MOORHEAD, Minn. – Brett Velasquez of St. Cloud State University was named the 2018-19 NSIC Elite 18 Award winner for wrestling. Velasquez repeats as the Elite 18 award winner for wrestling as he received the same award last season as a junior.
Velasquez is a senior majoring in biomedical sciences and hold a 3.91 grade point average. The Bennington, Nebraska native is a second team All-NSIC wrestler at 125 pounds. He went 6-2 in NSIC dual action this season, owns a 16-3 overall record with three pin falls. Velasquez was the 2016 NCAA Division II 125 pound National Champion and has helped the Huskies to their eighth straight NSIC regular season titles and three consecutive NWCA DII National Dual titles. A team captain, Velasquez is a three-time All-American having also placed third two years ago and fourth last season. Velasquez also locked up a spot at the NCAA National Championship as he will wrestle for the 125 pound title on Saturday night.
As part of the NSIC 25th Anniversary celebration, the NSIC Elite 18 Award was instituted to recognize the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the NSIC Championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The NSIC Elite 18 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NSIC’s 18 Championships.
Selection Criteria
- Academically the student-athlete has achieved at least a sophomore status as defined by his or her own institution.
- Athletically the student-athlete is in his or her second year of competition at his or her current institution.
- Athletically the student-athlete is an active member on the roster and a member of the designated squad size for the sport at the championship site.
- A student-athlete may win the award only once per academic year even if she or he participates in more than one sport.
- Grade point average is based on the cumulative grade point average at the time of nomination as calculated by each institution. Grade point average calculations will be based on a 4.00 scale and will be reported to two decimal places.
- In the event of a tie based on grade point average, the award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest total number of credit hours earned.
- If a tie still exists after looking at the total number of credit hours earned, all student-athletes who are tied shall be presented with the NSIC Elite 18 Award.