Pienaar Selected Academic All-District

YPSILANTI, Mich. — Eastern Michigan University senior wrestler Charlie Pienaar (Trafford, Pa.-Trafford) was named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District IV at-large second team, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced Thursday, May 22. Pienaar carries a 3.84 GPA as a physical education major, graduating after the winter semester and starting work towards his master's in sports management in the spring.

Pienaar capped off a fine regular season with a second place finish at the Mid-American Conference Championship, receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. During the regular season Pienaar posted a 22-8 overall record which included a 12-match winning streak. He posted perfect records at the Ithaca College Quad (3-0), Eastern Michigan Quad (3-0) and at the prestigious Lone Star Duals (4-0).

Over the course of the season Pienaar tallied seven bonus point wins; three falls and four major decisions, as well as seven shutout decisions. During a 19-match stretch this season, he tallied an 18-1 mark, with his only loss coming to NCAA Qualifier Tyrel Todd (Michigan). At the MAC Championships, he received a bye in the first round and then defeated Eric Chine (Kent State) 10-6, in triple overtime to advance to the finals, where he battled No. 1 seeded and No. 4 ranked Christian Sinnott (Central Michigan), falling 5-3.

In the opening round of the NCAA Championships, he faced No. 7 seeded Phillip Keddy of the No. 1 ranked Iowa Hawkeyes, dropping a 10-2 major decision. In the first round of wrestlebacks, he squared-off against Jacob Devlin (Air Force). Pienaar and Devlin met earlier this year at the Lone Star Duals, with Charlie earning the 12-2 major decision. Devlin would avenge that loss with a 5-1 decision, ending the brilliant career for one of head coach Derek DelPorto’s most outstanding wrestlers

The Pennsylvania native was also named to the academic All-MAC team this year.

To be eligible for the Academic All-District team, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 GPA. In addition to this, the student-athlete must be an integral part of the team and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests on the year. At-large men’s sports are swimming and diving, wrestling, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, fencing, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, tennis, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.

District IV First Team

Don Ellison, Eastern Michigan University

Joseph Sykora, University of Alabama

Eric Tannenbaum, University of Michigan

Dan Mazzaferro, Auburn University

Wynn Michalak, Central Michigan University

Jake Bateman, Ohio State University

Micah Belew, Wright State University

Jeff Lerg, Michigan State University

Wes Brown, Western Kentucky University

Benedikt Fischer, University of Memphis

Second Team

Charlie Pienaar, Eastern Michigan University

Ryan Preston, Vanderbilt University

Jeffrey Dunne, Michigan State University

Steve Grove, Cleveland State University

Alex Birchmeier, Western Michigan University

Mikhial Pasic, University of Detroit-Mercy

Mitch Miller, Western Kentucky University

Austin Shirey, University of Alabama

Matko Maravic, University of Michigan

Michal Brichachek, Wayne State University

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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