LeBlanc earns nod from NWCA

MEEKER I After a successful season on the mat, two University of Wyoming wrestlers were honored for their work in the classroom.
Senior Joe LeBlanc and junior Alfonso Hernandez were named to the 2012 National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic Individual Team. They are part of a list which totals 87 student-athletes, five NCAA champions, three NCAA second-place finishers, 23 All-Americans and 77 NCAA qualifiers.
 “It’s a great honor to be recognized by the NWCA,” Wyoming coach Mark Branch said. “We push for our kids to strive to be successful, on the mat and in the classroom. It’s a great honor to have the University of Wyoming represented on that list.”
LeBlanc earned his third-straight NWCA nod with a 3.39 GPA. The senior graduated this spring with a degree in kinesiology. He finished up the year with his fourth-straight All-American honor after placing seventh at the NCAA Championships at 184 pounds and going 34-3 this season.
Hernandez was named to the team for the first time in his career. The junior is studying kinesiology and health promotion and earned a 3.57 GPA. He earned his first All-America status by placing sixth at the NCAA Championships at 197 pounds, and was 40-8 overall for the year.
To qualify for the NWCA All-Academic team, wrestlers must have at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA, been an NCAA qualifier or won 60 percent of his total schedule and must have competed in at least 60 percent of said schedule. Wrestlers can also earn a spot on the team if they have a 3.0 cumulative GPA and have been an NCAA All-American.