Four Gophers Named NWCA All-Americans
Four Gopher wrestlers were named All-Americans this weekend by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). The list includes 149-pound Brayton Lee, 174-pound Devin Skatzka, and heavyweight Gable Steveson on the First Team while 141-pound Mitch McKee is on the Second Team.
“During difficult times there are always people who rise to the occasion,” NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. “It’s important that these athletes’ efforts and successes during the season are recognized. Congratulations to each of this year’s honorees and National Qualifiers.”
McKee, Skatzka, and Steveson were all 2019 All-Americans. So, McKee and Skatzka finish their careers as two-time All-Americans while Steveson still maintains his pursuit to become the Gophers’ 11th four-time All-American in program history.
Lee, meanwhile, kicks off his career with an All-American honor in his first varsity season. The Brownsburg, Indiana, native went 25-6 with a fourth-place finish at the 2020 Big Ten Championships that earned him the seven-seed in the canceled 2020 NCAA Championships.
Initially a transfer from Indiana, Skatzka went from 0-4 in the national tournament to a multi-time All-American with the Gophers. Skatzka led the team with 28 victories this season to give him 104 in his career and a second straight national honor.
Nationally respected at heavyweight, Steveson went 15-0 with eight ranked victories to earn the Big Ten Title and enter the national tournament as the top-seed in his home city. Undefeated dating back to March 22, 2019, Steveson is 50-2 in his career with the greatest winning percentage in program history.
McKee, a St. Michael native, went 24-7 in his final college campaign with eight pins. A lifelong Gophers fan growing up, McKee sits just outside the top-ten in victories with 91 and just inside the top-ten in pins with 33.
This season, McKee defeated three members of the NWCA First Team.
NWCA Division I 2020 All-America Teams
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