W&J’s Etzel captures All-America status
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Washington & Jefferson College junior Josh Etzel placed sixth at 157 pounds in the NCAA Division III championships on Saturday to claim All-America status at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Arena.
Etzel is the first All-America wrestler at W&J since Kevin DeJulius in 2002. The top eight finishers in each weight class receive All-America status.
Etzel is just the sixth All-America wrestler in W&J history and the Presidents’ highest placewinner since Dave Krivus placed sixth in 1983.
Etzel, who now owns a 68-13 record, defeated top-seeded Elias Larson of Trine because of medical forfeit.
He was then pinned by No. 2 seed Chris Burdge of Centenary in 2:23 before falling 5-3 in a tiebreaker to Cole Welter of Wartburg.
Etzel finishes the season with a 37-7 record. His 37 victories are a school record, surpassing DeJulius and Taylor Potts, who both recorded 36.