Zain Retherford runs out onto the mat for his NCAA finals match (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Presented each year since 2006 to the best collegiate wrestler in all divisions, the award is based exclusively on the balloting of wrestlers and executives at InterMat prior to the announcement of other college wrestling awards. Each staff member is asked to select five wrestlers and rank them from first to fifth. Point values are assigned to each placement, ranging from one point to a wrestler listed fifth on a voter's ballot, up to nine points for a first-place vote.
Retherford received five of the ten first-place ballots for a total of 70 votes, edging out Oklahoma State three-time champ Alex Dieringer, who was listed at the top of four InterMat staffers' ballots, for a total of 68 votes. The other wrestler to be listed at the top of a staffer ballot was four-time, undefeated NCAA Division II champ Joey Davis of Notre Dame College in Ohio, who received nine votes.
A native of Benton, Pa., Retherford was a two-time Pennsylvania high school state champ who had been the No. 3 ranked recruit in the nation overall by InterMat in 2013. He immediately suited up his first year for Penn State, compiling a 33-3 overall record during the 2013-14 season. He was runner-up at 141 the 2014 Big Ten conference championships, and earned All-American honors by placing fifth at the 2014 NCAAs. After taking a redshirt season in 2014-15 where he did not compete in any open tournaments, Retherford came roaring back this season, posting a perfect 33-0 record (including 15 pins). He not only grabbed the 149-pound crown at the 2016 Big Ten championships, but also ran away with Big Ten Wrestler of the Year honors.
Zain Retherford rides Michigan's Alec Pantaleo in the NCAA semifinals (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)"Zain Retherford was the nation's most dominant wrestler on the nation's most dominant team this season," said Andrew Hipps, InterMat owner. "He separated himself from his competition as evidenced by earning bonus points in all five of his matches at the NCAAs. Retherford was never seriously threatened this season. His leadership also cannot be overstated and was a big reason the Nittany Lions won their fifth NCAA title in six seasons."
In the coming days, InterMat will announce winners of its annual Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year honors.
2016 InterMat Wrestler of the Year Voting Results
1st-5th Place Votes: 9, 7, 5, 3, 1
Total Votes/(First-Place Votes)
1. Zain Retherford (Penn State) 70 (5)
2. Alex Dieringer (Oklahoma State) 68 (4)
3. Kyle Snyder (Ohio State) 46
4. Nahshon Garrett (Cornell) 29
5. Isaiah Martinez (Illinois) 20
6. Joey Davis (Notre Dame College) 9 (1)
7. Nick Gwiazdowski (N.C. State) 5
8. J'den Cox (Missouri) 2
9. Gabe Dean (Cornell) 1
Past Winners – InterMat Wrestler of the Year
2015: Logan Stieber, Ohio State
2014: David Taylor, Penn State
2013: Kyle Dake, Cornell
2012: Ed Ruth, Penn State
2011: Jordan Burroughs, Nebraska
2010: Jayson Ness, Minnesota
2009: Jake Herbert, Northwestern
2008: Brent Metcalf, Iowa
2007: Ben Askren, Missouri
2006: Ben Askren, Missouri
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