March 19, 2009

2009 NWCA Scholar All-Americans in PDF Format

2009 NWCA Scholar All-America Teams in PDF Format

BALTIMORE, MD - Johns Hopkins sophomore Rocky Barilla (Westbury, NY/Carle Place) has been named to the 2009 NCAA Division III National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-America Team. To be eligible for the NWCA Scholar All-America Team a wrestler must be at least a sophomore and maintain either a 3.2 cumulative grade point average or a 3.2 average over the previous two semesters. Barilla is one of five Centennial Conference wrestlers named to the team.

In addition to Barilla being named to the team, the Blue Jay wrestling team ranked 16th in the nation in overall team GPA. Johns Hopkins fashions a 3.271 overall team GPA and was one of just two Centennial Conference schools listed among the top 25.

Barilla, who is majoring in neuroscience with a minor in writing seminars, emerged as one of the top young wrestlers in the Centennial Conference this season as he posted a 24-10 record in the 141-pound weight class. He was unable to wrestle in the Centennial Conference Championships due to an injury, but ended the season with an 11-match winning streak and posted a perfect 5-0 record in Centennial matches during the regular season. He led the team with 15 victories by decision and ranked fourth with six pins. Despite missing the conference championships, he still finished tied for second on the team with his 24 victories.

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