UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Two members of Penn State's NCAA Champion wrestling team have earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors. Senior Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.) and junior Max Dean (Lowell, Mich.) were both selected as third team CoSIDA Academic All-Americans.
Dean became a three-time All-American this past March and won his first-ever NCAA title in his first year as a Nittany Lion. He won the crown at 197, capping off a Penn State perfect 5-0 run in the NCAA finals, helping lead head coach Cael Sanderson's squad to the squad's ninth NCAA team title in the last 11 tournaments. Dean notched a 23-1 overall record this season, including four majors, five techs and two pins. He also won his first Big Ten Championship two weeks before Detroit's title run.
His 2021-22 accolades include the following: NCAA Champion (197), Big Ten Champion (197), first team All-American, first team All-Big Ten, first team Academic All-Big Ten and first team NWCA National All-Academic team. He heads into his senior season with an 80-13 career record, 43-3 in dual meets.
Dean, who is one of four NCAA Champions and five All-Americans returning to Penn State's line-up next year, is now a three-time All-American, NCAA Champion, Big Ten Champion, and a three-time NWCA National All-Academic honoree.
Lee became Penn State's first-ever five-time All-American in 2021-22, winning a second straight individual championship at 141 pounds. Lee posted a perfect 22-0 record during his senior+ campaign, grabbing six majors, four technical falls and two pins along the way. He won his first-ever Big Ten Championship two weeks prior to the NCAA tournament as well.
His 2021-22 accolades are extensive: NCAA Champion (141), Big Ten Champion (141), first team All-American, first team All-Big Ten, wrestling's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree, 2022 Hodge Trophy finalist, first team Academic All-Big Ten and first team NWCA National All-Academic team. He leaves Penn State with a 118-13 career record, including a 55-2 mark in dual meets.
Lee ends his career as a five-time All-American, two-time NCAA Champion, Big Ten Champion, four-time NWCA First Team National All-Academic honoree, four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, and two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American (second team in 2021, third in 2022).
