Three NU Wrestlers Named To Academic All-Big 12 First Team

Lincoln - Nebraska's Scott Munson, Joe Henson and Mat Zutavern were among nine wrestlers named to the 1999 Academic All-Big 12 First Team, released by the Big 12 Office Friday. With three honorees, the Huskers tied Iowa State for the most representatives on the first team.

Munson, a senior from Arkansas City, Kan. who has maintained a 3.344 cumulative GPA in finance, will join Henson, a freshman from Easton, Pa., with a 3.447 cumulative GPA in international business, as two of NU's seven representatives at the 1999 NCAA Championships in State College, Pa., March 19-21.

Munson finished the season with a 25-10 record and finished third at 197 pounds at the 1999 Big 12 Championships, March 6 in Ames, Iowa. In his first season as a starter, Henson recorded a 19-9 mark and finished fourth in the 149-pound weight class at the conference championships. Zutavern, a native of Dunning, Neb., has competed in open tournaments this season for the Huskers.

Four other Huskers -- Bryan Snyder, Brad Vering, Travis Vandever and Kevin Garcia -- earned a spot on the 12-member honorable mention team. With four selections, Nebraska led the conference in honorable mention honorees.

Snyder, who became just the fourth Husker freshman in school history to win a conference title at the 1999 Big 12 Championships, carries a team-best 28-3 record into the national championships. Vering compiled a 22-7 record at 184 pounds this season and will also compete for the Huskers at the NCAA Championships. Vandever earned three starts for the Huskers at 141 pounds during his freshman campaign, and Garcia has been an important backup at 141 pounds this season.