Univ. of Wisconsin grapplers honored at banquet
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Jen Forge (U of Wisconsin Sports Info)
04/23/2001
MADISON, Wis. Two-time 165-pound NCAA champion, senior Donny Pritzlaff, along with all-American junior Grant Hoerr and NCAA qualifier, sophomore Kevin Black, were honored at the Wisconsin wrestling banquet tonight at the Marriott Hotel. Pritzlaff was awarded the Most Valuable Wrestler award for the third time following his performances at the Big Ten and NCAA championships. He earned titles for the third and second year in a row, respectively. Pritzlaff is only the fifth wrestler in Wisconsin history to earn three Big Ten championship titles and the fourth to win multiple NCAA championships. Pritzlaff, a Lyndhurst, N.J., native finished the season with a 43-1 record. His career mark stands at 135-16, fourth on WisconsinÆs all-time career winslist and the second highest all-time career winning percentage. For the second year in a row, Hoerr (141 pounds) was named the team's Most Improved. This season Hoerr qualified for his second NCAA tournament, earning all-America honors for the first time with a fourth-place finish. Hoerr finished the season with a 31-11 record. The Pat Terry Most Dedicated award was given to 133-pounder Black in recognition for the hard work and dedication that epitomizes the Wisconsin wrestling program. Black, a two-time NCAA qualifier, earned a 25-13 overall record, going 14-7 in duals and 6-5 in the conference. The River Falls, Wis., native finished second at the Big Ten championships, his best finish in the tournament thus far. Freshmen Brady Reinke (174 pounds) and Marty Winter (157 pounds) were honored with the George Martin Scholarship, given to the team member with the highest grade point average. Reinke and Winter both earned a 3.4 GPA. Reinke, a Phillips, Wis., native wrestled unattached this season, earning a 10-6 record. Winter, from Union Grove, also wrestled unattached going 1-6. No. 12 Wisconsin finished the regular season with a 10-10-1 overall record and 2-6 in the Big Ten. The Badgers finished sixth at the Big Ten championships and tied for 10th at the NCAA tournament.