CLEVELAND -- Old Dominion wrestler Kevin Beazley was named a Mid-American Conference Distinguished Scholar Athlete for the second time in his career, as was announced by the MAC office on Thursday. The 2017 All-American is one of just 11 wrestlers within the conference selected for the honor.
The MAC announced 208 winter sport student-athletes were awarded with Distinguished Scholar status, a distinction voted on by faculty athletic representatives at MAC institutions that represents the 'best of the best' from each sport's All-Academic Teams.
The Distinguished Scholar Athlete is a third-year award given to students who have excelled in athletics and academics. Following each season from the winter sports schedule, any student with a 3.20 GPA and participation in at least 50 percent of the contests was automatically named to the previously announced Academic All-MAC Team from each sport. The number of Distinguished Scholar Athletes from each sport were equivalent to the number of first-team selections or 33% of nominees, whichever was greater.
Beazley, the eighth-place finisher at 197 lbs. at the 2017 NCAA DI Wrestling Championships, concluded his redshirt junior season with a 25-8 record, a MAC runner-up finish and All-American status.
The Howell, Michigan native has also racked up the academic accolades since the season's end, earning his second nod to the MAC All-Academic Wrestling Team, his second NWCA All-Academic Team recognition and now his second MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete honors. Beazley currently carries a 3.37 cumulative GPA as a sport management major.
For the full release from the Mid-American Conference website, click here.
2016-17 MAC Wrestling Distinguished Scholar Athletes (11)
Kyle Akins, Buffalo, Sophomore, 3.34 GPA, Occupational Therapy (Sycamore, Ill.)
CJ Brucki, Central Michigan, Junior, 3.20 GPA, Accounting (Orland Park, Ill.)
Austin Severn, Central Michigan, Senior, 3.57 GPA, Information Systems (New Lothrop, Mich.)
Newton Smerchek, Central Michigan, Junior, 3.99 GPA, Physical Education (Casco, Wis.)
Mason Smith, Central Michigan, R-Freshman, 3.73 GPA, Undecided (Clio, Mich.)
Anthony Tutolo, Kent State, Junior, 3.60 GPA, Communication Studies (Concord, Ohio)
John Erneste, Missouri, Sophomore, 3.762 GPA, Mathematics (Kansas City, Mo.)
*Zach Synon, Missouri, Senior, 3.519 GPA, Business Administration (Cary, Ill.)
Dylan Peters, Northern Iowa, Senior, 3.21 GPA, Movement and Exercise Science (Denver, Iowa)
Max Thomsen, Northern Iowa, R-Freshman, 3.21 GPA, Management (LaPorte City, Iowa)
^Kevin Beazley, Old Dominion, Junior, 3.37 GPA, Sport Management (Howell, Mich.)
*2015-16 Distinguished Scholar Athlete
^2014-15 Distinguished Scholar Athlete