Two Thiel College wrestlers named NWCA Scholar All-Americans

Posted March 18, 2020 Print

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College first-year Jason Baker ’23 and junior Austin Bonacci ’21 were recently named Scholar All-Americans by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.

Baker went 21-11 in his first season. He won the Presidents’ Athletic Conference title at 141 pounds in February and went on to place eighth at the NCAA Division III Southeast Regional Championships. Baker, of New Alexandria, Pa., is a 2019 graduate of Derry High School and a criminal justice major.

Bonacci, went 16-8 at 157 pounds in 2019-20. He was the seventh seed at the NCAA Division III Southeast Regional Championships. Bonacci, of West Miflin, Pa., is a 2016 graduate of West Miflin Area High School and a religion major.

To qualify as a NWCA Scholar All-American, a wrestler must have a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average and one of the following: Be a national qualifier with a winning record, a regional place-winner with a winning record or have a season winning percentage of 67 percent or better. Scholar All-Americans must also have competed in at least 50 percent of the team's matches.