James Bethel
  • Communication
  • Class of 2019
  • Saugerties, NY

SUNY Oneonta Wrestlers receive Academic Accolades

2018 Mar 28

Four SUNY Oneonta wrestlers were recognized as Scholar All-Americans for their work in the classroom recently by the NWCA. Oneonta also earned honors as a team placing 15th overall in Division III. Earning individual recognition were seniors Austin Sisco (Denville) and James Bethel (Saugerties) and sophomores Ahken Chu (Patterson) and Kevin Knox (Stormville). Bethel and Knox are being recognized for a second straight year while Sisco and Chu are being honored for the first time of their careers.

Bethel earned All-American honors for the third time of his career after finishing second at 285 pounds at the NCAA Division III championships. Bethel became the first wrestler in program history to reach the championship bout at the national championships. He finished the season with an overall record of 34-4 including 18 wins via pinfall. Bethel was the ECWC and Mideast Region Champion this winter while being a place-winner at multiple tournaments. He was also the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Electric City Duals and was the Co-MOW at the ECWC championships.

Sisco finished fourth at 133 pounds at the NCAA championships to earn All-American honors for the first time of his career. He finished with a team best 37 wins this year against only seven defeats. He was second to Bethel with 16 pins. Sisco was an All-Region wrestler and placed in multiple tournaments during the season.

Knox followed his outstanding rookie year in 2016-17 with another tremendous season on the mat. Knox completed a 29-7 season overall that included five wins by pin. Knox was All-State at 133 pounds and was the champion at the RIT Invitational.

Chu had a solid year as a starter for the Red Dragons. He finished the season 20-15 overall and earned ECWC All-Conference honors after his fourth place finish at the championships. He also was an All-Region wrestler after placing sixth at the NCAA Mideast regional championships.

To be a Scholar All-American, wrestlers must have been a national qualifier in this season or placed in the top six at the NCAA Regional tournament or have a minimum record of .500 won/loss while competing in 50 percent of the team's NCAA sanctioned schedule. They must have a cumulative GPA over the previous two semesters OR cumulative GPA of 3.2+. They also are eligible if they had a winning percentage of 67% but did not place in the Top six at regionals.

Additionally, seniors Matt Marino (Nesconset) and Anthony Messina (Farmingville), juniors Alex Marro (Ilion) and Daniel Murphy (Poughkeepsie), and freshmen Andrew DeSousa (Smithtown), Eric Brach (Bellmore), Austin Carr (Guilford) and Michael Savello (Kings Park) were all named to the ECWC All-Academic Team. Oneonta had the most wrestlers of any school in the ECWC recognized.

To be eligible, wrestlers must have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher (through the last eligible grading period of the current academic year) while completing an entire season as a member of a conference institution's wrestling team. Freshmen and transfers that have been enrolled full-time for at least one semester are eligible to receive this honor.

Marino (Biology) is being honored for a third straight year. Marino won five matches this season.

Messina (Psychology) and Murphy are being recognized for a second time during their careers. Messina won 15 matches this winter and was a place-winner at the Ned McGinley Tournament. Murphy won a career best 22 matches this season and was an ECWC All-Conference performer.

Brach (Biology), Carr (Criminal Justice), DeSousa (Physics), Marro (Music Industry) and Savello (Education) are all being honored for the first time.

The Red Dragons finished its 2017-18 campaign with an overall dual-meet record of 12-6 while finishing tied for 10th place at the NCAA Championships, which was a program best. The Red Dragons also placed eighth at the NYS Collegiate Championships, third at the ECWC Championships and eighth at the Mideast Regional Championships.