St. Cloud State University redshirt freshman Joseph Bianchini (Elk Grove Village, Ill./Immaculate Conception H.S.) has been named as the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division II Rookie Wrestler of the Year for the 2019-20 season. He was joined in the NWCA honors court by Central Oklahoma’s Heath Gray, who was named the NWCA DII Wrestler of the Year.
“We are proud to honor two very deserving athletes on their outstanding achievements during the 2020 season. They were each selected from a group of highly decorated athletes and should be proud of the manner in which they represented their institutions,” said Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director.
The Elk Grove Village, IL native, finished his redshirt freshman campaign with a 20-1 record and was named one of six NWCA Division II Super Regional Rookie Wrestlers of the Year.
The 2020 season saw Bianchini, 141-pound wrestler, win the NCAA Division II Super Regional Title at 141-pounds, earn All-NSIC First Team honors, and capture NWCA All-American honors.
An NWCA Scholar All-America selection in 2020, Bianchini helped the Huskies chart a 16-0, 8-0 NSIC record in 2019-20. The Huskies won their ninth consecutive Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference title in 2019-20 along with their fourth consecutive NWCA Division II National Duals title. The 2020 NCAA Division II Super Region 5 team champion, St. Cloud State recieved the number one ranking in the final NCAA DII national poll in 2019-20.
The Huskies advanced a total of nine wrestlers to the 2020 NCAA DII championships, including Bianchini at 141-pounds. The NCAA DII championships were halted before competition began due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
Biachini is the son of Susie and Tony Bianchini.
SUPER REGION ROOKIE WRESTLER OF THE YEAR WINNERS
Super Region 1 – Jacob Ealey, University of Pitt-Johnstown
Super Region 2 – Josh Blatt, Belmont Abbey College
Super Region 3 – Jared Campbell, Notre Dame College
Super Region 4 – Dalton Abney, University of Central Oklahoma
Super Region 5 – Joseph Bianchini, St. Cloud State University
Super Region 6 – Patrick Allis, Western Colorado University
The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The three core competencies of the NWCA are: Coaching Development, Student-Athlete Welfare, and the Promotion of Wrestling.
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