June 29, 2006

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Atlantic Coast Conference released the 2006 All-ACC Academic Wrestling team announced today by Commissioner John D. Swofford. All six league schools competing in wrestling were represented on the inaugural team, including three student-athletes who received all-conference accolades.

To be eligible for consideration, a student-athlete must have earned a 3.00 grade point average for the previous semester and maintained a 3.00 cumulative average during his academic career.

The Duke Blue Devils led all schools with five honorees on this year's team. The Maryland Terrapins, ACC regular season co-champions, placed three student-athletes on the academic squad, followed by North Carolina, NC State and ACC regular season co-champion Virginia with two selections apiece. The Hokies of Virginia Tech rounded out the inaugural team with one honoree, Steve Ratley.

The Tar Heels' Spencer Nadolsky and Robert Shaw and Andrew Schlaffer of Maryland earned all-conference recognition this past year. Schlaffer, the top-seed at 149 pounds, won the ACC individual title with a 10-4 decision over Virginia's Drew DiPasquale. Schlaffer went 22-12 overall, 10-8 in dual meet competition, while posting a 4-1 mark in ACC bouts. The sophomore from Baltimore, Md., was also an automatic qualifier at the NCAA Championship, where he compiled a 1-2 record.

Nadolsky (HWT) and Shaw (125) each finished as the conference runner-up in their respective weight-classes, but played a crucial role in North Carolina winning its 17^th ACC Championship, second in a row and third league title in the last four years. Nadolsky, ranked as high as No. 12 by NWCA and InterMat, received an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship, recording a 3-2 mark. The junior heavyweight finished the season with a record of 42-7 and a team-high 11 pins.

The 2006 All-ACC Academic Wrestling team is as follows:

2006 All-ACC Academic Wrestling Team

Name, School                         Cl.   Major

Nick Alparone, Virginia              Fr.   Undeclared

Jeffrey Breese, NC State             Jr.   Communication

Levi Craig, Duke                     Sr.   History

Garrett Cummings, NC State           Jr.   Middle Grade Education

Adam Decosmo, Maryland               Jr.   Criminal Justice

Aaron Glover, Duke                   So.   Psychology

James Knox, Maryland                 Fr.   Economics

Kellan McKeon, Duke                  So.   History

Spencer Nadolsky, North Carolina     Jr.   Exercise & Sport Science

Steven Ratley, Virginia Tech         So.   University Studies

Andrew Schlaffer, Maryland           Jr.   Art

Robert Shaw, North Carolina          Sr.   Exercise & Sport Science

Daniel Shvartsman, Duke              Sr.   Economics

Scott Smith, Virginia                Jr.   Art-Studio

Wade Van Sickle, Duke                Fr.   Undeclared