GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – National finalist Jake Wentzel of Pitt has been named the 2020-21 Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year and headlines the sport’s All-ACC Academic Team announced by the league on Wednesday.
Wentzel, a two-time ACC champion at 165 pounds, took the silver medal at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis and finished the season with a 13-2 overall record. The South Park, Pennsylvania, native has already earned his bachelor's degree in accounting and is now studying in Pitt's Katz Graduate School of Business, where he posted a 3.7 GPA in the fall.
Wentzel recently announced that he plans to return to the Panthers for the 2021-22 season, following the NCAA’s decision to award student-athletes an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He is a three-time member of the All-ACC Academic Wrestling Team and has earned ACC Honor Roll status four times.
Repeat selections on this year’s All-ACC Wrestling Academic Team include NC State’s Hayden Hidlay and Daniel Bullard, and Virginia’s Louie Hayes, who were each recognized for the fourth time. Bullard and Hidlay are among a league-leading six wrestlers from the ACC Champion Wolfpack that earned All-ACC Academic Team honors. Virginia followed with five selections.
This year’s All-ACC Academic Wrestling Team includes eight All-Americans, 20 NCAA qualifiers and student-athletes who earned a combined eight ACC Wrestler of the Week honors.
The ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards were established in September of 2007 to be awarded annually to the top junior or senior student-athlete in their respective sports. Candidates for the awards must have maintained a 3.0 grade point average for their careers, as well as a 3.0 for each of the last two semesters.
Minimum academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one’s academic career. Athletic achievements during the most recent season are also considered in selecting the All-ACC Academic Team.
The ACC Honor Roll, which recognizes all conference student-athletes with a grade point average of 3.0 for the current academic year, will be released in July.
2020-21 All-ACC Academic Wrestling Team
Josh Finesilver, Duke, Jr.; Evolutionary Anthropology
Joe Heilmann, North Carolina, Jr.; Economics
Clay Lautt, North Carolina, Sr..; Economics
Josh McClure, North Carolina, Sr.; Exercise & Sports Science
Daniel Bullard, NC State, Sr.; Business Administration/Economics
Jakob Camacho, NC State, So.; Business Administration
Hayden Hidlay, NC State, Sr.; Nonprofit Management
Trent Hidlay, NC State, So.; Business Administration
Jarrett Trombley, NC State; So.; Biological Sciences
Isaac Trumble, NC State, Fr.; Exploratory Studies
Nino Bonaccorsi, Pitt. Sr.; English Literature
Gregg Harvey, Pitt, Sr.; Marketing, Business Info Systems & Supply Chain Mgt.
Micky Phillippi, Pitt; Jr.; Communication: Rhetoric & Communications/Legal Studies
Jake Wentzel, Pitt, Gr.; Accounting/Business Administration
Brian Courtney, Virginia, Jr.; Kinesiology
Louie Hayes, Virginia, Gr.; Commerce
Jake Keating, Virginia, Jr.; INTE-Cognitive Sciences
Patrick McCormick, Virginia, Jr.; Kinesiology
Justin McCoy, Virginia, Jr.; Kinesiology
Connor Brady, Virginia Tech, R-Fr., Business
Sam Latona, Virginia Tech, R-Fr.; Management
Korbin Myers, Virginia Tech, Gr., Agriculture & Life Sciences
Bold denotes ACC Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year