Panthers with brains and brawn

Eight members of the University of Northern Iowa wrestling team received all-Western Wrestling Conference honors, according to a news release distributed by the school Thursday.

The eight Panthers were Taylor Kettman, a former Don Bosco prep, Riley Banach, Joe Johnson, Omni Prestidge, Jarrett Jensen, Cody Krumwiede, a heavyweight from Waverly-Shell Rock, A.J. McBroom and Adam Perrin.

Below is the news release from UNI:

EIGHT UNI WRESTLERS EARN WWC ACADEMIC HONORS

OREM, Utah -- Following the recent completion of the 2011-12 school year, the Western Wrestling Conference has announced its All-Academic Team and Coaches' Honor Roll for the past season. This year's academic awards honor 61 student-athletes from the seven conference schools for their work in the classroom.

Eight University of Northern Iowa wrestlers earned WWC academic honors. Taylor Kettman (R-Fr., Waterloo, Iowa) was named to the WWC All-Academic squad, while seven more Panthers were named to the Coaches' Honor Roll.

Riley Banach (Ames, Iowa - So.), Jarrett Jensen (Rapid City, S.D. - Fr.), Joe Johnson (Swea City, Iowa - Sr.), Cody Krumwiede (Waverly, Iowa - Fr.), A.J. McBroom (Runnells, Iowa - Fr.) Adam Perrin (Eldridge, Iowa - Fr.), Onni Prestidge (Deer River, Minn. - Sr.) were each named to the Coaches' Honor Roll.

The All-Academic Team features 14 wrestlers who balanced school work and time on the mat to meet the sixth-year league's highest academic standards. North Dakota State and South Dakota State tied to lead all conference squads with three grapplers each on the list. Individually in the top two spots, NDSU's Tyler Johnson boasts a perfect 4.0 GPA in biological sciences while SDSU's Aaron Pickrel holds a 3.80 GPA in pre-medicine: biology.

Additionally 47 student-athletes were named to the Coaches' Honor Roll for their dedication to academics. Utah Valley University had the most wrestlers on the two combined teams with a total of 15, while Air Force was next with 12 grapplers named to the two lists.

To qualify for the All-Academic team, student-athletes had to secure a minimum 3.20 cumulative grade point average, be a starter or key reserve and be a sophomore or higher in academic standing. The Coaches' Honor Roll recognizes student-athletes who have maintained a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

The Bison, Jackrabbits and Wolverines were also recognized for their academics by the NWCA a couple weeks as UVU had the fourth best team GPA in the nation with a 3.27, NDSU had the 11th best at 3.16 and SDSU had the 18th best at 3.09. Individually NDSU's Trent Sprenkle, SDSU's Pickrel, UVU's Josh Wilson and Wyoming's Alfonso Hernandez and Joe LeBlanc were all named the NWCA All-Academic Team.

The Western Wrestling Conference is comprised of seven schools including the Air Force Academy, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Utah Valley and Wyoming.

2011-12 WESTERN WRESTLING CONFERENCE ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM

