Eight Pioneers Earn NWCA Scholar All-American Honors

Eight members of the Alfred State wrestling team have earned National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) 2021 Scholar All-American honors. The eight Pioneers are part of 413 student-athletes honored in NCAA DIII by the NWCA.

Erik Balys (Holley - Heavy Equipment Operations), Cale Bartosch (Palmyra Macedon - Electrical Engineering Technology), Loujerry Etienne (Brooklyn/New Visions - Cyber Security), Kyle Fitzgerald (Constableville/South Lewis - Mechanical Engineering Technology), Blake Ilges (Canisteo Greenwood - Electrical Engineering Technology), Paul Knapp (Dundee - Welding), Christian Kuster (Kerhonkson/Rondout - Electrical Construction & Maintenance), and Benjamin Rivera (Carmel - Automotive Services) were honored by the NWCA. Fitzgerald became the first Pioneer to ever be honored twice.

This season, due to COVID-19 protocols that kept many conferences and their teams sidelined, the Division III Leadership Group was moved to make changes to this year's awards program. Most notably, the team component has been suspended until next season with recognition going to individuals only.  It was also decided that athletes unable to compete this season would be eligible for nomination and could receive All-America status.

"In what has been a trying season for all, I'm excited to recognize these talented athletes who stayed the course in the classroom and continued their pursuit of excellence as they work toward their degrees," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "The NWCA and our Board of Directors remain committed to honoring outstanding academic performance and would like to thank the coaches, support staff, and administrators at these institutions for their commitment to their student-athletes."

Earlier this spring, seven Pioneers were named to the ECWC All-Academic Team.