FAIRFIELD, CT (May 19, 2003)--In just its fourth season of existence as a Division I program, the Sacred Heart University wrestling team showed it was more than a match for many teams, not just on the mat but in the classroom, as well. For the second consecutive year, the Pioneer wrestling team topped the National Wrestling Coaches Association's (NWCA) list of the top academic Division I teams in the nation.
With a cumulative GPA of 3.412, Sacred Heart edged Duquesne for the honor for the second year in a row. The Dukes were second with a 3.332 GPA, followed by Central Michigan (3.285), Brown (3.27) and Princeton (3.23). Rounding out the top ten were Eastern Michigan, Stanford, Harvard, Indiana and James Madison.
Junior Michael Messina (Smithtown, NY), who won the Colonial Athletic Association championship at 141 pounds and qualified for the NCAA Championships, was chosen to the NWCA All-Academic second team. He finished the year with a 3.87 GPA in History.
Senior Anthony Reynolds (Farmington, CT), an NCAA qualifier at 197 pounds, was named Honorable Mention with a 3.80 GPA in Mathematics. Junior Robert Belville (Chagrin Falls, OH), who qualified for the NCAA's at 157 pounds, was also named Honorable Mention with a 3.64 GPA in Business.
“I am so proud of this team,” said head coach Andy Seras. “Not only did we excel on the mat this year, finishing second in the CAA Championships and send four wrestlers to the NCAA's, but we also showed that we get it done in the classroom as well. To be mentioned in the same breath as the Ivy League schools and Stanford is a wonderful thing for our University. These guys have set a very high standard for others to follow in future years.”
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