April 30, 2020 –
For the second consecutive year the Drexel Dragons wrestling team was the premier academic wrestling program in the nation named by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. The Dragons had the top GPA of 3.59. American U. was second with a 3.55 followed by Harvard with a 3.50. Three Drexel wrestlers; Ebed Jarrell, Parker Kropman, and Michael O’Malley were named NCWA Scholar All-Americans.
Student-Athletes are true to the name. Athletes take classes, have academic responsibilities, and have structures study halls while on the road with assignments. To be named the top program is an academic and athletic honor for the school and the individuals
Jerrell is a redshirt-senior and a mechanical engineering major. This is the third straight season he was honored as an Academic All-American by the NCWA and is a four-time winner of the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Academic Achievement Award. He was an at-large qualifier for the NCAA Wrestling Championships at 165 pounds posting an 18 – 7 record getting seven falls, a technical fall, and two major decisions.
Kropman is a redshirt-junior majoring in finance. He earned NCWA Scholar All-American recognition for the second straight year. Kropman is a three-time EIWA Academic Achievement Award winner. Named a first alternate to the NCAA Championships at 157 pounds he was 11 – 9 over the season. Kropman finished fourth at the EIWA Championships.
O’Malley is a business major in his redshirt-freshman year. He recieved an EIWA Academic Achievement Award. O’Malley finished fourth at the EIWA Championships and earned an automatic berth in the NCAA Championships. He had a team-best 19 wins. His overall record was 19 – 9 winning five bouts by falls, three technical falls, and a major decision.
There were 175 wrestlers from 63 different schools acknowledged by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.
The team and three of its members recorded wins and accolades. There are numbers associated with them, but none more important than the three that are their GPA. A set of numerals that will serve them well into the future.
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
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