Complete NWCA All-American Teams (.pdf)
MANHEIM, Pa. – Six Baldwin Wallace University wrestling athletes have been selected to the 2019-20 National Wrestling Coaches Association All-American Team.
Each year the NWCA recognizes the work of all the athletes by naming the All-Americans based on their achievements in the national championship, however due to COVID-19 cancelling the championship, all-american honors were based on the wrestler's overall body of work through the regional tournaments.
Earning first-team honors were junior three-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference and two-time All-OAC 149-pounder Stanley Bleich (North Ridgeville/Elyria Catholic), junior 157-pounder Dalton Leightner (Ravenna/Rootstown), and senior two-time all-american and three-time All-OAC 197-pounder Zeckary Lehman (Akron/Revere). Landing on the second team were freshman 125-pounder Jack Stanley (Brecksville/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) and senior two-time all-american and two-time Academic All-OAC 133-pounder Charlie Nash (Norwalk). Tabbed to the third-team is freshman 184-pounder Doug Byrne (Wickliffe).
Bleich will earn his first all-american honor after securing a career-high 34-2 record with two OAC wrestler of the week honors, and a Most Valuable Wrestler award at the Ithaca (N.Y.) Invite. Of those 34 wins he had 14 major decisions, two pins, and one tech fall. In his career he boasts a 92-18 record to place him 16th on the all-time career wins list. Of those victories he has 29 major decisions, nine pins and two tech falls.
Garnering his first all-american award is Leightner. Leightner was a national qualifier and earned all-central region honors. This season he seized a 28-10 record with six major decisions, six technical falls, and five pins. He currently sits tied for 29th all-time on BW's career wins leaderboard with a career mark of 75-32.
Earning his second consecutive all-american award is Lehman. This season he surpassed 100 career victories in a dual match against Olivet (Mich.) College on December, 14, 2019. This year he carried a 26-4 record with eight pins, one technical fall, and four major decisions. For his career he has a 115-28 record, good enough to place him fourth on BW's all-time career wins list. Of those triumphs he has 39 pins, 17 major decisions, four tech falls, and two OAC wrestler of the week accolades.
Stanley starts his collegiate career with an all-american honor, after a season where he went 25-10 in his first year with seven pins, five major decisions, and one tech fall.
Nash garners his second consecutive all-american honor after securing a national qualifying spot. Nash compiled a 30-7 record in his senior campaign that saw him eclipse 100 career victories. He currently sits at No. 5 on BW's all-time career wins leaderboard with a career record of 112-44.
Byrne will collect his first career all-american honor after the freshman was a national qualifier with a 25-9 season. He also led the team with 12 pins.
