McPeek Named RMAC Academic Wrestler of the Year

Scott Kretzmann
ASC Sports
Information Director

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Three-time all-American and 2012 NCAA Division II 197-pound national champion Luke McPeek (Albuquerque, N.M.) was honored again on Tuesday, this time for both his work in the classroom and on the mat, as he was named as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Academic Wrestler of the Year.
Joining McPeek as a RMAC Wrestling All-Academic Honor Roll member was junior Mark Mabry, Jr. (Benson, Ariz.).
To qualify for Academic All-RMAC, student-athletes must have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.30 or better, be a starter or reserve, and have completed two consecutive semesters or three quarters at their current institution prior to the start of the wrestling season. Sports Information Directors at each RMAC school sponsoring the sport of wrestling voted on the first and second teams, while all other eligible candidates earned honor roll status.
McPeek has been honored on Academic All-RMAC Wrestling Team twice before, on the first team for the 2008-09 season and the honor roll in 2009-10, both while wrestling for New Mexico Highlands. A graduate student at Adams State in counseling, McPeek owns 3.93 GPA.
This season, McPeek capped his collegiate career with a come-from-behind effort in the national championship match at 197 pounds for his DII title and third overall all-American accolades. His effort also paced the Grizzlies to an eighth place finish at the tournament, matching their final regular season National Wrestling Coaches’ Association (NWCA) ranking, and giving ASC its highest team finish since 2009.
McPeek posted a 22-4 record during his final season and was ranked No. 2 in DII for the majority of the season. He concluded his career with a record of 70-24, and was named as the NcAA DII Championships Outstanding Wrestler of the Meet for his victory. A U.S. Marine, he was among the national leaders in wins by pin this season with eight, and also won tournament titles at the Wyoming Cowboy Open Elite in November and Bob Smith Fort Hays State Open in December.
Mabry saw action in three pre-season tournaments, with his best showing coming at the FHSU Bob Smith Open where he went 3-2 on the day. A history major at Adams State, Mabry owns a 3.55 GPA and posted a 6-6 mark this season to up his career record to 18-23.
Three other seniors in addition to McPeek were named as unanimous picks to the first team, including Colroado Mines’ Jordan Larsen, and Nebraska-Kearney’s Joey Wilson and Dalton Jensen. Larsen put up a 16-5 record this year at 165 pounds and owns a 3.99 GPA. Wilson, also a 165-pounder, owns a 3.57 GPA and went 30-10 this season, including a third place finish at the RMAC Championships and fourth at the NCAA Championships. Jensen was the DII champ at 141 pounds, and compiled a 30-4 record this year to go along with a 3.74 GPA.