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Four Wrestlers Named All-Conference; Gardner Named Coach of the Year

2018-=2019 All-Conference Wrestlers. Coach of the Year LeRoy Gardner.

Clarksville, Ark.-Four University of the Ozarks wrestlers were named to the All-Southeast Conference Team and Head Coach LeRoy Gardner was named Conference Coach of the Year.

On the First Team included Nathaneal Rankin (125), Miguel Baray (184), Adolfo Sotolongo (197) and Jerhett Lee (285). All four wrestlers won individual conference titles. 

Rankin was named the conference tournament's most outstanding wrestler. He finished his season with a 24-5 record. Rankin placed fifth at the NCAA III Regional. He had 11 falls. Baray posted a 9-9 overall record this season. He had two falls and four decisions. Sotolongo posted a 11-5 record and had seven falls and three decisions. Lee was the team's only National Qualifier and went 35-5. Lee had 17 falls and 11 decisions. 

Gardner guided the Eagles to a runner-up finish at the Southeast Conference Championships, marking the program's highest finish ever at the conference championships. Gardner has had three wrestlers qualify for nationals the past two seasons. During the 2018-2019 season, his team won the most duals in program history (9). Among the most notable wins included a victory over Drury University, the No. 12 NCAA II team in the country.

Additionally, the Eagles placed eight wrestlers on the Conference All-Academic Team. The First Team included Kade McMahon, Jerhett Lee, Ny'Trell Dean, Jacob Sherrill and Nathaneal Rankin. The Second Team included Miguel Baray, Corey Muniz and Si Nhamnhouane.