The ACC award was determined by a vote of the league's six wrestling head coaches.
Gwiazdowski, who this year claimed his third ACC title at 285 pounds, finished as the NCAA runner-up after winning the national title in 2014 and 2015. He also became the second ACC wrestler to reach the NCAA Championship finals for three consecutive years, joining only North Carolina's T.J. Jaworsky, a three-time NCAA champion (1993-94-95).
Gwiazdowski, who had won an ACC-record 88 consecutive matches until dropping a sudden-victory, 7-5 overtime loss in this year's NCAA Championship finals, completed his career with a 34-1 record this past year, posting a perfect 5-0 record in the ACC and winning his third straight ACC title. He is one of just two ACC wrestlers in history to have won back-to-back national titles. His last loss prior to the overtime loss in the NCAA finals to Kyle Snyder of Ohio State was on January 2, 2014.
A four-time NCAA All-American, who also finished eighth nationally while a freshman at Binghamton, Gwiazdowski was named the Most Valuable Wrestler at this year's ACC Wrestling Championship in leading NC State to its first team title since 2007.
In his three-year NC State career, was 28-0 against all ACC competition, with 23 bonus point wins. In all three of his seasons, he led the conference with the most individual dual points in conference action, going a perfect 16-0 in ACC duals.
"Nick being honored as the ACC Wrestler of the Year is a great recognition and coming from one of the best conferences in the nation, it is truly an honor," said NC State head coach Pat Popolizio. "For him to win this award three straight seasons is an impressive accomplishment and shows you how instrumental he has meant to our success.
"He has helped to brand NC State to what it is today and he has helped elevate the academic and competitive nature of our program and the entire ACC overall. We look forward to his future wrestling endeavors, and he will truly be missed."
Gwiazdowski will next travel to Iowa City, Iowa, and compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team at the 2016 USA Wrestling Olympic Trials April 9-10.
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