SPARTANBURG, S.C. The Southern Conference announced that senior Chris Bencivenga has been named Co-Wrestler of the Year to highlight the 2009 regular season wrestling awards, released Tuesday by the conference office. Fellow senior Ben Wilmore and Sophomore Mikal McKee were also named all-conference. The awards were voted on by the league's wrestling head coaches.
Bencivenga is currently 27-9 this season at 141 pounds, including a 4-1 record in the Southern Conference. His only conference loss this season was to Cody Cleveland from Chattanooga, who was also named Co-Wrestler of the Year. His 89 wins for his career ranks him third on the all-time career wins list in school history. He is just three wins shy of having the school record for the most wins by a 141-pounder in a single season. His 27 wins this year also ranks him ninth in school history for the most all-time wins in a single season regardless of weight class.
Mikal McKee has been a bright spot for the Spartans this season at 184 pounds in his second season. McKee has amassed an incredible 30-12 record this season, with a 4-1 mark in SoCon matches. His 30 wins this season makes him just the fourth wrestler in school history who has won 30 or more matches in a single season. He is just six wins shy of breaking the school record of 35 wins set last season by Daren Burns. This season he has also amassed an incredible 11 wins by major decision, which is tied for fourth nationally in Division 1. Through his first two seasons at UNCG, his 44 wins ties him for 16th on the all-time wins list in school history.
Ben Wilmore was named all-conference for the first time in his career after going 4-1 this year in Southern Conference bouts. The senior from Kanehoe, HI, is currently wrestling his best of the season after winning five of his last seven matches. His only conference loss this season was a narrow, 6-5, defeat to Kelly Felix from Chattanooga.
The Spartans will return to the mat for the 2009 Southern Conference Wrestling Championships that get underway this Saturday, March 7, with first round matches beginning at 11:00 a.m., in Charleston, SC, at The Citadel's McAlister Field House.
AGATE
Co-Wrestlers of the Year
Chris Bencivenga UNC Greensboro and Cody Cleveland Chattanooga
All-Conference
125 Tyler Sim The Citadel
133 Frank Celorrio Appalachian State
141 Cody Cleveland Chattanooga
149 - Dan Waddell Chattanooga , Ben Wilmore UNC Greensboro
157 Joey Knox Chattanooga
165 Seth Garvin Chattanooga
174 Jason McCroskey Chattanooga
184 Mikal McKee UNC Greensboro
197 Odie Delaney The Citadel
Hwt Josh Wine VMI
All-Freshmen
Jason McCroskey Chattanooga
Kyle Blevins Appalachian State
Demetrius Johnson Chattanooga
J.C. Oddo The Citadel
Odie Delaney The Citadel
Dan Waddell Chattanooga
David DeCamp Davidson
Tyler Roberson Chattanooga
Andrew Szymborski VMI
Ethan Winel Chattanooga
Mike Kessler Appalachian State
Richard Alarcon The Citadel
Tyler Mullen - Davidson
- UNCG -
