Marsteller, Ruhnke Claim PSAC Wrestling Athlete of the Year Awards
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference has released the major award winners for the 2018-19 Wrestling season, the league office announced Wednesday afternoon.
The awards are determined by a vote of the league’s head coaches. The top three finishers in each event at the PSAC Championships are recognized as all-conference performers.
FULL LIST HERE
For 2018-19 a new structure was put into place to recognize separate award winners among the Division I and Division II participants.
Division II
Millersville redshirt senior Shane Ruhnke was named Wrestler of the Year. It marks the first time that a Marauder has garnered a major award in the sport. Ruhnke won the national title at the 165-pound weight class after defeating UNC Pembroke’s Rodney Shepard. Ruhnke is the first Millersville wrestler to win a national crown since 1980. He was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the NCAA’s after winning three of his four matches by pinfall. Earlier in the season, he claimed the Most Outstanding Wrestler award at the PSAC Championships after claiming the crown at the 165-pound weight class. Overall, Ruhnke finished the season with a 27-3 record and an 11-match win streak; with eight of the 11 wins coming via pin.
Pitt-Johnstown’s Brock Biddle was named Freshman of the Year after finishing the season with an overall record of 29-4. He is the second Mountain Cat to garner the award (Tyler Reinhart, 2014-15). Biddle earned All-America recognition after finishing fourth at the 184-pound weight class at the NCAA’s. He claimed second at the Super Region I Championships and was third at the PSAC Championships.
Kutztown’s Rob Fisher was named Coach of the Year for the first time of his career in the sport (women’s golf) and is the first Golden Bear coach to accomplish the feat. Kutztown finished the regular season with a 14-1 record and clinched a share of the PSAC Dual Championships. Under Fisher’s direction, Kutztown produced a trio of All-Americans, including a national champion (Andrew Dunn Jr., 285 lbs). The Golden Bears held nine opponents to single digits during the season and sat in the top 10 of the NCAA DII Team Rankings.
Division I
Lock Haven redshirt senior Chance Marsteller was named Wrestler of the Year and it marks the fourth time that a Bald Eagle has represented the award. It marks the second consecutive season that Lock Haven has garnered the award. Marsteller capped a brilliant career with All-American accolades after finishing third in a deep 165-pound weight class at the NCAA DI Championships. Overall, Marsteller impressed with a 28-3 record, including a 10-1 mark in duals. He amassed four pins, five tech falls and four major decisions. He ended the season ranked No. 3 in the country at the 165-pound weight class.
Edinboro’s Jacob Oliver was named Freshman of the Year and it marks the fifth time that a Fighting Scot has claimed the award and first since 2015-16 (Patricio Lugo). Oliver impressed at the 174-pound weight class after posting a 28-7 record. He accumulated four tech falls and nine major decisions during his rookie campaign. Oliver was the lone PSAC freshman to appear in the NCAA DI Championships before falling to a pair of ranked opponents. The Fighting Scot won the 174-pound title at the PSAC Championships in December. In November, Oliver won the crown at the Journeyman Northeast Open after producing a pair of tech falls.
Lock Haven’s Scott Moore earned Coach of the Year recognition for the second consecutive season. Under his direction, the Bald Eagles produced a pair of All-Americans. Kyle Shoop claimed seventh at the NCAA’s at the 141-pound weight class. Lock Haven scored 29 points at the NCAA’s and finished 18th, which was the highest of any PSAC team. Moore’s squad won the PSAC DI Dual Championship after producing a flawless 3-0 conference record. The Bald Eagles signature win came against No. 12 Arizona State Jan. 25 when Lock Haven claimed a 23-14 victory.
Division II Major Award Winners
Wrestler of the Year: Shane Ruhnke, Millersville
Freshman of the Year: Brock Biddle, Pitt-Johnstown
Coach of the Year: Rob Fisher, Kutztown
Division I Major Award Winners
Wrestler of the Year: Chance Marsteller, Lock Haven
Freshman of the Year: Jacob Oliver, Edinboro
Coach of the Year: Scott Moore, Lock Haven