Eastern Michigan Athletics
Five Wrestlers Earn Academic All-MAC Accolades
3/28/2016 12:58:00 PM | Wrestling
The Eagles finished with the second most selections in the conference
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Mid-American Conference announced Monday, March 28, that five members of the Eastern Michigan University wrestling team have been named to the Academic All-MAC team. EMU had the second most members on the team, behind Kent State (9).
The five grapplers who earned the honor include redshirt junior Nicholas Barber (Cleveland, Ohio-St. Edward), redshirt freshman Derek Hillman (Woodhaven, Mich.-Woodhaven-Brownstown), redshirt sophomore Kyle Springer (New Boston, Mich.-Davenport Assumption), redshirt freshman Armando Torres (Lorain, Ohio-Elyria), and junior Shayne Wireman (Lansing, Mich.-Holt). It marked the third time Barber has been named to an Academic All-MAC team, while it was the first such honor for the other four.
The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award. Outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments for the current season are only considered.
Barber was the starter at 149 lbs. for EMU in his third year. The redshirt junior went 15-8 during the regular season, including 8-6 in duals and 4-4 in conference. He took third place at the MAC Championships, earning his first ever NCAA tournament appearance. At nationals, Barber won one of his matches in the consolation bracket, knocking off a returning All-American. Barber maintains a 3.76 GPA while majoring in general business.
In his first season as a starter, the 184 pounder, Hillman, posted a 14-12 regular season record, including a 9-6 dual record, and 4-4 dual mark in conference matches. Hillman's 14 wins came from nine decisions, three major decisions, and two technical falls. Hillman maintains a 3.80 GPA while still deciding on his major.
Springer, in his first year as a starter following his transfer, led the Eagles at the 141 pound weight class, posting a 17-12 overall record and an 8-6 mark in duals. Springer defeated two ranked opponents throughout the season, and racked up a team-high 41 dual points. He also led the team with five major decisions. Springer maintains a 3.72 GPA as an exercise science major.
Torres, in his first season as a starter at 125 lbs., went 12-10 overall and a stellar 9-4 in dual action, including 4-3 in conference duals. His dual career began with back-to-back technical fall wins. He also notched a pair of major decision wins in dual action as well. Torres maintains a 3.74 GPA while majoring in business administration.
Wireman, in his third year as a starter at 133 lbs., battled through an injury plagued season to post a 6-7 overall record, including 3-6 in duals and 2-2 in conference duals. He took sixth at the Reno Tournament of Champions before sustaining his first injury, which knocked him out of competition for just over a month. Wireman battled back to take sixth at the MAC Championships, upsetting the No. 2 seed, before bowing out of the competition following another injury. Wireman maintains a 3.86 GPA while majoring in biology.
2016 Academic All-MAC Wrestling Team (32):
Muhamed McBryde, Senior, 3.21 GPA, Sociology (Buffalo, N.Y.)
Jordan Atienza, Central Michigan, Sophomore, 3.26 GPA, Finance (Livonia, Mich.)
Zach Horan, Central Michigan, Senior, 3.85 GPA, MSA: Leadership (Nazareth, Pa.)
Corey Keener, Central Michigan, Junior, 3.23 GPA, Physical Education (Schuylkill Haven, Pa.)
~Newton Smerchek, Central Michigan, Junior, 3.98 GPA, Physical Education (Casco, Wis.)
~@Nicholas Barber, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 3.76 GPA, General Business (Cleveland, Ohio)
Derek Hillman, Eastern Michigan, R-Freshman, 3.80 GPA, Undecided (Woodhaven, Mich.)
Kyle Springer, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.72 GPA, Exercise Science (New Boston, Mich.)
Armando Torres, Eastern Michigan, R-Freshman, 3.74 GPA, Business Admin. (Lorain, Ohio)
Shayne Wireman, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 3.86 GPA, Biology (Lansing, Mich.)
~#Tyler Buckwalter, Kent State, Senior, 3.94 GPA, Physical Education (Mill Hall, Pa.)
