Laurent Named to Academic All-America First Team

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, June 9, 2009

La Crosse, Wis. – University of Wisconsin-La Crosse junior wrestler Dan Laurent of Mishicot (H.S.) has been selected to the 2009 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Men's At-Large College Division First Team. He is the sixth individual in the history of the Eagles' wrestling program to earn Academic All-America honors. It also marks the third straight year UW-L has had an individual named to the Academic All-America Team as Laurent joins Jason Lulloff (2007) and Josh Chelf (2008) who were both second-team selections.

The Men's At-Large program for the Academic All-America includes the sports of fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis, volleyball, water polo and wrestling. UW-L has now had 52 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americans in school history, including at least one selection in 17 consecutive years.

Laurent, a biochemistry major and biology minor with a 3.92 grade point average, earned his second straight NCAA Division III championship at 285-pounds in 2009. He went 4-0 at the national meet, defeating Mark Corsello of Elmhurst College (Ill.) by decision (6-3) in the title match. Laurent was also a national qualifier in 2007. He became the third wrestler in school history to win back-to-back championships joining Chelf (174-pound titles in 2007, 2008) and Ryan Allen (285-pound titles in 2004, 2005, 2006). Chelf, Allen and Laurent are the only wrestlers in UW-L history to win multiple national championships.

Finishing 39-5 overall in 2008-09, Laurent won 15 matches by fall. He captured his third straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) 285-pound title in 2009 and took the 285-pound division at the Pete Willson Wheaton Invitational and Pointer Open.

Named to the 2009 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar-Team, Laurent has compiled a three-year record of 91-24 at UW-L. He ranks 16th in school history in victories.

Laurent helped lead the Eagles to a third-place finish at the 2009 NCAA III Championships and their 12th consecutive conference crown.