MANHEIM, Pa. -- Old Dominion wrestlers Chris Mecate and Jack Dechow were named to the 2016 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division I All-Academic Team, as was announced by the NWCA on Monday.
"We are very proud of the academic achievements that Chris Mecate and Jack Dechow have accumulated," head coach Steve Martin said. "The time demands of a Division I wrestler are enormous, so it is a feat any time you can get multiple guys on the All-Academic Team. Mecate and Dechow both epitomize the type of student-athletes we want to represent our program."
Mecate, the fifth-year senior out of Highland, California, became the Monarchs' first-ever back-to-back All-American in Division I wrestling after capturing fifth place at 141 lbs. at the 2016 NCAA Championships at Madison Square Garden in March. The ODU Alumni Association's Male Athlete of the Year earned his second conference crown and his first MAC individual title this season and leaves the Monarch wrestling program in eighth-place on the school's all-time wins list with 115.
Off the mats, Mecate carries a 3.14 cumulative GPA while majoring in communications and graduated at Old Dominion's commencement ceremonies this past weekend. With this honor, the California native has now earned NWCA All-Academic Team distinction three times.
Dechow, the redshirt junior from Richmond, Illinois, qualified for his third consecutive NCAA Championships this season after finishing as the MAC runner-up at 184 lbs. Turning in a 3-2 performance, Dechow knocked off Penn State's No. 16 seed Matt McCutcheon and avenged the conference finals setback against No. 15 Jordan Ellingwood of Central Michigan. He finished the season 21-5.
In the classroom, Dechow carries a 3.22 GPA as a communications major. Last month, he was honored by the conference as a MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete, an extension of earning All-MAC Academic Team distinction. This is Dechow's first NWCA All-Academic Team honor.
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The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a professional organization dedicated to supporting and elevating the sport of amateur wrestling. NWCA provides leadership and guidance primarily to scholastic and collegiate wrestling programs, but is an advocate to all levels of wrestling. The NWCA promotes communication, recognizes achievement, recommends rules and regulations, sponsors events and serves as a resource for education and information pertaining to the sport of wrestling. Additionally, The NWCA strives to foster the sportsmanship and integrity that are the cornerstones of any competitive sport. For more information, visit www.nwcaonline.com.