4/28/2020 10:30:00 AM | Wrestling
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - The Millersville wrestling team has announced its team award winners for the 2019-2020 season. Five total wrestlers were honored with awards that were voted on by fellow members of the team. The list of awards includes the Dr. Ted Rupp Award, which was awarded annually to the most valuable Millersville wrestler from 1946 to 2013. The award was brought back in 2018 to honor the history of the program as well as the modern evolution of the roster.
"I've always been told that Dr. Rupp loved wrestling and had grit and tenacity," said Marauders head coach Kerry Regner. "The word grit kept coming back, so we used it as an acronym (Greater than, Results, Integrity, and Tenacity.) Those things are considered when deciding who the award goes to. I wanted to make it more than just an outstanding wrestling award and have it match our values and our current program right now."
Josh Walls: Winner of the 2019-2020 Dr. Ted Rupp Award
Sophomore Josh Walls served as the team's captain in 2019-2020, was the starter at 285 pounds in 12 dual meets, and led the Marauders in four statistical categories. He led the team in total wins (17), falls (five), bonus wins (nine), and was tied for the team-high in Division II wins (eight).
Walls finished as runner-up at the season-opening Washington & Jefferson Invitational, third place at the Wilkes Open, and fifth place at the NCAA Division II Super Region 1 Championships. He improved upon a 10-win total from his freshman year and ended the season ranked No. 4 in the region.
Kerry Regner on Walls: "He had a good year. He walked on to this team two years ago and now is the captain. He's level-headed and works for everything he has. You're never worried about his work ethic in the weight room or in school. He's a guy who has worked for everything he's got and he can still reach higher levels. Leading the team in wins in what is without a doubt the hardest weight class in the region (285) is impressive."
Ryan McGuire: Winner of the 2019-2020 Outstanding Wrestler of the Year Award
Sophomore Ryan McGuire logged quality performances all season long at 141 pounds, leading the team in PSAC wins (seven) and tied with Josh Walls for Division II wins (eight). McGuire finished the season with an overall record of 16-12.
He finished in third place at the season-opening W&J Invitational and fourth place at the NCAA Division II Super Region 1 Championships. He finished the season ranked No. 2 in the region, rose as high as No. 17 in the FloWrestling Division II national rankings, and was named to the 2020 Wrestling All-PSAC Third Team.
Kerry Regner on McGuire: "He's been one of the most consistent wrestlers I've ever coached. He's going to tell you he had a disappointing year but he wrestled a bunch of razor-thin matches. I may be biased, but there were matches where he controlled the action and maybe was the better guy but ultimately lost. He earned points for us and performed well in key spots."
Devin Flannery: Winner of the 2019-2020 Rookie of the Year Award
Freshman Devin Flannery burst onto the scene and earned the starting spot at 125 pounds, finishing the season with an overall record of 14-6 and led the team in technical falls with four.
He earned a third-place finish at the season-opening Washington & Jefferson Invitational and was runner-up at Millersville's own "Shorty" Hitchcock Memorial Open in the 125-pound bracket. Devin finished the season ranked No. 2 in the region at 125 pounds and rose as high as No. 15 in the FloWrestling Division II national rankings.
Kerry Regner on Flannery: "Devin wrestled an absolutely brutal schedule to start the year, wrestling All-American after All-American but he hung in there and won matches. He worked his way to the finals in the "Shorty" and showed really strong performances. Obviously he led the freshmen in multiple statistical categories and earned the respect and votes of his peers."
Malik Jackson: Winner of the 2019-2020 Most Improved of the Year Award
Sophomore Malik Jackson was one of the busiest Marauders of the 2019-2020 season, wrestling in 27 total matches (the second-highest total on the team). He started 17 dual meets at 174 pounds and finished the season ranked No. 6 in the region at that weight. He totaled seven wins compared to just one in his freshman year.
Kerry Regner on Jackson: "Malik came a long way this season; not just in wins compared to last year but in close losses that he had. That was in my mind the biggest improvement. I'm looking forward to seeing what he does next year because he closed the gap on opponents. He had a lot of nagging injuries but he stayed the course and we needed him in the lineup."
Josh Tuckey: Winner of the 2019-2020 Redshirt of the Year Award
Wrestling unattached at 149 pounds, freshman Josh Tuckey posted a record of 6-10 with one fall, one major decision, and a fourth-place finish at the Messiah Open.
Kerry Regner on Tuckey: "When I think about his season, it's about prepping intently for next year. He knew he wasn't going to be at 141 next year he said so let me get to 149 and get adjusted to it. Nine out of his 10 losses were to Division I guys. A redshirt year takes a lot of independence and self-motivation and he always works hard, gets workouts in, and makes the best of it. You can go to events where the coaching staff isn't there so you have to hold yourself accountable. You have to be mentally tough. There's a lot of times where you might have a bad day or get a bad draw. It can be lonely and easy to slip up but Josh wrestled for himself and got better."