Kyle Conel, Kent State, Sophomore, 3.51 GPA, Computer Science (Ashtabula, Ohio)
~Chance Driscoll, Kent State, Junior, 3.76 GPA, Economics (Aurora, Ohio)
~#Mack McGuire, Kent State, Senior, 3.29 GPA, Speech Pathology & Audiology (Upper St. Clair, Pa.)
Devin Nye, Kent State, Sophomore, 3.81 GPA, Exercise Science (Springfield, Ohio)
~Stephen Suglio, Kent State, Junior, 3.76 GPA, Integrated Science (Richfield, Ohio)
Anthony Tutolo, Kent State, Sophomore, 3.65 GPA, Physical Education (Concord, Ohio)
~Del Vinas, Kent State, Graduate Student, 3.35 GPA, Technology (Twinsburg, Ohio)
~Mike Vollant, Kent State, Senior, 3.73 GPA, Biological Science (Erie, Pa.)
Blaise Butler, Missouri, Senior, 3.60 GPA, MBA (Belvidere, Ill.)
~Willie Miklus, Missouri, Sophomore, 3.40 GPA, Psychology (Altoona, Iowa)
~Zach Synon, Missouri, Junior, 3.50 GPA, Business Administration (Cary, Ill.)
Quinton Rosser, Northern Illinois, 3.94 GPA, Nursing (Cincinnati, Ohio)
~#*Spartak Chino, Ohio, Senior, 3.634 GPA, General Business (Wheaton, Ill.)
~#Cody Walters, Ohio, Senior, 3.273 GPA, Physical Education (Macedonia, Ohio)
~Austin Coburn, Old Dominion, Senior, 3.52 GPA, Sport Management (Midlothian, Va.)
Jack Dechow, Old Dominion, 3.22 GPA, Communications (Richmond, Ill.)
Austin Eads, Old Dominion, 3.40 GPA, Criminal Justice and Sociology (Lee's Summit, Mo.)
Devin Geoghegan, Old Dominion, 3.31 GPA, Communications (Kenilworth, N.J.)
~ 2015 Academic All-MAC Wrestling Team
# 2014 Academic All-MAC Wrestling Team
@ 2014 Academic All-MAC Wrestling Team – Honorable Mention
* 2013 Academic All-MAC Wrestling Team
The five grapplers who earned the honor include redshirt junior Nicholas Barber (Cleveland, Ohio-St. Edward), redshirt freshman Derek Hillman (Woodhaven, Mich.-Woodhaven-Brownstown), redshirt sophomore Kyle Springer (New Boston, Mich.-Davenport Assumption), redshirt freshman Armando Torres (Lorain, Ohio-Elyria), and junior Shayne Wireman (Lansing, Mich.-Holt). It marked the third time Barber has been named to an Academic All-MAC team, while it was the first such honor for the other four.
The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award. Outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments for the current season are only considered.
Barber was the starter at 149 lbs. for EMU in his third year. The redshirt junior went 15-8 during the regular season, including 8-6 in duals and 4-4 in conference. He took third place at the MAC Championships, earning his first ever NCAA tournament appearance. At nationals, Barber won one of his matches in the consolation bracket, knocking off a returning All-American. Barber maintains a 3.76 GPA while majoring in general business.
In his first season as a starter, the 184 pounder, Hillman, posted a 14-12 regular season record, including a 9-6 dual record, and 4-4 dual mark in conference matches. Hillman's 14 wins came from nine decisions, three major decisions, and two technical falls. Hillman maintains a 3.80 GPA while still deciding on his major.
Springer, in his first year as a starter following his transfer, led the Eagles at the 141 pound weight class, posting a 17-12 overall record and an 8-6 mark in duals. Springer defeated two ranked opponents throughout the season, and racked up a team-high 41 dual points. He also led the team with five major decisions. Springer maintains a 3.72 GPA as an exercise science major.
Torres, in his first season as a starter at 125 lbs., went 12-10 overall and a stellar 9-4 in dual action, including 4-3 in conference duals. His dual career began with back-to-back technical fall wins. He also notched a pair of major decision wins in dual action as well. Torres maintains a 3.74 GPA while majoring in business administration.
