LARAMIE, Wyo. (Feb. 21, 2019) – Three Wyoming Cowboy wrestlers have been named to the 2019 Academic All-Big 12 Team, the conference announced on Thursday.
 
Senior Branson Ashworth, sophomore Montorie Bridges and junior Cole Verner were each named to the squad's first team. The selection marks the second recognition of Bridges' career and the first of both Ashworth and Verner's.
 
The team features 22 student-athletes from Conference member institutions Iowa State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and West Virginia. Student-athletes from the league's affiliate members in the sport - Air Force, Fresno State, Northern Colorado, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Utah Valley and Wyoming - total 69 selections.
 
First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA while the second team selections hold a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.
 
To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 20 percent of their team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.
 
The Cowboys will be back on the mat on March 9-10 when they travel to Tulsa, Okla., to compete at the Big 12 Championships.