"I've always been told that Dr. Rupp loved wrestling and had grit and tenacity," said Marauders head coach Kerry Regner. "The word grit kept coming back, so we used it as an acronym (Greater than, Results, Integrity, and Tenacity.) Those things are considered when deciding who the award goes to. I wanted to make it more than just an outstanding wrestling award and have it match our values and our current program right now."
Josh Walls: Winner of the 2019-2020 Dr. Ted Rupp AwardSophomore Josh Walls served as the team's captain in 2019-2020, was the starter at 285 pounds in 12 dual meets, and led the Marauders in four statistical categories. He led the team in total wins (17), falls (five), bonus wins (nine), and was tied for the team-high in Division II wins (eight).
Walls finished as runner-up at the season-opening Washington & Jefferson Invitational, third place at the Wilkes Open, and fifth place at the NCAA Division II Super Region 1 Championships. He improved upon a 10-win total from his freshman year and ended the season ranked No. 4 in the region.
Kerry Regner on Walls: "He had a good year. He walked on to this team two years ago and now is the captain. He's level-headed and works for everything he has. You're never worried about his work ethic in the weight room or in school. He's a guy who has worked for everything he's got and he can still reach higher levels. Leading the team in wins in what is without a doubt the hardest weight class in the region (285) is impressive."
Ryan McGuire: Winner of the 2019-2020 Outstanding Wrestler of the Year AwardSophomore Ryan McGuire logged quality performances all season long at 141 pounds, leading the team in PSAC wins (seven) and tied with Josh Walls for Division II wins (eight). McGuire finished the season with an overall record of 16-12.
He finished in third place at the season-opening W&J Invitational and fourth place at the NCAA Division II Super Region 1 Championships. He finished the season ranked No. 2 in the region, rose as high as No. 17 in the FloWrestling Division II national rankings, and was named to the 2020 Wrestling All-PSAC Third Team.
Kerry Regner on McGuire: "He's been one of the most consistent wrestlers I've ever coached. He's going to tell you he had a disappointing year but he wrestled a bunch of razor-thin matches. I may be biased, but there were matches where he controlled the action and maybe was the better guy but ultimately lost. He earned points for us and performed well in key spots."
Devin Flannery: Winner of the 2019-2020 Rookie of the Year AwardFreshman Devin Flannery burst onto the scene and earned the starting spot at 125 pounds, finishing the season with an overall record of 14-6 and led the team in technical falls with four.
He earned a third-place finish at the season-opening Washington & Jefferson Invitational and was runner-up at Millersville's own "Shorty" Hitchcock Memorial Open in the 125-pound bracket. Devin finished the season ranked No. 2 in the region at 125 pounds and rose as high as No. 15 in the FloWrestling Division II national rankings.
Kerry Regner on Flannery: "Devin wrestled an absolutely brutal schedule to start the year, wrestling All-American after All-American but he hung in there and won matches. He worked his way to the finals in the "Shorty" and showed really strong performances. Obviously he led the freshmen in multiple statistical categories and earned the respect and votes of his peers."
Malik Jackson: Winner of the 2019-2020 Most Improved of the Year AwardSophomore Malik Jackson was one of the busiest Marauders of the 2019-2020 season, wrestling in 27 total matches (the second-highest total on the team). He started 17 dual meets at 174 pounds and finished the season ranked No. 6 in the region at that weight. He totaled seven wins compared to just one in his freshman year.
Kerry Regner on Jackson: "Malik came a long way this season; not just in wins compared to last year but in close losses that he had. That was in my mind the biggest improvement. I'm looking forward to seeing what he does next year because he closed the gap on opponents. He had a lot of nagging injuries but he stayed the course and we needed him in the lineup."
Josh Tuckey: Winner of the 2019-2020 Redshirt of the Year Award Wrestling unattached at 149 pounds, freshman Josh Tuckey posted a record of 6-10 with one fall, one major decision, and a fourth-place finish at the Messiah Open.
Kerry Regner on Tuckey: "When I think about his season, it's about prepping intently for next year. He knew he wasn't going to be at 141 next year he said so let me get to 149 and get adjusted to it. Nine out of his 10 losses were to Division I guys. A redshirt year takes a lot of independence and self-motivation and he always works hard, gets workouts in, and makes the best of it. You can go to events where the coaching staff isn't there so you have to hold yourself accountable. You have to be mentally tough. There's a lot of times where you might have a bad day or get a bad draw. It can be lonely and easy to slip up but Josh wrestled for himself and got better."
Players Mentioned
125
/ Wrestling
174/184
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141
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133/141
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285
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