Conference Carolinas has 11 programs, 49 athletes recognized on NWCA Scholar-All America awards
MANHEIM, Pa. – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) announced the recipients of the 2026 NCAA Division II Men’s Scholar All-America and Team Scholar All-America awards this week. Conference Carolinas had individuals from 11 institutions honored as well as two programs in the Team Scholar All-America award.
Newberry College finished fifth in the NCAA Division II Men’s Team Scholar All-America list with a 3.504 GPA and the University of Montevallo was 24th with a GPA of 3.261.
NWCA NCAA DIVISION II MEN’S SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICA TEAMS
The NCAA Division II Men’s Scholar Academic program garners the team GPA from the 10 starters a program puts out at it’s respective NCAA Super Regional tournament.
Conference Carolinas had 49 individuals from 11 institutions earn NWCA NCAA Division II Men’s Scholar All-America honors, led by nine from Newberry. The University of Mount Olive and the University of Montevallo followed with seven each while Lander University added six. UNC Pembroke had five while Shorter University had four and Belmont Abbey College and Emmanuel University added three each. … more at … https://conferencecarolinas.com/news/2026/4/3/mens-wrestling-conference-carolinas-has-11-programs-49-athletes-recognized-on-nwca-scholar-all-america-awards.aspx
Adjustment in Minimum Body Fat Percentage for Females Highlights High School Wrestling Rules Changes
In an effort to establish a more healthy process for girls involved in high school wrestling, the minimum body fat percentage for females has been raised from 12 to 19 percent, effective with the 2026-27 season.
Revisions to weight-control rules (1-5-1, 1-5-2) were two of 18 rules changes recommended by the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee at its March 29-31 meeting in Indianapolis. All rules changes were reviewed by the NFHS Rules Review Committee and approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
In making this significant change, the committee reviewed information from the National Wrestling Coaches Association, the proud supporter of the NFHS, and had the backing of the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee.
The committee determined that based on peer-reviewed research data, increasing the body fat percentage for high school girls establishes a safer margin for minimal wrestling weight for those girls intent on achieving a lower weight class. “This is a huge victory for girls involved in high school wrestling,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports, sanctioning and student services, and liaison to the Wrestling Rules Committee. “Now, girls will not be forced to go through unhealthy weight-loss efforts, and it allows girls to be their natural selves. It definitely will help those girls in the larger weight classes, and it will provide more opportunities for girls to be involved in high school wrestling.”
In another significant change for next year, bleeding has been added to recovery time in Rule 5-28-3. Now, if a contestant is injured or bleeding as a result of an illegal hold/maneuver, unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct during the match or the result of a false start (by the opponent) in the neutral position, the wrestler is entitled to two minutes of recovery time.
The committee determined that a bleeding contestant should not have to bleed for five minutes before being declared the winner if injured because of any of the aforementioned situations.
Language was added to the stalling rules in Rule 7-6-3. Beginning next year, when wrestling is stopped for going out of bounds in the neutral position, one of the following calls should be made: stalling by one of the wrestlers for leaving the wrestling areas, stalling by pushing or pulling the opponent out of bounds, stalling by backing out of the wrestling area, or wrestling action is taking place.
The committee noted that by announcing one of these calls when wrestling is stopped, … more at … https://nwcaonline.com/news/2026/4/16/national-wrestling-coaches-association-adjustment-in-minimum-body-fat-percentage-for-females-highlights-high-school-wrestling-rules-changes.aspx
Trumble Earns NWCA Scholar All-American Distinction
MANHEIM, Pa. – Newly crowned national champion for NC State wrestling, Isaac Trumble, has been named a Scholar All-American honoree by the National Wrestling Coaches Association for his demonstration of excellence in both academics and athletics. Trumble is among the group of 390 scholar-athletes across the nation to be listed, as announced by the NWCA on Wednesday morning.
NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer expressed, “These student-athletes have demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence both on the mat and in the classroom. We commend their dedication and the example they set for the sport.”
The postseason academic honor marks the fourth of this distinction in Trumble’s collegiate career, previously earning the honor in 2025, 2022, and 2021. This marks the second season in a row that a member of the Pack became a four-time NWCA Scholar All-American after Kai Orine did it last year. … more at … https://gopack.com/news/2026/4/2/wrestling-trumble-earns-nwca-scholar-all-american-distinction
TDR blog
After 20 seasons of publicizing wrestling The TakeDown Report’s (TDR) focus has changed to the collecting of college coaching records from North America since 1903. We will continue to recognize and reward successful wrestlers in eastern North Carolina (east of Raleigh & Fayetteville), assist with schools in starting or re-starting a team and this blog. Join us on our FaceBook Page – “The TakeDown Report” for photos and news. Please send results, stories, links and news to pass along. E-mail us at takedownreport@gmail.com
Martin Fleming, Editor
Takedown Report
Takedown Report 