MANHEIM, Penn. – Two Illinois wrestlers were named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic team on Thursday, as redshirt junior All-American Emery Parker and redshirt freshman Mike Carr were two of the 155 individuals selected.
To be considered, wrestlers must have achieved a cumulative GPA average of 3.2 or higher and have won at least 60 percent of his total schedule and/or qualified for the 2018 NCAA Championships. In total, 155 student-athletes earned the honor, including 42 All-Americans. Of the 155 student-athletes to earn the honor, 42 were All-Americans.
Parker, a finance major, earned the All-Academic honor for the second straight season by taking third place at NCAA Championships to earn his first All-America honor. Carr, studying chemistry, qualified for the accolade by advancing to the national meet in his first season of eligibility, and was one win away from earning All-America honors.
Illinois' leader in wins over the last two seasons, Parker has tallied a combined record of 58-14 since taking over as a starter at 184 pounds to begin the 2016-17 season. At the 2018 national meet, Parker rebounded from a first-round loss to win seven straight matches in the consolation bracket to place third. The .875 win-percentage (28-4) in 2018 tied for 24th on Illinois' single-season all-time list.
Carr broke out midway through his first year in the Illinois line-up, going on an 11-match winning streak from January 21 to March 3 that culminated in becoming the only freshman finalist at the 2018 Big Ten Championships. Finishing the season with 20 wins, tied for second on the team, Carr went 3-2 at NCAA Championships.
Parker and Carr make it three straight seasons with All-Academic honorees, the Illini have two representatives each year. Parker and former Illini Zac Brunson were named in 2017, while Steven Rodrigues and Brock Ervin were awarded in 2016.
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