March 19, 2008

DETROIT - Senior wrestler Kalen Knull earned a place on the Academic All-Mid-American Conference team for the second time in his career, commissioner Rick Chryst announced Tuesday.

"I'm very proud of Kalen for the hard work he's done in the classroom and in the matroom," 12th-year head coach Dave Grant said. "He put together quite a performance at the MAC tournament to finish his wrestling career, and I'm confident he'll finish his academic career in the same fashion."

The 149-pound grappler holds a 3.40 grade point average as a physical therapy major. On the mat, Knull placed third at the MAC Championships in addition to garnering fifth place at the Cyclone Open and building a 15-13 record.

To qualify for the team, which is voted on by the league's Faculty Athletic Representatives, a students-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA 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.

This year's Academic All-MAC squad is highlighted by five student-athletes who were also named to the 2007 team - Central Michigan's Brandon Carter and Wynn Michalak, Eastern Michigan's Zach Donofrio, Drew Lashaway from Kent State, and Knull. First-time selections are Jeff Parker from Buffalo, Charlie Pienaar of Eastern Michigan, and three representatives from Ohio - Kevin Christensen, Jason Marshall and Seth Morton.

2008 Wrestling Academic All-MAC Team
Name School Year GPA Major Hometown (High School/Last School)
Jeff Parker Buffalo Sr. 3.27 Environmental Design Foxboro, Mass. (Foxboro)
Brandon Carter% Central Michigan Sr. 3.36 Entrepreneurship Swartz Creek, Mich. (Swartz)
Wynn Michalak% Central Michigan Sr. 3.81 Mathematics Caro, Mich. (Caro)
Zach Donofrio% Eastern Michigan So. 3.36 Hotel and Restaurant Management Monroe, Mich. (Dundee)
Charlie Pienaar Eastern Michigan Sr. 3.84 Physical Education Trafford, Pa. (Trafford)
Drew Lashaway% Kent State Jr. 3.20 Industrial Technology Bowling Green, Ohio (Pemberville Eastwood)
Kalen Knull %Northern Illinois Sr. 3.40 Physical Therapy Urbana, Ohio (Graham)
Kevin Christensen Ohio So. 3.37 Recreation Management Springfi eld, Ohio (Greenon)
Jason Marshall Ohio So. 3.45 Health and Service Administration West Liberty, Ohio (Graham)
Seth Morton Ohio So. 3.52 Physical Therapy Canal Winchester, Ohio (Canal Winchester)