Nick BeckerFAYETTE, Iowa -- Nick Becker, a redshirt senior from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, is the 2018 NCAA Division II Wrestler of the Year presented by the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association. Becker, who earned the honor for the second-straight year, is the tenth recipient and first two-time winner of this award since its inception in 2008. The UW-Parkside icon earned the NCAA Division II Super Region Two Wrestler of the Year all three years that he wrestled for the Rangers.
The NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association named four NCAA Division II Regional Wrestlers of the Year last Friday, May 25. The quartet included 157-pound senior Cody Law from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown for NCAA Super Region One, Becker for Super Region Two, 133-pound senior Josh Walker from Upper Iowa University for Super Region Three and 149-pound redshirt-sophomore Daxton Gordon from California Baptist University for Super Region Four. All four earned titles at their respective NCAA Division II Super Regionals and the National Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in early March.
Becker capped off another perfect season with a 24-0 record, his third Super Region II title and a third straight NCAA Division II title at 174 pounds. Becker's final win that carried his record to 89-0 as a Ranger came in an 8-4 decision over No. 2 Nolan Kistler of California Baptist University. The Hartford, Wis. product claimed 20 bonus-point wins this season with eight victories by fall, eight by tech fall and four by major decision. Becker is the only wrestler in the UW-Parkside storied history to win three national championships and he will continue to influence the Ranger wrestling program as the graduate assistant moving forward.
The Hartford, Wis. product came to Wisconsin-Parkside prior to the 2014-15 season after transferring from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Mich. During his first season with the Rangers, he wrestled unattached at three tournaments before returning to the varsity mats during the 2015-16 season. As a redshirt sophomore, Becker posted a 41-0 record with 31 of the victories coming with bonus points thanks to 10 falls, 11 tech falls and 10 majors. As a redshirt junior, he went 25-0 with 17 bonus-point wins including 8 falls, 3 tech falls and 6 majors.
The previous ten NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association Wrestler of the Year honors went to Nebraska-Kearney heavyweight Tervel Dlagnev (2008), Nebraska-Omaha 157-pounder Todd Meneely (2009), Pittsburgh-Johnstown 133-pounder Shane Valko (2010), Western State 197-pounder Donovan McMahill (2011), Upper Iowa 133-pounder Trevor Franklin (2012), Grand Canyon heavyweight Tyrell Fortune (2013), Kutztown heavyweight Ziad Haddad (2014), Central Oklahoma 165-pounder Chris Watson (2015), Notre Dame 184-pounder Joey Davis (2016) and Becker (2017).
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