Lander Claims The Open Mat NCAA Division II Coach and Freshman of the Year Honors
GREENVILLE, S.C.- The Open Mat announced the NCAA Division II Coach and Freshman of the Year honors this week and Lander claimed both honors.
The Bearcats head coach R.C. LaHaye was named Coach of the Year while freshman David Hunsberger was named Freshman of the Year.
Hunsberger, a native of Duncan, South Carolina, put together a tremendous freshman season, going 32-5 and placing fourth at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championship at 165 pounds, which was the highest national finish of any freshman in the nation. The South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year went undefeated at the Battle at the Citadel in the first month of the season. After going 2-2 at the Midwest Classic, Hunsberger posted a 12-0 record to close the regular season. He also captured a title at the Super Region II Championship before going 4-1 at the national tournament. He is also a finalist for NWCA Rookie of the Year.
Lander has quickly become a national wrestling powerhouse in NCAA Division II under the guidance of LaHaye. In just the program's fourth season of competition, Lander finished runner-up at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championship. The Bearcats were led by NCAA runner-up Logan Hall at 184 pounds. Hall, who defeated top-seeded Billy Higgins of Nebraska-Kearney in the semifinals, was one of six All-Americans for Lander. Their other All-Americans were James Joplin (125), Eli Lusk (133), Zeth Brower (141), Hunsberger (165) and Juan Edmond-Holmes (285). Lander posted a 20-2 dual meet record, with both losses coming to West Liberty by a point. The Bearcats claimed their second consecutive South Atlantic Conference Carolinas championship, beating UNC Pembroke 30-7 to close out the dual season. Lander then put together a dominant performance at the Super Region II, winning the title by 49 points and setting a new scoring record at the event with 164 points. Seven Lander wrestlers won region titles and the program qualified nine wrestlers for the NCAAs.
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