April 6, 2009

BALTIMORE, MD - Johns Hopkins sophomore wrestlers Rocky Barilla (Westbury, NY/Carle Place) and Chris Ruland (Annapolis, MD/St. Mary's) have been named to the 2009 Centennial Conference Winter Academic Honor Roll. To be eligible for the Centennial Academic Honor Roll, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore, have a 3.4 cumulative grade point average and be a starter or significant reserve. Barilla and Ruland are two of the 13 wrestlers named to the team league-wide.

Barilla, who is majoring in neuroscience with a minor in writing seminars and was previously named to the NWCA Scholar All-America Team , 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.

Ruland alternated between the 141 and 149-pound weight classes and posted a 4-10 record on the year. He picked up a pair of decisions, a major decision and one pin on the year with a pair of wins at the Roger Williams Invitational. Ruland is majoring in molecular and cellular biology and is a member of the Collegiate National Honor Society.

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