NWCA SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICANS

Manheim, PA – IN back-to-back seasons, the National Wrestling Coaches Association has announced that UC women's wrestling as the #1 NAIA Women's Wrestling Scholar All-American team, with the top team GPA in the NAIA. The team combined for an impressive 3.538 GPA for the 2020-21 school year. Seven Cumberlands wrestlers earned NAIA Scholar All-American honors, the second most, behind fellow Mid-South Conference team, Life University who had nine.

Seniors Bridgette Duty, Kailee Godinez, Ashley Ikner earned the NAIA Scholar All American honor in back-to-back seasons as well as Hailey Budney who took home the award this season and last.
 
The Patriots also boasted three freshmen as Scholar All-Americans with MaQuoia Bernabe, Elizabeth Dosado and Ariana Pereira.

Across the NAIA, there were a total of 48 wrestlers from nine institutions who garnered the award. Cumberlands and Life were joined by Indiana Tech as the other MSC team to have honorees. Cumberlands finished in first among all teams, followed by Indiana Tech in second and then Life in third, demonstrating the commitment to academic excellence across the conference.
 
Cumberlands excelled both on and off the mats this season, finishing as the #6 ranked team in the NAIA Postseason Poll. Duty led the team with the program's first ever NAIA National Championship, dominating the 130-weight class. Five Patriots earned All-American status including Bernabe, Duty and Ikner who were all named to the Scholar All-Americans list as well.

UC will look to build upon their success in the classroom and the mats for the 2021-21 school year. Their schedule for next year will be released at a later date.

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