BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Five Campbell wrestlers have been recognized by the National Wrestling Coaches Association as 2020 Division I All-Americans, including two first team selections, announced on Friday by the organization.
Josh Heil at 141 pounds and
Andrew Morgan at 184 both took first team honors, while
Noah Gonser at 133 was named second team All-American.
Quentin Perez at 165 pounds and heavyweight
Jere Heino, meanwhile, were tabbed honorable mention All-American.
Each year the NWCA recognizes the outstanding work of the DI student-athletes by naming the All-Americans based on their achievements in the national championships. However, the championships were canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All-American honors were based on each wrestler's overall body of work through the conference tournaments and up to the national championships.
Heil became Campbell's first three-time SoCon Champion in March, also qualifying for the NCAA Championships for a third time. The Brunswick, Ohio native fashioned a 29-4 record as a redshirt junior this season, earning a No. 8 seed in the 2020 NCAA Championships.
Also earning a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Championships, Morgan claimed the 2020 SoCon title at 184 pounds, the first of his career. Ranking as high as No. 6 in the nation this season, Morgan qualified for his second straight NCAA appearance at 30-5 overall. The Fountain Valley, Calif. native won 11 straight bouts to end the season.
The 2020 SoCon Wrestler of the Year, Gonser ended the year with a 14-match winning streak, carrying a 30-5 overall record. A Grand Blanc, Mich. native, Gonser, seeded ninth at 133 pounds, was set for his third NCAA Championships appearance, and second as a Camel.
Another three-time NCAA qualifier, Perez was seeded No. 13 at 165 in the 2020 tournament. The redshirt senior claimed his second career SoCon tournament title in March, and carried a 26-6 overall record.
Heino capped his redshirt senior season at 24-5 overall. The Helsinki, Finland native finished runner-up at the 2020 SoCon tournament, and was set for his third trip to the NCAA Championships in 2020, seeded No. 15 at heavyweight.
The Camels finished the regular season at 11-2 overall and a perfect 7-0 in SoCon duals, winning its final nine matchups that included all seven conference bouts. The dual title is the first outright regular season title for the Camels in program history, also completing a sweep of its conference opponents for the first time.
Five Camels claimed individual SoCon championships, helping secure Campbell's second straight and third SoCon tournament championship in four years (2017, 2019, 2020). CU's six NCAA qualifiers tied a school record (2019).
Campbell, ranking as high as No. 12 in the country (InterMat), completed a sweep of the SoCon's regular season with a 35-13 win at Davidson on February 23, claiming its second straight league dual championship.
