matt McCutcheon | RS-FR | 184 | Kinesiology | NCAA Qualifier |
| Pennsylvania | Caleb Richardson | SO | 133 | Health & Societies | NCAA Qualifier |
| Pennsylvania | C.J. Cobb | SR | 149 | Computer Science | NCAA Qualifier |
| Pennsylvania | Brooks MarIno | JR | 157 | Biology | NCAA Qualifier |
| Pennsylvania | Brad Wukie | SR | 174 | Philosophy, Politics & Economics | 10-6 |
| Pittsburgh | Tyler Wilps | RS-SR | 174 | Finance | NCAA Runner-Up |
| Princeton | Brett Harner | SO | 184 | Economics | NCAA Qualifier |
| Purdue | Patrick Kissel | RS-SR | 184 | Hospitality & Tourism Management | NCAA Qualifier |
| Rider | Rob Deutsch | RS-JR | 133 | Criminal Justice | NCAA Qualifier |
| Rider | Chuck Zeisloft | Grad | 141 | Masters of Business Administration | NCAA Qualifier |
| Rider | Chad Walsh | RS-FR | 157 | Business Administration | NCAA Qualifier |
| Rutgers | William Smith | RS-JR | 285 | History | NCAA Qualifier |
| Sacred Heart | Conan Schuster | SO | 174 | Finance and Economics | 18 – 12 |
| South Dakota State | Luke Zilverburg | RS-FR | 141 | Fisheries and Wildlife studies | 21-15 |
| South Dakota State | Brance Simms | JR | 133 | Construction Management | 25-16 |
| South Dakota State | Nate Rotert | RS-FR | 197 | ECE B-8 | NCAA Qualifier |
| South Dakota State | JJ Everard | JR | 285 | PETE | NCAA Qualifier |
| SIU Edwardsville | Jake Tindle | RS-SO | 197 | Biochemistry | NCAA Qualifier |
| SIU Edwardsville | Jake Residori | JR | 174 | Business | 26-13 |
| Stanford | Nathan Butler | RS-FR | 285 | Undeclared | NCAA Qualifier |
| Stanford | Maxwell Hvolbek | RS-SO | 157 | Sociology | 18-12 |
| Stanford | Garrett Schaner | RS-SR | 149 | Science, Technology & Society | NCAA Qualifier |
| Stanford | Connor Schram | RS-FR | 133 | Undeclared | NCAA Qualifier |
| Stanford | Keaton Subjeck | RS-FR | 174 | Undeclared | 19-12 |
| The Citadel | Joaquin Marquez | Grad | 125 | Biology | NCAA Qualifier |
| The Citadel | Matthew Frisch | RS-JR | 149 | Business AdministraIon – AccountIng | NCAA Qualifier |
| The Citadel | Marshall Haas | RS-JR | 197 | Political Science | 21-14 |
| Virginia | Nick Sulzer | Grad | 165 | Psychology | 5th NCAA |
| Virginia | Joe Spisak | Grad | 141 | Public Policy and Leadership | NCAA Qualifier |
| Virginia | Andrew Atkinson | RS-FR | 157 | Kinesiology | NCAA Qualifier |
| Virginia Tech | Devin Carter | Grad | 141 | EDCI | 3rd NCAA |
| Virginia Tech | Zach Epperly | RS-FR | 174 | Real Estate | 7th NCAA |
| Wyoming | Tanner Harms | RS-JR | 285 | Mechanical Engineering | NCAA Qualifier |
