It's a pretty difficult task to become an All-American.
It's even tougher to do it multiple times during a collegiate
career and—to throw one more degree of difficulty into
the mix—while working a full-time co-op during one semester.
Zak Kallai
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Wadsworth, Ohio, High School graduate and CWRU
junior Zak Kallai, who wrestles in the 149-pound weight class,
conquered all those obstacles this year and became the first
three-time All-American in University history when he finished
eighth at the NCAA Division III Championships.
"Coming into the season after my co-op, I was
a little out of shape," Kallai said. "But I still knew I had
the ability to become an All-American, and it was a big goal
of mine."
Two weeks ago Kallai took a mediocre 13-10 record
(considering he entered his third year 69-22, 11th all-time
in wins) into the Midwest Regional at CWRU and was perfect (3-0),
claiming the tournament's Most Valuable Wrestler honor and earning
his third straight trip to the championships.
Despite having momentum, Kallai ran into a brief
roadblock at the national championships, losing 3-8 to Lutherla's
Garret Kurth (a three-time finalist) in his first match. He
then won three straight to finish the first day 3-1. He lost
two matches, the final one (finals-seventh place match) 6-11
to Messiah's Andy Vogel, on day two of the tournament.
"The co-op, plus some sickness he was fighting,
held him up a little," said CWRU wrestling Head Coach Bob Del
Rosa. "But he found it all at the end, and that is when he had
to do it. Being a three time All-American is tough, and he'll
probably end up being a four-timer. That would be something."
Kallai, who finished the year 16-13, will have
a chance to go four-for-four next season as a senior.
"I don't feel any pressure to make it four," said
Kallai. "I figure I'll keep wrestling the way I am and keep
trying to place higher at nationals."
ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN
For the second consecutive year CWRU junior 197-pounder
Josh Schmidt was named an Academic All-American. Requirements
for the award are holding at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point
average and winning 67 percent of matches. Schmidt has a 3.5
GPA and finished the year with the most wins (33-11) on the
team. Schmidt finished 0-2 this past weekend at the NCAA Championships
in his second straight appearance.
