NWCA Tabs Atkinson, Hayes As All-Academic Selections

April 23, 2018

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Andrew Atkinson (Lynchburg, Va.) and Louie Hayes (Orland Park, Ill.) have been named as All-Academic selections by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, it was announced by the organization with the release of its annual team.

Awarded annually, the NWCA All-Academic team is comprised of 155 student-athletes. Five Division I champions made the team, while seven additional runners-up were included. In all, 42 All-Americans were All-Academic selections. Of the 155 individuals, 123 were at minimum NCAA Division I qualifiers, up from 115 a year ago.

Both wrestlers were named to the ACC All-Academic Wrestling team last week.

Atkinson is a graduate student completing a master of education in Kinesiology, while Hayes is working on a bachelor’s degree in Media Studies.

A redshirt senior, Atkinson advanced to the NCAA Championships for the fourth time in his Virginia career, becoming only the 10th four-time NCAA qualifier in program history. He turned in a 19-9 record on the season, including a 4-1 mark in ACC dual competition and a third-place finish at 165 pounds at the ACC Championships.

A redshirt freshman, Hayes posted a 31-8 record on the year as he advanced to the quarterfinals in his first appearance at the NCAA Championships, finishing one round shy of All-America honors as he was eliminated in the Round of 12. He went undefeated in ACC dual competition with a 5-0 record and led the league in dual points scored. Hayes finished as runner-up at 125 pounds at the ACC Championships.