GREENVILLE, S.C. – Austin Kraisser has been named the 2016-17 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year to lead the Camels on the 2016-17 all-conference wrestling teams announced Wednesday.
Kraisser is one of a league-best three Camels to be named to the all-freshman team that also includes Joshua Heil and Benjamin Barton.
Heil and senior Ville Heino represent Campbell on the all-conference team at their respective weight classes. Both competitors earned the maximum amount of points in the voting process, two of seven to do so on this year's list.
Kraisser is the first Campbell freshman to earn SoCon Freshman of the Year honors since 2011-12, when CU joined the league. He finished the regular season at 19-9 including a perfect 6-0 mark in conference action. Currently, Kraisser is ranked No. 33 in the most recent NCAA Coaches Poll.
Heino closed out the regular season on a seven-match win streak and 11-of-14 dating back to the Southern Scuffle, Jan. 1-2. He sits at No. 25 in the NCAA RPI Rankings and is No. 19 in the most recent NCAA Coaches Rankings.
Heil is the only freshman to be named to the all-conference team, a list that includes five fifth-year seniors. Heil enters his first Southern Conference tournament on a six-match winning streak and a perfect 7-0 SoCon record.
Barton finished the regular season winning three of his last four matches, all by major decision. He closed out the season with a 12-12 overall record and a 3-3 mark in conference.
The Camels finished second in Southern Conference this season with a 6-1 record. The lone loss was to the undefeated, regular season champion, Appalachian State.
The Southern Conference tournament is set for March 4 in Charleston, S.C. hosted by The Citadel. Action will begin at 10 a.m. and can be seen on the SoCon Digital Network.
---
2016-17 Wrestler of the Year
Denzel Dejournette, R-Sr., 285, Appalachian State
2016-17 Freshman of the Year
AUSTIN KRAISSER, 157, CAMPBELL
2016-17 All-Southern Conference Team
125 Vito Pasone, R-Sr., Appalachian State
133 Chris Debien, So., Chattanooga
141 JOSH HEIL, FR., CAMPBELL
149 Ty Buckiso, Jr., The Citadel
157 Aaron Walker, Gr., The Citadel
165 Justin Lampe, Jr., Chattanooga
174 Jake Residori, R-Sr., SIUE
184 VILLE HEINO, R-SR., CAMPBELL
197 Sawyer Root, So., The Citadel
285 Denzel Dejournette, R-Sr., Appalachian State
2016-17 All-Freshman Team
Gavin Londoff, Appalachian State
Colby Smith, Appalachian State
BEN BARTON, CAMPBELL
AUSTIN KRAISSER, CAMPBELL
JOSH HEIL, CAMPBELL
Douglas Gudenburr, The Citadel
Ruston Hill II, The Citadel
Dylanger Potter, Chattanooga
Chris Beck, VMI
Cade Kiely, VMI
