Four named Division II Regional Wrestlers of the Year
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by Mike Kirk, University of Central Oklahoma
EDMOND, Okla. – A foursome of national champions who had a combined 117-6 record in 2015-16 have been selected as finalists for the NCAA Division II Wrestler of the Year award as determined by the Division II Wrestling Coaches Association.
Notre Dame 184-pounder Joey Davis, Wisconsin-Parkside 174-pounder Nick Becker, Lindenwood 157-pounder Terrel Wilbourn and California Baptist heavyweight Joe Fagiano were selected to represent their respective regions on the national ballot.
The ninth winner of the NCAA Division II Wrestler of the Year award will be announced Monday, April 4.
East Region Wrestler of the Year Davis won his fourth consecutive national title this season to cap a 21-0 season that including six major decisions, five technical falls and one fall.
Davis finished his career with a perfect 131-0 record in becoming just the fourth four-time Division II national champion. He won at 165 as a freshman, then at 174 as a sophomore and junior before moving up to 184 this season.
Becker was selected Midwest Region Wrestler of the Year after ending a dominating 41-0 sophomore campaign with the national title.
Becker had 11 technical falls, 10 falls and 10 major decisions this season. He scored 517 match points and had a 109-7 advantage in takedowns.
Wilbourn went 26-0 with 10 bonus-point wins as a senior this season en route to taking the 157-pound crown and earning Central Region Wrestler of the Year honors.
Wilbourn was a two-time All-American at 149 and the national runner-up last year before moving up a weight this season.
West Region Wrestler of the Year Fagiano won two of his four national tournament matches by fall en route to becoming CBU’s first Division II national champion andending a 29-6 season that included 10 falls, three major decisions and a technical fall.
The senior beat four Division I national qualifiers this season and five of his six losses were to Division I opponents. Fagiano placed in two of the most prestigious Division I tournaments in the country, taking seventh at the Las Vegas Cliff Keen Invitational and eighth at the Midlands Championships.
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