For the fourth straight year, Maryville University wrestling posted the highest team GPA in NCAA Division II, taking top honors in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division II Scholar All-America ranking for the 2020-21 year.
 
The Saints recorded a GPA of 3.650, just the second team GPA of higher than 3.6 ever posted in the history of the Scholar All-America program. Maryville's 3.650 is second to only its team GPA of 3.695 a season ago. Emmanuel College is this year's team runner up with a 3.416, with the University of Indianapolis taking the third-place spot with a 3.413 team GPA. Augustana (3.355) and Coker (3.345) round out the 2020-21 top five teams.
 
"We are proud of them and continue to be proud of them for not only their academics but for the kind of individuals they are," Maryville head coach Mike Denney said. "Especially in this pandemic year to keep that discipline academically, I think that speaks a lot to their character. Through this whole thing, to be able to demonstrate character under adversity is the real test. To have this high of a GPA is demonstrating that character."
 
In total, 345 student-athletes representing 46 institutions were honored individually. Of those 345, 68 of the 132 wrestlers at the 2021 NCAA Division II National Championships were named Scholar All-America, including 54 who earned All-American status at Nationals. Of the 20 National Finalists at this year's Nationals, 11 earned All-Academic, including three National Champions.
 
Maryville had the most individuals named Scholar All-America, with 18 Saints earning the honor. The Saints topped the county for the third straight year. Earning the honor this season were: James Anding (174), Max Darrah (285), Gavin Dewitt (149), Luke Ebers (165), Ryan Herman (197), Lance Hymer (165), Taylor Jokerst (141), Bailey Kelly (184), Caleb Knobel (165), Tyler Kreith (133), Michael Peters (157), Anthony Pisciotta (125), Logan Radik (285), Carter Smith (157), Chase Stegall (197), Tyler Stegall (149), Christopher Viehmann (157) and Joey Williams (184).
 
The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference paced all conferences with 83 honorees, with the Great Lakes Valley Conference (62) finishing second. Of the 345 total honorees, 25 featured 4.0 GPAs.
 
In order for a student-athlete to be nominated to the Division II Scholar All-American Team, he must have a minimum 3.4 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale, with that benchmark at 3.25 for those who qualified for the 2020 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships. Due to the impact of COVID-19 on the season, the dates of competition stipulation was removed from this year's qualifications.