Chelf Named to Academic All-American Second Team

For Immediate Release: Monday, June 16, 2008

La Crosse, Wis. – University of Wisconsin-La Crosse senior wrestler Josh Chelf of Irma (Tomahawk) has been named to the 2008 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American College Division Men’s At-Large Second Team.

The Academic All-American At-Large Team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA student-athletes and is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Eligible sports are fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.

Chelf, an exercise sport science-teaching major with a 3.55 grade point average, was named the 2008 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Wrestler of the Year for the second straight season. He finished 40-3 this year with a team-leading 20 pins and captured his second consecutive NCAA Division III Championship at 174-pounds. Named the 2008 Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Meet after finishing 4-0 in the tournament, Chelf earned the national title with a win by major decision (13-2) over Tyler Jentz of Coe College (Iowa). He helped lead UW-L to a second-place finish at the national championships.

Chelf became the second wrestler in school history to win two national titles, joining Ryan Allen. He is also the third wrestler in UW-L history to earn four career All-America awards, joining Allen and Jason Lulloff. Along with his national championships in 2007 and 2008, Chelf placed third in 2006 and sixth in 2005. He finished 14-4 in four tournament appearances.

He won three WIAC titles at 174-pounds (2006, 2007, 2008) and placed second once (2005) while being a member of four league championship teams. Chelf, who was selected the WIAC Co-Wrestler of the Meet at the 2008 championships, was also named the league’s scholar-athlete this season. He captured the 174-pound division at the 2008 Pete Willson Wheaton (Ill.) Invitational with a 5-0 record and was selected the George Olson Outstanding Wrestler. Chelf also earned the Jack Swartz’s Most Falls/Least Time Award at the Wheaton Invite, finishing with three falls in a time of 4:50.

Chelf ended his career with a record of 153-24, ranking second in school history in victories.

A 2007 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V At-Large Second Team selection, Chelf was named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-America Team in 2006, 2007 and 2008. He has also been recognized on the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and UW-L’s Dean’s List. Chelf is a member of UW-L’s Physical Education Majors club and Wisconsin Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.