Cardinale and Early Named NWCA Honorable Mention All-Americans

MANHEIM, Pa. – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) announced the 2020 Division I All-American teams and two members of the Old Dominion wrestling team, Killian Cardinale and Larry Early, were named Honorable Mention All-Americans.
 
Each year the NWCA recognizes the outstanding work of Division I student-athletes by naming the All-Americans based on their achievements in the national championships, however, this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic the championships were canceled. All-American honors were based on each wrestler's overall body of work through the conference tournaments and up to the national championships.
 
Cardinale, who ended the season ranked in the top-15 in four national polls and was a first-time NCAA Qualifier in 2020, earned a team-high 25 wins this season while wrestling at 125 pounds. The Bristow, Virginia native earned a runner-up finish at the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Wrestling Championships, winning three of his four bouts at the tournament.
 
Six of Cardinale's 25 wins came against ranked opponents, including a 2-1 win by decision over No. 8 Brock Hudkins of Indiana at the Journeymen Classic. He was named the MAC Wrestler of the week twice and the redshirt sophomore was successful off the mat as well, as he was named to the 2020 MAC All-Academic Team for the second consecutive year. 
 
At 157 pounds, Early was named an NCAA Qualifier for the third-straight a season after earning All-American honors at the 2019 NCAA Championships. The redshirt senior ended his collegiate wrestling career ranked as high as No. 10 in the country, earning 21 wins and a team-high eight wins against ranked foes. 
 
Early ended the season placing third at the MAC Championships after an exciting come-from-behind victory over No. 19 Justin Ruffin of SIUE. In the bronze match, the Oak Park, Illinois native was down 7-2 with under two minutes left before he forced a sudden-victory period by tying the score at 9-9. Early took down the ranked Cougar and came away with the 11-9 victory. This Honorable Mention All-American award adds to list of achievements Early has won this year, including earning VaSID First Team All-State honors. 

To see the full list of All-Americans the NWCA honored this season, click here.