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

Oct. 13, 2011 - North Central College head wrestling coach Kevin Bratland has announced the addition of former NCAA Division II individual national champion Craig Becker to the Cardinals' coaching staff for the 2011-2012 season.

Becker comes to North Central from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, where he was a four-year member of the Rangers' NCAA Division II wrestling program from 2006-2010. He was a three time Division II All-American for the Rangers, capping off his collegiate career with a Division II individual national championship at 149 pounds in 2010.

Becker was also the Division II Outstanding Wrestler award winner at the National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals in 2010 and was a First Team Academic All-American in 2008. He was named UW-Parkside's Male Athlete of the Year and was selected to participate in the NCAA's inaugural Career in Sports Forum following his senior season.

During the 2010-2011 season, Becker served as an assistant coach for the Rangers, helping UW-Parkside achieve a 10th-place finish at the Division II National Championships.

"We're very excited to have Craig as part of our staff," Bratland said. "I watched him wrestle when he was a student-athlete and I know he brings a great work ethic and knowledge of wrestling here to North Central College. He will work tirelessly to push our guys to their full potential."

The Cardinals, who finished 26th in last season's Division III National Championships, open the 2011-2012 season on Sunday, Nov. 6 at Northern Illinois University, taking on a pair of Division I opponents in dual competition. North Central will face off with NIU at 10 a.m., followed by a noon encounter with Stanford University.