COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Wrestling redshirt senior Blaise Butler (Belvidere, Ill.), redshirt junior Zach Synon (Cary, Ill.) and redshirt sophomore Willie Miklus (Altoona, Iowa) were all named National Wrestling Coaches Association Academic All-Americans, announced by the organization on Monday. Mizzou's three recipients' ties the second-most award winners Mizzou has had in an individual year. Mizzou had three recipients in 2007 and five in 2015. Synon and Miklus are now two-time recipients, after being selected last season.
Butler, who is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Business Administration, posted a 23-5 record on the mat and captured the 174-pound MAC Championship on March 6 in his only season in the black and gold. Butler was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll twice while at Virginia and was selected for the All-MAC Academic team this season.
Synon is a Business Administration major who finished 16-14 this season, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. In addition to his second straight NWCA Academic-All American selection, Synon was also named to the Academic All-MAC Team for the second time in March and was named a MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete in April.
Miklus is a Psychology major who earned All-American Honors on the mat in his second season as an attached wrestler. Miklus posted a 21-8 record and placed sixth at the NCAA Tournament. The Iowa native was also named to the All-MAC Team for the second time in March and was named a MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete in April.
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Butler, Synon & Miklus Earn NWCA Academic All-American Honors#TigerStyle
— #TigerStyle (@MizzouWrestling) May 9, 2016
[https://t.co/sRChjN4l6Q] pic.twitter.com/xARuMANucO
–MIZZOU–