BLACKSBURG - A pair of Virginia Tech wrestlers were honored by the Atlantic Coast Conference Friday as the league announced its postseason awards. Sophomore Devin Carter was named the league's Wrestler of the Year while rookie Nick Brascetta earned Freshman of the Year honors. Maryland's Kerry McCoy was named as the Coach of the Year.
Carter finished fifth in the country at 133 pounds, earning All-America honors. The Christiansburg native went 36-5 on the year, spending five weeks as the No. 1 wrestler in the country at that weight class. He led the team with 11 pins and captured his second ACC title. He is 71-12 in his first two years in the maroon and orange.
Brascetta qualified for the NCAA Championships after winning the 149-pound title at the ACC Championships. The St. Paris, Ohio, native posted an official record of 10-5, but was 22-6 when counting his unattached results. He was scheduled to redshirt, but was forced into action in November. He sprained an ankle early on and missed several weeks of action, but returned to finish strong.
Carter is the second Hokie to win wrestler of the year honors, joining heavyweight Mike Faust who won it in 2006. Brascetta is the fourth Tech wrestler to earn freshman of the year honors and continues a remarkable streak. A Tech wrestler has won the award four consecutive years, a first for the conference. Brascetta joins Jarrod Garnett (2009), Brian Stephens (2010) and Carter (co-winner last year).
Tech finished tied for 11th place at the NCAA Championships last week, a new program best (19th was the previous high) and the 39.0 points scored were also a program high.
As ACC champions, Carter and Brascetta both earned spots on the 20-member 2011-12 All-ACC team, comprised of the gold and silver medal winners at the ACC Championships, which were held March 3 at Chapel Hill, N.C.
ACC Wrestler of the Year
Devin Carter, So., 133 pounds – Virginia Tech
ACC Freshman of the Year
Nick Brascetta, Fr., 149 pounds – Virginia Tech
ACC Coach of the Year
Kerry McCoy – Maryland
2011-12 All-ACC
125 - Matt Snyder, Virginia*
125 - Shane Gentry, Maryland
133 - Devin Carter, Virginia Tech*^
133 - Geoffrey Alexander, Maryland
141 - Nick Nelson, Virginia*
141 - Darrius Little, NC State^
149 - Nick Brascetta, Virginia Tech*
149 - Matt Nereim, NC State
157 - Kyle John, Maryland*
157 - Corey Mock, North Carolina
165 - Pete Yates, Virginia Tech*!^
165 - Josh Asper, Maryland^
174 - Jimmy Sheptock, Maryland*
174 - Chris Moon, Virginia Tech
184 - Jon Fausey, Virginia*
184 - Thomas Ferguson, North Carolina
197 - Christian Boley, Maryland*
197 - Zac Bennett, North Carolina
285 - Spencer Myers, Maryland*
285 - Chris Penny, Virginia Tech
* - ACC weight class champion
! - Most Valuable Wrestler, ACC Championship
^ - 2011-12 All-America
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