Johnson & Wales Wrestling Team Ranks Fifth in the Nation Academically

Providence, R.I.– The Johnson & Wales University Wrestling team finished the 2012-13 campaign ranked fifth in the nation academically, announced by the National Wrestling Association.  This is the third year in a row that the Wildcat’s wrestling team has been ranked in the top-five academically.  JWU accomplished this feat by posting an overall team GPA of 3.48.

Three standout wrestlers were also named Academic All-Americans.  Junior Colin Lenhardt (Gloucester, Va.), senior Joe Pronk (Marshfield, Mass.) and sophomoreEthan Farrel (Narragansett, R.I.) have all thrived both on the mat and in the class room.  

Lenhardt, an accounting major, earned All-American honors at the NCAA Division III National Championship last week. This season he posted a 21-7 record with 11 of his wins coming via pin fall.

Pronk will be graduating this year with a degree in Criminal Justice.  Along with his Academic All-American accolades, Pronk has earned All-Northeast Region honors this season. This year he posted a 26-14 overall record with a fifth-place finish at the regional championship.    

Ethan Farrell, an Advertising & Marketing Communications major had an outstanding year on the mat this season.  Farrell led the team in near-falls with 30 and finished the season with a record of 25-11.

*Release courtesy of JWU Sports Information Dept.