April 19, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team held its annual end-of-the year awards banquet, hosted each April by the Penn State Wrestling Club. A total of 15 awards were given out, highlighting performance, academics and community service, at the Penn Stater Conference Center and Hotel.
Senior Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) won seven total awards. Brown the 2015 NCAA Champion at 174 pounds and Penn State's 24th three-time All-American, won the Charles M. Spiedel Award for most takedowns with 99 and the Bill Koll Award for most pins with 11. Brown also took home the Most Bonus Point Award with 38.5 and the Joe Scalzo Award for most points scored in a season with 136.5.
Brown was honored with the team's Leadership Award and took home the fifth-year wrestler Academic Excellence Award with a 3.95 grade point average. The Utah-native was named the William N. Neidig Award winner, given yearly to the team's Most Outstanding Wrestler. Brown posted a 29-3 record this past season, capped off by a 5-0 run through the NCAA Championships to claim the 174-pound crown. Brown leaves Penn State with a 118-16 career record, 12th all-time in wins and 11th all-time in pins with 30. He was also recently named Penn State's McCoy Award winner.
Junior Jordan Conaway (Abbottstown, Pa.) was honored with the Total Commitment Award. The Lion 125-pounder earned All-America status for the first time this year, placing eighth in St. Louis. Conaway ended the season with a 27-9 record, including a 12-3 dual meet record.
Red-shirt freshman Matt McCutcheon (Apollo, Pa.) was named the Kaye Vinson Award Winner for Most Improved Wrestler. McCutcheon posted a 26-14 record at 184 pounds for Penn State and earned a trip to nationals as a freshman where he finished just one win shy of All-America status.
Senior Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) was honored with the Perseverance Award. Alton battled injuries throughout his career and went 8-4 as a senior this year before another injury ended his season. Alton ends his career with an 86-25 record and All-American status thanks to a third place finish in 2012.
With Brown taking home the fifth-year wrestler Academic Achievement Award, four others were given out as well. Luke Frey (Montoursville, Pa.) earned the fourth-year wrestler honor with a 3.54 GPA. Frey went 14-7 this year and competed in the Big Ten Championships at 157 for Penn State. Caleb Livingston (Drexel Hill, Pa.) won the third-year wrestler honor with a 3.81 GPA. Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.) won the second-year wrestler honor with a 3.65 GPA while Devon Van Cura (Washington, N.C.) was perfect in the classroom with a 4.0 GPA and won the first-year wrestler award.
Juniors Rex Lutz (Easton, Pa.) and Josh Rogers (Pottstown, Pa.) both walked home with Community Service Awards. For Rogers, it was his second such honor. Manager Claudia Bogdan was given the Carl Winterburn Award for the most supportive manager as well. Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstateWREST and on Penn State Wrestling's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2014-15 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.