INDIANAPOLIS--The NCAA has awarded 58 postgraduate scholarships of $7,500 each to 29 male student-athletes and 29 female student-athletes who participated in winter sports. Three of those scholarships were awarded to wrestlers.

This year's NCAA post graduate scholarships awarded to wrestlers went to:
* Mark Joseph DiSalvo, Central Michigan (Div. I), sport studies
* Gregory James Nurrenbern, Truman State (Div. II), nursing, business
* Alex John Tirapelle, Univ. of Illinois, Champaign (Div. I), accountancy

The other sports included in the winter program are women's archery (emerging sport), men's and women's basketball, women's bowling, men's and women's fencing, men's and women's gymnastics, men's and women's ice hockey, men's and women's rifle, men's and women's skiing, women's squash (emerging sport), men's and women's swimming and diving, women's synchronized swimming (emerging sport), women's team handball (emerging sport), men's and women's indoor track and field, and wrestling. 

In addition to the fall sport honorees, the NCAA also awards 118 postgraduate scholarships to student-athletes participating in winter and spring sports in which the NCAA conducts championships or participates in as an emerging sport, for a total of 174 postgraduate scholarships annually.

To qualify for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, a student-athlete must have an overall grade-point average of 3.200 (on a 4.000 scale) or its equivalent, and must have performed with distinction as a member of the varsity team in the sport in which the student-athlete was nominated. The student-athlete must have behaved, both on and off the field, in a manner that has brought credit to the student-athlete, the institution and intercollegiate athletics. The student-athlete also must intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a full-time or part-time graduate student.

DiSalvo Awarded NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
by Central Michigan Sports Information

MOUNT PLEASANT - Mark DiSalvo (Dayton, Ohio/Dayton Carroll HS), a two-time All-American wrestler at Central Michigan University, is the recipient of a $7,500 postgraduate scholarship from the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

DiSalvo, who maintains a 3.90 GPA in CMU's graduate sport management program, graduated in May 2005 with a 3.78 GPA in sport administration. He concluded his collegiate wrestling career with an eighth-place finish in the 149-pound bracket at the 2006 NCAA Championships. A two-time Mid-American Conference champ at 149 pounds, DiSalvo also placed eighth at the 2005 national tournament.

DiSalvo earned Academic All-MAC honors and was named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic team each of the past two seasons. The Most Outstanding Wrestler of the 2006 MAC Championships, DiSalvo shared CMU's Most Outstanding Wrestler honor as a senior.

The NCAA awards up to 174 postgraduate scholarships annually, split evenly between men and women and among each of the three sports seasons. DiSalvo is one of 29 male student-athletes nationwide to earn a postgraduate scholarship during the winter season.

Nominees for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship must have a minimum GPA of 3.20, be nominated by the institution's faculty athletics representative or athletic director and intend to continue academic work beyond the bachelor's degree as a part-time or full-time graduate student.
 
CMU won its eighth straight MAC title and fifth straight MAC Championships crown in 2006. The Chippewas placed 26th as a team at the NCAA Championships.

Wrestler Gregg Nurrenbern Wins NCAA Scholarship
by Truman State Sports Information

May 3, 2006- Earlier today, the NCAA announced the winners of its postgraduate scholarships for student-athletes who competed in winter sports. Truman wrestler Gregg Nurrenbern was one of the recipients of the award.

Nurrenbern finished his Bulldog career this year with his best season. He went 33-5 on the year and earned all-American honors by finishing fifth at the NCAA Championship. At the national meet, he advanced to the semifinals of the 184-pound weight class and just missed advancing to the championship match by a mere point. Two of his losses on the year came at nationals and two others came against NCAA Division I wrestlers from the Big 10 and Big 12.

Nurrenbern captured the 2006 NCAA Midwest regional crown with three convincing victories. He also took home first-place at the Simpson Invitational, was the runner-up at the Wheaton Invitational, and came in fourth at the Central Missouri Open. In dual meets in 2006, he went a perfect 15-0, which helped the Bulldog wrestling team have its first winning dual season since 1992-93. Nineteen of his 33 victories came by falls, including 17 pins.

For his career, Nurrenbern won two all-American honors after also finishing seventh at the 2004 NCAA Championship. Also in 2004, he won the NCAA Midwest regional title. He concluded his career with a 110-42 record.

Nurrenbern is a business administration major and has a 3.64 GPA.

The NCAA postgraduate scholarship is awarded to 174 student-athletes annually, including 29 men and 29 women who participated in winter sports. The $7,500 award is given to student-athletes who have a GPA above 3.20 and have performed with distinction both on and off the playing field.

Nurrenbern is the second Truman athlete to receive a NCAA postgraduate scholarship this year. Men's soccer player Jared Atwood won the award as one of the fall sport honorees.

Tirapelle Awarded NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
by Univ. of Illinois Sports Information

Champaign, Ill. - Alex Tirapelle (Clovis, Calif.) is the recipient of a $7,500 postgraduate scholarship from the NCAA. In August, the two-time All-American starts the masters program in sports management after graduating in May with a 3.73 GPA in accountancy. 

The NCAA awards up to 174 postgraduate scholarships annually, split evenly between men and women and among the fall, winter and spring sports seasons. Tirapelle is one of 29 male student-athletes nationwide to earn a postgraduate scholarship during the winter season. 

Nominees for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship must have a minimum GPA of 3.20, be nominated by the institution's faculty athletics representative or athletic director and intend to continue academic work beyond the bachelor's degree as a part-time or full-time graduate student. 

The scholarship isn't the only award Tirapelle has received this season. He earned his fourth straight Academic All-Big Ten nod as well as his third straight NWCA All-Academic Team honor. In April, Tirapelle took home the Spirit Award at the 2006 Scholar-Athlete Banquet. As his goal of becoming a national champion went unattained, he selflessly worked out the remaining wrestlers and coached them to victory from the sidelines. 

Tirapelle finished his career at Illinois as the all-time winningest wrestler with 128 victories - one more than his brother, 2001 NCAA Champion, Adam. He was a four-time national qualifier, two-time All-American and two-time Big Ten champion.