The Life U Men's Wrestling team didn't just score well on the mat this season, they scored well in the classroom, accumulating a 3.08 team GPA.  The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) annually recognizes the top ten teams, and the top 45 individuals in the country who excell in the classroom.  Life U ranked 10th as a team, and Oliver Brukardt ranked 1st in GPA among those earning All-American.  Congrats to the team and Oliver for their accomplishments! 

(from NWCA press release)

Manheim, Pennsylvania – In just its second year of existence, the wrestling program at Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, Georgia has made an impact with its student-athletes.

Coached by Marcus Cobbs, the Bears program ranked No. 1 in the NAIA in the annual National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic team. Truett-McConnell had a team GPA of 3.424.

Great Falls (Mont.) finished second with a 3.398 team GPA, while Grand View (Iowa), which won its fourth straight NAIA national championship, was third with a team GPA of 3.232. Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) and the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) rounded out the top five.

From the top 10, half of the teams were started since 2000.

"We aren't just seeing tremendous growth in the new programs in the NAIA, but the quality of student-athlete we are seeing matriculate at those programs is also significant," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "We're not just seeing stellar athletic accomplishments, but the number of All-Americans and national qualifiers with GPA's of 3.0 or better is indicative of how the sport of wrestling attracts some of the best and brightest students around the country."

Individually, Life University (Ga.) senior Oliver Brukardt was the top individual All-American and All-Academic performer, with a 4.0 GPA. Brukardt was eighth at the NAIA national championships. Lindsey Wilson's Joey Cozart and Missouri Valley's Gabi Musallam were two of the 2015 individual champions on the All-Academic team. Cozart,  a two-time champion at 157 pounds, checked in with a 3.19 in physical education while Musallam checked in with a 3.3 GPA in criminal justice.

Grand View placed eight wrestlers on the All-Academic team, led by sophomore 149-pounder Elijah Sullivan. The national qualifier has a 4.0 GPA in biology. Schools with multiple members on the team are: Campbellsville (3), Concordia, Neb. (3), University of the Cumberlands (2), Dakota Wesleyan (2), Great Falls (6), Lindsey Wilson (4), Menlo (2), Missouri Valley (3), Southern Oregon (2).