FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Mar. 11, 2009 - For the fifth straight season, the North Central College wrestling team counts itself among the most academically-successful programs at the NCAA Division III level, as the Cardinals are 19th in this year's National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III Academic Top 25 Rankings.

With a team grade-point average of 3.229, North Central is in the top 20 for the ninth time in the 11 seasons that the NWCA has released team academic rankings. The Cardinals also placed 14th overall at last weekend's Division III National Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

North Central is the only College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin team to appear in the Academic Top 25 Rankings. Williams College (Mass.) ranks first this season with a team GPA of 3.545.

The Cardinals also have three individuals who have been named Scholar All-Americans by the NWCA for their combined success in competition and academics. Making the list for the fourth consecutive year is Ben Youel, who also earned All-America honors last weekend, placing second nationally at 165 pounds.

Youel, a chemistry major, finished with a 41-4 record this season. He won his second individual CCIW Championship this season and placed second at the Great Lakes Regional. Youel is the only North Central College wrestler to receive Scholar All-America accolades in more than 20 years since the NWCA instituted the award, and he also finishes his collegiate career second on the Cardinals' career victories list with 139.

Making the Scholar All-America list for the first time are Cowan Brown and Jason Fitzenreider. Brown, an exercise science major, finished the season with an overall record of 28-15, winning the CCIW Championship and placing fifth at the regional tournament at 157 pounds. Fitzenreider, who majors in sociology and criminal justice, posted a record of 29-4 at 149 pounds, also placing first in the CCIW and fifth in the region.

A total of 125 Division III wrestlers received Scholar All-America selections. North Central College has multiple representatives on the list for the fifth straight season.