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St. Cloud State’s Merritt Named to All-Rookie Team

May 19, 2009

St. Cloud State University freshman Tad Merritt (Canby) has been named to the 2009 Amateur Wrestling News All-Rookie Team. He was named to the the All-Rookie Team as a second team selection at 165-pounds.

The Amateur Wrestling News All-Rookie team recognizes wrestlers at all levels of NCAA competition, as Wisconsin's Andrew Howe was the first team selection at 165-pounds. Nick Amuchastegui of Stanford was selected as third team at 165-pounds followed by Kyle DeBerry on the fourth team, Ryan Smith of Oklahoma on the fifth team and Tyler Johnson of North Dakota State on the sixth team. Merritt was one of only four NCAA Division II athletes named to this year's Amateur Wrestling News All-Rookie Team.

Merritt captured third place honors in the 165-pound flight at the 2009 NCAA Division II championships, which provided him with All-America status this winter. He finished the year with a 37-6 overall record and a team-leading 17 pins in 2009. Merritt was named the 2009 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Rookie of the Year, and he placed third at the 2009 NCAA Division II Regional meet at 165-pounds. On Jan. 27, 2009, Merritt was named the NSIC Wrestler of the Week. He claimed three tournament championship throughout the 2008-09 season and also placed in a total of seven tournaments this winter.

As a team, the Huskies placed eighth at the 2009 NCAA Division II championships and also placed second at the 2009 NCAA Division regional tournament. Overall, the Huskies posted an 8-5 dual record and a 5-2 record in the always competitive NSIC under the leadership of third-year head coach Steve Costanzo.