State College, Pa., May 15, 2002 - The Penn State wrestling team ranked 11th the nation with a team grade-point average of 3.086 when the National Wrestling Coaches Association announced its All-Academic Top 25 teams this week. The Lions were tops among seven Big Ten Conference teams that made the list edging out Michigan State in 12th and Iowa in 14th. Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Northwestern also made the list.

Sacred Heart University ranked number one on the list with a 3.4 team gpa. A team's gpa is determined by averaging the grade averages of 10 starting wrestlers and two back-ups that wrestled in at least one varsity match. Penn State was led by senior NCAA qualifier Pete Mielnik who earned honorable-mention from the NWCA with a 3.53 gpa.