Stephen (Gabe) Burak (NC), 165, Sr, 3.67 GPA, Master's Degree: Education

Jared Erickson (AF), HWT, Jr., 3.57 GPA, Civil Engineering

Avery Garner (UVU), 141, So., 3.26 GPA, Exercise Science

Alfonso Hernandez (Wyo), 197, Jr., 3.57 GPA, Kinesiology & Health Promotion

Tyler Johnson (NDSU), 174, Sr., 4.0 GPA, Biological Sciences

Taylor Kettman (UNI), 197, RFr., 3.36 GPA, Exercise Science

Joe LeBlanc (Wyo), 184, Sr., 3.45 GPA, Kinesiology & Health Promotion

Charles McMartin (NC), 157, RFr., 3.59 GPA, English: Secondary Teaching

Aaron Pickrel (SDSU), 125, RJr., 3.80 GPA, Pre-Medicine: Biology

Joe Skow (SDSU), HWT, Jr., 3.39 GPA, Sociology

Justin Solberg (NDSU), 133, Sr., 3.43 GPA, Business Administration

Trent Sprenkle (NDSU), 125, Jr., 3.74 GPA, Undecided

Josh Wilson (UVU), 149, Jr., 3.58 GPA, Accounting

Andrew Youngblom (SDSU), 149, So., 3.63 GPA, Graphic Design

2011-12 WESTERN WRESTLING CONFERENCE COACHES' HONOR ROLL

Riley Banach (UNI), 165, So., 3.04 GPA, Marketing: Sales

Jack Carda (AF), 197, Fr., 3.33 GPA, Management

Chase Cuthbertson (UVU), 157, Fr., 3.51 GPA, Business Management

Kyle Cuthbertson (UVU), 174, Fr., 3.58 GPA, Business Management

Dustin Dennison (UVU), HWT, Fr., 3.10 GPA, Communications: Speech Communication

Tyler Diamond (NDSU), 141, Jr., 3.10 GPA, Social Science

Nathan Garcia (UVU), 125, Fr., 3.02 GPA, Biology

Sam Graham (UVU), 174, Fr., 3.8 GPA, Business Management: International Business

John Gusewelle (NDSU), 197, R-Fr., 3.43 GPA, Mechanical Engineering

Kameron Hamley (NDSU), 141, Fr., 3.17 GPA, Computer Engineering

Cody Hancock (AF), 141, Fr., 3.39 GPA, Undeclared

Tanner Harms (Wyo), HWT, Fr., 3.84 GPA, Mechanical Engineering

Vance Hawk (AF), 174, So., 3.02 GPA, Biology

Devin Hightower (AF), 184, So., 3.02 GPA, Behavioral Sciences

Dylan Hyder (AF), 133, Fr., 3.19 GPA, Undeclared

Jarrett Jensen (UNI), 157, Fr., 4.0 GPA, Biology

Zac Jensen (UVU), HWT, So., 3.38 GPA, Exercise Science

Joe Johnson (UNI), 197, Sr., 3.27 GPA, Elementary Education

Paul Johnson (NDSU), 141, Jr., 3.16 GPA, Pharmacy

Tyler Johnson (SDSU), Jr., 3.39 GPA, Manufacturing Engineering

Evan Knutson (NDSU), Hwt, Fr., 3.71 GPA, Exercise Science

Cody Krumwiede (UNI), 285, Fr., 3.09 GPA, Undecided

Blake Mangum (UVU), 133, RFr., 3.64 GPA, Exercise Science

Jarod Maynes (UVU), 125, Fr., 4.0 GPA, Business Management: International Business

Eric McAllister (UVU), HWT, Jr., 3.18 GPA, Behavioral Science: Psychology

A.J. McBroom (UNI), 197, Fr., 3.21 GPA, Biology

Sam Mecham (UVU), 149, RFr., 3.62 GPA, Digital Media: Gaming & Animation

Jacob Milewski (NC), 157, Jr, 3.22 GPA, Nutrition

Steven Monk (NDSU), 157, So., 3.01 GPA, Physical and Health Education

Trevor Moore (AF), 174, Fr., 3.25 GPA, Electrical Engineering

Jason Mossing (AF), 174, Fr., 3.12 GPA, Computer Engineering

Brandon Mueller (AF), 157, Jr., 3.72 GPA, Physics

John Nething (SDSU), So., 3.18 GPA, Consumer Affairs

Jesse Nielsen (NC), 174, Jr, 3.16 GPA, Nutrition

Daniel Nissen (AF), 184, Jr., 3.27 GPA, Systems Engineering Management

Adam Perrin (UNI), 141, Fr., 3.37 GPA, Finance

Leland Pfeifer (Wyo), 197/HWT, RFr., 3.61 GPA, Geography

Onni Prestidge (UNI), 174, Sr., 3.18 GPA, Physical Education

Michael Poulos (Wyo), 174, Jr., 3.66 GPA, Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Mengyuan Qiu (AF), 125, Sr., 3.36 GPA, Economics

Monte Schmalhaus (UVU), 174, So., 3.17 GPA, Exercise Science

Robert Stroh (Wyo), 149/157, RFr., 3.15 GPA, Business Administration

Glenn Terrano (UVU), 141, 3.2 GPA, Community Health: Health Services Administration

Derek Thomas (UVU), 184, 3.07 GPA, Exercise Science

Joshua VanTine (NC), 184, RFr, 3.11 GPA, Exercise Science

Garrett Wells (AF), 174, Fr., 3.06 GPA, Legal Studies

Michael Wilde (NDSU), 184, RFr., 3.38 GPA, Criminal Justice