Eagles Dominate Postseason AMC Awards
Walnut Ridge, Ark. - The American Midwest Conference announced their postseason wrestling awards Saturday upon the conclusion of the conference championships. The Williams Baptist College wrestling team won 16 awards, headlined by AMC Wrestler of the Year, AMC Freshman of the Year, and AMC Coach of the Year.
Tyler Fraley (JR/Freehold, N.J.) earned AMC Wrestler of the Year after completing the season with a first place finish in the 141 lb. weight class. He won Newcomer of the Year in 2016. Fraley is currently the top ranked wrestler in the NAIA for his weight class.
"Tyler is a really good wrestler. He is elite and it is fun to watch him wrestle. We are proud that he wears an Eagles singlet," said Head Coach Kerry Regner.
Demetrius Thomas (FR/Ferguson, Mo. ) was honored as AMC Freshman of the Year. He competes in the 285 lb. division and finished with a championship medal at the AMC Championships. He is currently ranked eighth in the NAIA for his weight class.
"The kid does all the right things. He is exactly what we are looking for in a student-athlete. He shows up every day ready to improve," added Regner.
Head Coach Kerry Regner has been named AMC Coach of the Year for the second straight season. He has led the Eagles to an NAIA ranking as high as third, and they currently are in a tie for ninth. Regner also led the team to its second consecutive AMC Championship. His team has eight individual wrestlers ranked in the NAIA.
Along with these awards, WBC placed six players on the AMC All-Conference team. Tanner Irwin (FR/Jefferson City, Mo. ), Patrick Grigsby (JR/Bentonville, Ark. ), Josh Chiles (JR/Little Rock, Ark. ), and Keion McVay (SO/Maumelle, Ark. ) joined Demetrius Thomas and Tyler Fraley to earn the honor.
Nick Hooper (JR/Crystal River, Fla. ) was named to the AMC's Champions of Character Team.
Devon Amburgy (FR/Mason, Ohio), Christian Cara (FR/Bartlett, Tenn. ), Josh Chiles, Tyler Dibert (JR/Imler, Penn. ), David Leyva (FR/Chico, Calif. ), and Chandler Patton (SO/Augusta, Ga. ) all were named to the AMC Academic All-Conference squad. To earn this honor, an athlete must have a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0.
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