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Two Wrestlers Named Academic All-American
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May 19, 1999
Charlottesville, VA — Virginia’s Matt Roth (Wescosville,Pa./Parkland) and Jim Harshaw (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) wereboth named to the National Wrestling Coaches’ Association (NWCA) AcademicAll-American squads, as announced by Tim Neumann, the head wrestling coachat the University of Nebraska. Roth was named to the second team, whileHarshaw was named an honorable mention.
Roth, who won his first conference title and finished in 7th placeat the NCAA Wrestling Championships was named the ACC Wrestler of the Yearin a vote of the league’s head coaches. Roth becomes the first Cavalier sohonored by the ACC.
In 1999, Roth won the 125-lb ACC title with a 3-2 upset oftop-seeded Chuckie Connor of UNC. Ironically, Roth also defeated Connor 3-2in the quarterfinals of the consolation bracket to earn All-Americanstatus. In the NCAA Championships, Roth notched his 11th pin of the season,which set a new record for pins in a season and added to his career-leadingtotal at Virginia with 28. He finished the season with a 33-7 record.
This season, Roth set the career record at Virginia in pins anddual matches competed (60), and tied the record for dual match victories(42). His 102 career victories moved him into a tie for second all-time atUVA and he competed in 149 career matches, good enough for third all-timeat Virginia.
Harshaw, a three-time ACC Champion, a three-time state champion,and a two-time Outstanding Wrestler at the State Championships, also ranksin all of Virginia’s career records. His 24 career pins ranks second toRoth, his 50 dual matches is 3rd, his 48 matches in 1999 is thesecond-highest single season total, and his 40 wins in the season is thethird highest single season total. Harshaw also had 37 dual match wins,which ranks 4th all-time,
Harshaw ends his career tied with Roth with 102 career wins. Healso ends up in second place all-time at Virginia with 23 career pins. His48 matches in 1999 stands as the second-highest total of matches in asingle season. Seeded 11th going into the NCAA tournament, Harshawdefeated the fourth seed in the consolation quarterfinals to advance to theAll-American round.
The selection of these two Virginia athletes marks the eighthconsecutive year that a Virginia athlete has been named to the squads.