May 27, 2004

Wrestlers Honored

All-Americans Earn Academic Accolades

            Kearney, NE – Nebraska-Kearney junior wrestlers Bryce Abbey and Adam Keiswetter have been named to the second-team Academic All-District VII At-Large team, as selected by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America).

            The duo joins Nick Branting (men’s basketball), Brad Bohn (football), Ross Gardner (football), Allison Kruger (women’s basketball) and Ashley Speak (softball) as Lopers to earn this award during the 2003-04 academic year. 

            The CoSIDA Academic All-District team for track will be released shortly. 

            A three-time All-American, Abbey went 37-5 this past year and finished third in the nation at 125 lbs. He spent most of the year ranked 2^nd nationally in his weight class.

            The Goodland, Kans., native holds a 3.41 cumulative GPA as an Exercise Science major and should become the Lopers’ all-time leader in career wins next season. 

            A two-time All-American, Keiswetter had 15 pins among his 23 wins this year. He finished fifth in the nation at 133 lbs.

            In three years, the former Kearney High standout has racked up 80 wins, 47 by fall. He maintains a 3.68 cumulative GPA as a Health & Physical Education major.

            Student-athletes from NCAA Division II and III schools make up the team with District VII including schools in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Montana, Wyoming, South and North Dakota and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

            Besides wrestling, 11 other sports are included in the “at-large” category, including golf, tennis and swimming.  

            A total of 20 student-athletes make up the District VII team (10 first-team, 10 second-team) with Abbey and Keiswetter being two of the four wrestlers picked.

            The complete team can be found at: www.cosida.com