South Dakota State’s Cael Swensen was named Wednesday to the Amateur Wrestling News 2023 All-Rookie Team.
A native of Plymouth, Minnesota, Swensen held down the starting spot at 157 pounds for the nationally ranked Jackrabbits during the 2022-23 season and finished his redshirt freshman campaign with a 24-10 overall record. Individually, Swensen climbed to as high as No. 18 in the national rankings and later qualified for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, finishing one win away from All-America honors.
Three wrestlers were selected at each weight class, with Penn State 157-pounder Levi Haines being named the Rookie of the Year.
Amateur Wrestling News 2023 All-Rookie Team
125
- Richard Figueroa/Arizona State (13-0)
- Eddie Ventresca/Virginia Tech (20-9)
- Stevo Poulin/Northern Colorado (31-7)
133
- Aaron Nagao/Minnesota (23-6)
- Jesse Mendez/Ohio State (19-9)
- Gulamjon Abdulaev/Menlo College (18-0)
141
- Lachlan McNeil/North Carolina (27-9)
- Brock Hardy/Nebraska (30-8)
- Casey Swiderski/Iowa State (14-12)
149
- Shayne Van Ness/Penn State (24-7)
- Caleb Henson/Virginia Tech (27-6)
- Jackson Arrington/North Carolina State (23-9)
157
- Levi Haines/Penn State (24-2)
- Daniel Cardenas/Stanford (19-3)
- Cael Swensen/South Dakota State (24-10)
165
- Michael Caliendo/North Dakota State (28-5)
- Patrick Kennedy/Iowa (21-5)
- Alec Facundo/Penn State (19-6)
174
- Tate Picklo/Oklahoma (25-10)
- Luca Augustine/Pittsburgh (15-11)
- Cael Valencia/Arizona State (12-12)
184
- Lenny Pinto/Nebraska (24-11)
- Brian Soldano/Rutgers (25-12)
- Dylan Connell/Illinois (18-18)
197
- Jaxon Smith/Maryland (23-8)
- Carson Floyd/Appalachian State (19-9)
- Elijah Hynes/Central Methodist (26-11)
285
- Nathan Taylor/Lehigh (17-12)
- Hunter Catka/Virginia Tech (19-8)
- Trevor Tinker/Cal Poly (15-10)
Rookie Coach of the Year
Derek Moore, California Baptist
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