Angers wins Elite 90 academic award from NCAA

Castleton University’s Michael Angers, right, won the Elite 90 award from the NCAA on Saturday.

Tolland’s Michael Angers, a senior wrestler at Castleton University, was named the recipient of the Elite 90 award for the 2023 NCAA Division III wrestling championship. He is the first student-athlete from Castleton to ever claim the honor.

Angers, majoring in History and Education, was presented with the award to a standing ovation on Saturday night prior to the start of the title bouts in Roanoke. The Tolland High graduate for the national championships for the first time in his career at 165 pounds this season after a third-place finish at the Northeast Regional. He went 30-12 on the season with 19 wins via decision.

Angers dropped his two bouts at the national championship meet. He lost to No. 7 Cooper Willis of Augsburg, who earned All-American honors with a fifth place finish, 3-0 and to Jordan Hardrick of Ohio Northern, 7-4.

The Elite 90 award, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers.

The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA’s championships.

Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above academically who have participated in a sport for at least two years with their school. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.

For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, click here.