from the AAC

Men's Wrestling All-Academic, Champions of Character Teams Announced

WALESKA, Ga. - The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) announced the 2022-23 AAC Men's Wrestling All-Academic and Champions of Character teams on Tuesday.

To qualify for the All-Academic Team, a student-athlete must be a sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 or above.

For the Champions of Character Team, student-athletes are nominated by their coach for best exemplifying the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character program. The five values are integrity, respect, responsibility, servant leadership, and sportsmanship.

Trevor Burdick was selected as this year's NAIA Champions of Character for his outstanding work in the classroom, on the mat, and as a leader on the wrestling team. He was one of the team captains this season and he is coming off last year where he placed 5th in the NAIA Nationals. He will be shooting for a place on the podium on Friday as RU Wrestling competes at the nationals.

RU Wrestling had 12 members make the All-Academic Team. Gabe Anderson, Dawson Bates, Trevor Burdick, Tyler Garrett, Tyler Ingram, Sam Irwin, Nic Jarvis, Matt Jenkins, Jonathan Paramore, Ruston Robinson, Jonathan Shadinger, and Cole Tenety were all RU wrestlers selected for this list for their excellent work in the classroom this school year.

43 to Represent the AAC at the NAIA Men's Wrestling Championships

WALESKA, Ga. - Forty-three student-athletes are set to make the trek north to represent the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) at the 2023 NAIA Men's Wrestling Championships.

The 66th annual event features four sessions and starts on March 3 before ending on ESPN3 during the Championship bouts on Saturday, March 4.

Nine AAC teams are sending at least one athlete to nationals with Southeastern leading the way with 12. Life is next in line with 11, while Reinhardt is sending nine. The other schools who will have a competitor at nationals are Brewton-Parker, Keiser, Montreat, St. Thomas, Truett McConnell, and WVU Tech.

Representing RU Wrestling will be:

125 Angel Banda Reinhardt (Ga.) Appalachian Automatic Qualifier

133 Jackson Bond Reinhardt (Ga.) Appalachian National At-Large

141 Dawson Bates Reinhardt (Ga.) Appalachian National At-Large

149 Cole Luallen Reinhardt (Ga.) Appalachian Automatic Qualifier

157 Trevor Burdick Reinhardt (Ga.) Appalachian Automatic Qualifier

165 Wyatt Higgens Reinhardt (Ga.) Appalachian Automatic Qualifier

165 Matt Jenkins Reinhardt (Ga.) Appalachian Automatic Qualifier

174 Cole Tenety Reinhardt (Ga.) Appalachian Automatic Qualifier

184 Sam Irwin Reinhardt (Ga.) Appalachian National At-Large

For a complete look at the brackets, click here.

For additional information on the 2023 NAIA Men's Wrestling National Championships, click here.