'Berg Sixth in the Nation Academically; Fogliano and Bowers Snag Individual Honors

The Heidelberg College wrestling team, which recently had two wrestlers earn All-American status at the NCAA Division III Tournament, has been honored by the  National Wrestling Coaches Association for its academic prowess. The team carries a cumulative GPA of 3.453, worthy of sixth place team honors on the NWCA list. The Student Princes ranked atop two other Ohio Athletic Conference opponents; Ohio Northern placed 12th, while Baldwin-Wallace came in 21st.

Ryan Fogliano (Maple Heights, Ohio / Maple Heights) and Ryan Bowers (Lima, Ohio / Elida) were also honored for their efforts on the mat and in the classroom. Both seniors already earned All-American status this season when Fogliano placed seventh at the national tournament and Bowers grabbed sixth, but now both hold the title of Academic All-American as well. To earn NWCA Academic All-American honors one must carry at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average, placed in your national qualifying match and have at least a 69 percent winning percentage.

Fogliano, a 197-pound sports management major, finished the season with a 16-3 record and carries a 3.43 GPA in the classroom. It is the second time in a row that Fogliano has received the academic honor from the NWCA.

Bowers, a heavyweight majoring in sports management and business, finished the season with a record of 32-8 while maintaining a GPA of 3.7. The two-time national qualifier is also earning accolades from the NWCA for his academic abilities for the second straight time.

The Berg, under the guidance of head coach Jason Miller,  finished its regular season 11-2 overall, while Bowers’ 32 wins ties him for seventh on the program’s single-season win list. Five individuals made the trip to nationals for the Student Princes, the most for the team in recent memory. Heidelberg also grabbed its third-straight OAC Tournament Title and second OAC Regular Season crown in three years.