Four Wisconsin wrestlers named NWCA All-Americans
April 17, 2020 | Wrestling
Gross, Wick, Hillger and Moran cap off season with prestigious honors
MADISON, Wis. – The National Wrestling Coaches Association announced their list of All-Americans on Friday morning, including four Badgers. Seth Gross, Evan Wick and Trent Hillger were all named first-team All Americans and Tristan Moran earned second-team All-American honors.
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At 133 pounds, Gross earned his third All-America honor. He was in the top two in his 133-pound weight class for his entire redshirt senior season. He had marquee wins over Iowa's No. 1 Austin DeSanto to win the 2019 Midlands Championships, a tight decision over Northwestern's No. 3 Sebastian Rivera in the semifinals at Midlands, and a heart-stopping decision over Penn State's No. 4 Roman Bravo Young at home. Gross finished his collegiate wrestling career with a third-place finish at the 2020 Big Ten Championship. Gross earned two previous All-American honors and an NCAA championship during his time at South Dakota State.
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Wick etched his name in the Wisconsin record book for a second time, earning another All-American honor. The redshirt junior, who took fourth place at the NCAA championship last season, did not compete at the Big Ten Championships this season due to injury . Before the tournament, Wick had a big season, finishing with a 23-3 NCAA record. Wick's biggest win of the season came against No. 4 Isaiah White from Nebraska, who Wick beat 10-6. Wick had a big two-pin weekend in Indiana and Purdue, where he wrestled less than six minutes the entire weekend, recording two quick pins.
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As the anchor in the lineup, Trent Hillger earned his second All-America honor at heavyweight. The Linden, Michigan. native finished the season with a fourth-place performance at the Big Ten Championships. Hillger climbed his way up the rankings after taking down former No. 3 Tate Orndorff of Utah Valley with a pin in an overtime decision. At the Big Ten championships, Hillger defeated No. 16 David Jensen and No. 17 Gary Traub on his way to his fourth-place finish. Hillger took eighth place at the NCAA tournament last season to earn his first All-America honor as a redshirt freshman.
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Moran earned second-team All-American honors after his impressive senior year at 141 pounds. Moran, the second-year transfer out of Oklahoma State, made his mark with the Badgers when he took sixth place at the 2019 Midlands Championships. He went on to have a big weekend against Minnesota and Nebraska, where he edged No. 2 Mitch McKee in a 7-6 decision and beat No. 6 Chad Red in a 9-4 decision at home. Moran took fourth place at the 2020 Big Ten Championship at 141 pounds.
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This is the first time since 2011 that Wisconsin has had four All-Americans in one season. Gross, Wick, Hillger and Moran make up the most All-Americans that head coach Chris Bono has ever had in his coaching career. Wick and Hillger are set to return next season to the Badgers.
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At 133 pounds, Gross earned his third All-America honor. He was in the top two in his 133-pound weight class for his entire redshirt senior season. He had marquee wins over Iowa's No. 1 Austin DeSanto to win the 2019 Midlands Championships, a tight decision over Northwestern's No. 3 Sebastian Rivera in the semifinals at Midlands, and a heart-stopping decision over Penn State's No. 4 Roman Bravo Young at home. Gross finished his collegiate wrestling career with a third-place finish at the 2020 Big Ten Championship. Gross earned two previous All-American honors and an NCAA championship during his time at South Dakota State.
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Wick etched his name in the Wisconsin record book for a second time, earning another All-American honor. The redshirt junior, who took fourth place at the NCAA championship last season, did not compete at the Big Ten Championships this season due to injury . Before the tournament, Wick had a big season, finishing with a 23-3 NCAA record. Wick's biggest win of the season came against No. 4 Isaiah White from Nebraska, who Wick beat 10-6. Wick had a big two-pin weekend in Indiana and Purdue, where he wrestled less than six minutes the entire weekend, recording two quick pins.
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As the anchor in the lineup, Trent Hillger earned his second All-America honor at heavyweight. The Linden, Michigan. native finished the season with a fourth-place performance at the Big Ten Championships. Hillger climbed his way up the rankings after taking down former No. 3 Tate Orndorff of Utah Valley with a pin in an overtime decision. At the Big Ten championships, Hillger defeated No. 16 David Jensen and No. 17 Gary Traub on his way to his fourth-place finish. Hillger took eighth place at the NCAA tournament last season to earn his first All-America honor as a redshirt freshman.
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Moran earned second-team All-American honors after his impressive senior year at 141 pounds. Moran, the second-year transfer out of Oklahoma State, made his mark with the Badgers when he took sixth place at the 2019 Midlands Championships. He went on to have a big weekend against Minnesota and Nebraska, where he edged No. 2 Mitch McKee in a 7-6 decision and beat No. 6 Chad Red in a 9-4 decision at home. Moran took fourth place at the 2020 Big Ten Championship at 141 pounds.
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This is the first time since 2011 that Wisconsin has had four All-Americans in one season. Gross, Wick, Hillger and Moran make up the most All-Americans that head coach Chris Bono has ever had in his coaching career. Wick and Hillger are set to return next season to the Badgers.
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