May 8, 2001

University of Illinois wrestlers Adam Tirapelle, John Lockhart and Matt Lackey, in addition to earning All-America honors on the mat in 2001, were named National Wrestling Coaches Association First-Team Academic All-Americans. Illinois, which ranked 22nd overall with a team grade point average of 2.907, is the only school to have three wrestlers represented on the first team.

Tirapelle, the 2001 NCAA national champion at 149 pounds and a three-time All-American, posted a 3.02 GPA in kinesiology, while the NCAA heavyweight national champion, John Lockhart, recorded a 3.45 in kinesiology. The wrestlers are two of only three national champions to be selected to the first team and Lockhart boasts the highest GPA on the 11-member team.

Lackey, the third Illini on the first team, had a 3.27 in sports management as a sophomore. Lackey earned his first All-America honor with his third-place finish at 165 pounds at the 2001 NCAA Championships.