May 5, 2010

Missouri senior and 2010 National Champion Maxwell Askren has been named to The National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic Team. Askren, an Interdisciplinary studies major with a 3.321 GPA, was one of five NCAA Champions earning a spot on the individual team.

Askren won the 184-pound National Title at the NCAA Championships in March. He is also a four-time first team academic All-Big 12 recipient.

"The student-athletes on this All-Academic Team are a great example of the hard work and dedication that the sport of wrestling teaches these young men," said NWCA President Jim Beichner. "Not only are they achieving winning a National Championship, but they are also showing that they are champions in the classroom as well."

The 2009-10 All-Academic individual team includes 61 NCAA qualifiers, 23 NCAA All-Americans, seven NCAA finalists and the five NCAA champions. In all, 74 individuals representing 45 schools are being honored on this year's All-Academic Team.

To qualify for the All-Academic team, a wrestler must have at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA, and either been an NCAA qualifier or won 60 percent of his total schedule - and must have competed in at least 60 percent of said schedule. The other way to qualify for the All-Academic team is to have a 3.0 GPA and been an NCAA All-American.

"The All-Academic team is a testament to our member coaches that they are striving to make their program as competitive as they can," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "Academics plays a huge role for the student athlete, especially after they are done competing and out in the working world as our next generation of teachers, coaches, and businessmen.

"There is so much more to wrestling than what is done on the mat and the All-Academic Team is a great way to acknowledge those efforts," said Moyer.