WWC Announces Award Winners and All-Conference Squads
March 27, 2008
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The Western Wrestling Conference has announced its
award winners and All-Conference teams for the 2007-08 season.
Air Force’s Joel Sharratt was voted Coach of the Year, UNI’s Nick Pickerell was named Freshman of the Year and UNI’s Moza Fay earned Wrestler of Year honors. The awards were voted on by the league’s head coaches.
Sharratt, who is in his second season as the Falcon’s head wrestling
coach, has been named the 2007-08 WWC Coach of the Year. He led Air
Force to a second-place finish at the 2008 NCAA West Regional and
qualified four wrestlers for the NCAA Championships. The Falcons posted
a 9-9 overall dual mark to go along with a 3-2 record in WWC dual
action.
The Panthers’ Pickerell (Albia, Iowa) has been named WWC Freshman of
the Year. Pickerell posted a 21-9 overall record and won 149-pound West
Regional title to earn a spot into the NCAA Championships. Pickerell
lost an 8-6 decision to No. 12-seeded Morgan Atkinson (Cal State
Fullerton) in his first-round NCAA match after leading 5-1. He scored a
pair of wins over national qualifier Ryan Adam (NDSU) this season.
Pickerell went 3-2 in dual action. He also picked up first-place honors
in the 149-pound weight class at the Jim Fox Open on Dec. 8 and the
Flash Flanagan Open on Jan. 5.
UNI’s Fay (Anamosa, Iowa) has been named WWC Wrestler of the Year. Fay,
25-8 overall and 6-0 vs. WWC opponents, became the conference’s first
All-American after placing fifth at 165 pounds at the 2008 NCAA
Championships. At the NCAAs, Fay went 5-2 with wins over ranked foes
No. 5 Stephen Dwyer (Nebraska), No. 9 Trevor Stewert (Central Michigan)
and No. 10 Michael Cannon (American). Fay earned his second trip to the
NCAA Championships after winning the 165-pound NCAA West Regional title
on March 8. Earlier this season he won the 165-pound title at the Loras
Open on Nov. 10 and placed second at the Kaufman-Brand Open on Nov. 17.
Fay led the Panthers this year with 11 pins.
All-Conference individuals earned their spots on the respective teams
with their finish at the 2008 NCAA West Regional on March 8 in Fargo,
N.D.
The University of Northern Iowa led the way with six first-team
honorees. The United States Air Force Academy added two first-teamers.
North Dakota State University and the University of Northern Colorado
each had one wrestler on the first team.
UNI had all 10 wrestlers earn all-conference recognition. Air Force,
Northern Colorado and the University of Wyoming all had five wrestlers
earn all-league honors. Each school that competed at this year’s West
Regional had at least one individual on the all-conference squads.
The Western Wrestling Conference is comprised of seven schools
including the Air Force Academy, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado,
Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Utah Valley State and Wyoming. The
conference formed in April 2006.
2007-08 WWC ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM - FIRST TEAM
125 - Eric Hoffman (NDSU), Sr., Davenport, Iowa (Davenport North HS/Iowa Central CC)
133 - Josh Baldridge (UNI), Jr., Haysville, Kan. (Campus HS/Labette CC)
141 - Jake Kriegbaum (Air Force), Sr., Abilene, Kan. (Abilene HS)
149 - Nick Pickerell (UNI), R-Fr., Albia, Iowa (Centerville HS)
157 - Tyson Reiner (UNI), So., Mitchell, S.D. (Mitchell HS)
165 - Moza Fay (UNI), Jr., Anamosa, Iowa (Anamosa HS)
174 - Tyler French (Air Force), So., Malta, Mont. (Malta HS)
184 - Andy O’Loughlin (UNI), R-Fr., Independence, Iowa (Independence HS)
197 - Andrew Anderson (UNI), Jr., Sioux City, Iowa (Sioux City East HS)
285 - Reece Hopkin (Northern Colorado), Sr., Kersey, Colo. (Platte Valley HS)
2007-08 WWC ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM - SECOND TEAM
125 - Tony Mustari (UNC), So., Greeley, Colo. (Greeley Central HS)
133 - Cory VomBaur (Wyoming), So., Vancouver, Wash. (Evergreen HS)
141 - Carter Downing (Wyoming), Sr., Woodruff, Utah (Evanston {Wyo.} HS)
149 - Ryan Adams (NDSU), So., Coon Rapids, Minn. (Coon Rapids HS)
157 - Tony Dorward (Air Force), Sr., Seattle, Wash. (Mt. Ranier HS)
165 - Stephen Crozier (Air Force), Jr., Monona, Iowa (MFL-Mar-Mac HS)
174 - Alex Dolly (UNI), Sr., Mishawaka, Ind. (Mishawaka HS)
184 - Jacob Devlin (Air Force), Sr., Livingston, N.J. (Livingston HS)
197 - Jacob Bryce (NDSU), Jr., Glenwood, Minn. (Minnewaska Area HS)
285 - Jason Still (Wyoming), Sr., Aurora, Colo. (Gateway HS)
2007-08 WWC ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM - THIRD TEAM
125 - Caleb Flores (UNI), R-Fr., Rosemead, Calif. (Northview HS)
133 - Eric Sanders (NDSU), Sr., Wabasha, Minn. (Wabasha-Kellogg HS)
141 - C.J. Ettelson (UNI), Sr., Hudson, Iowa (Hudson HS)
149 - Cole Dallaserra (Wyoming), R-Fr., Butte, Mont. (Butte HS)
157 - Rocco DePaolo (UNC), R-Fr., Aurora, Colo. (Eaglecrest HS)
165 - Eric Coxbill (Wyoming), Jr., Wright, Wyo. (Wright HS)
174 - Ryan Johnson (UNC), Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo. (Doherty HS)
184 - Tyler Sorenson (SDSU), So., Garretson, S.D. (Garretson HS)
197 - Patrick Carey (UNC), Phoenix, Ariz. (Marcos de Niza HS)