Wireman, in his third year as a starter at 133 lbs., battled through an injury plagued season to post a 6-7 overall record, including 3-6 in duals and 2-2 in conference duals. He took sixth at the Reno Tournament of Champions before sustaining his first injury, which knocked him out of competition for just over a month. Wireman battled back to take sixth at the MAC Championships, upsetting the No. 2 seed, before bowing out of the competition following another injury. Wireman maintains a 3.86 GPA while majoring in biology.
2016 Academic All-MAC Wrestling Team (32):
Muhamed McBryde, Senior, 3.21 GPA, Sociology (Buffalo, N.Y.)
Jordan Atienza, Central Michigan, Sophomore, 3.26 GPA, Finance (Livonia, Mich.)
Zach Horan, Central Michigan, Senior, 3.85 GPA, MSA: Leadership (Nazareth, Pa.)
Corey Keener, Central Michigan, Junior, 3.23 GPA, Physical Education (Schuylkill Haven, Pa.)
~Newton Smerchek, Central Michigan, Junior, 3.98 GPA, Physical Education (Casco, Wis.)
~@Nicholas Barber, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 3.76 GPA, General Business (Cleveland, Ohio)
Derek Hillman, Eastern Michigan, R-Freshman, 3.80 GPA, Undecided (Woodhaven, Mich.)
Kyle Springer, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.72 GPA, Exercise Science (New Boston, Mich.)
Armando Torres, Eastern Michigan, R-Freshman, 3.74 GPA, Business Admin. (Lorain, Ohio)
Shayne Wireman, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 3.86 GPA, Biology (Lansing, Mich.)
~#Tyler Buckwalter, Kent State, Senior, 3.94 GPA, Physical Education (Mill Hall, Pa.)
Kyle Conel, Kent State, Sophomore, 3.51 GPA, Computer Science (Ashtabula, Ohio)
~Chance Driscoll, Kent State, Junior, 3.76 GPA, Economics (Aurora, Ohio)
~#Mack McGuire, Kent State, Senior, 3.29 GPA, Speech Pathology & Audiology (Upper St. Clair, Pa.)
Devin Nye, Kent State, Sophomore, 3.81 GPA, Exercise Science (Springfield, Ohio)
~Stephen Suglio, Kent State, Junior, 3.76 GPA, Integrated Science (Richfield, Ohio)
Anthony Tutolo, Kent State, Sophomore, 3.65 GPA, Physical Education (Concord, Ohio)
~Del Vinas, Kent State, Graduate Student, 3.35 GPA, Technology (Twinsburg, Ohio)
~Mike Vollant, Kent State, Senior, 3.73 GPA, Biological Science (Erie, Pa.)
Blaise Butler, Missouri, Senior, 3.60 GPA, MBA (Belvidere, Ill.)
~Willie Miklus, Missouri, Sophomore, 3.40 GPA, Psychology (Altoona, Iowa)
~Zach Synon, Missouri, Junior, 3.50 GPA, Business Administration (Cary, Ill.)
Quinton Rosser, Northern Illinois, 3.94 GPA, Nursing (Cincinnati, Ohio)
~#*Spartak Chino, Ohio, Senior, 3.634 GPA, General Business (Wheaton, Ill.)
~#Cody Walters, Ohio, Senior, 3.273 GPA, Physical Education (Macedonia, Ohio)
~Austin Coburn, Old Dominion, Senior, 3.52 GPA, Sport Management (Midlothian, Va.)
Jack Dechow, Old Dominion, 3.22 GPA, Communications (Richmond, Ill.)
Austin Eads, Old Dominion, 3.40 GPA, Criminal Justice and Sociology (Lee's Summit, Mo.)
Devin Geoghegan, Old Dominion, 3.31 GPA, Communications (Kenilworth, N.J.)
~ 2015 Academic All-MAC Wrestling Team
# 2014 Academic All-MAC Wrestling Team
@ 2014 Academic All-MAC Wrestling Team – Honorable Mention
* 2013 Academic All-MAC Wrestling Team
Players Mentioned
149
/ Wrestling
184
/ Wrestling
141
/ Wrestling
125
/ Wrestling
133
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