Wrestling Team Hands Out Awards At Annual Banquet

April 10, 2006

EAST LANSING - All-American brothers Nick and Andy Simmons shared the Most Outstanding Wrestler Award as Michigan State honored its seniors and handed out awards at its annual banquet Sunday, April 9, at the Kellogg Center.

One of the two Williamston, Mich., brothers has been named as team MVP the past three seasons, with Nick claiming it in 2005, and Andy in 2004. It is the first time since 1995 when David Morgan, Dan Wirnsberger and Emilio Collins shared the honor that at least two wrestlers have earned the award.

Nick Simmons picked up two other awards on the afternoon, collecting the Most Falls Award with 16 on the season, and the Most Exciting Wrestler Award. Simmons will enter the 2006-07 season just 10 pins shy of the MSU career mark of 45 currently held by Erich Harvey.

Fellow junior Tony Greathouse grabbed the Tom Muir Award, named for the 1969 Big Ten Champion and given to the team's most improved wrestler, while red-shirt freshman John Murphy received the Commitment Award. Puerto Rico native Franklin Gomez was tabbed the team's outstanding freshman for his 23-3 record during his red-shirt season.

For the second consecutive year, senior Darren McKnight earned the Grady Peninger Scholastic Achievement Award, given to the Spartan with the highest GPA on the team for the past two semesters, and another senior, R.J. Boudro, claimed the Collins/Michaels Leadership Award for the second straight season.

133-pound red-shirt freshman Jeff Wimberley got the Special Moment Award for his upset victory over Daniel Dennis on Feb. 5, helping the Spartans knock off the then-No. 7 Iowa Hawkeyes.

Most Outstanding Wrestler - Nick Simmons, Andy Simmons

Tom Muir Most Improved - Tony Greathouse

Commitment Award - John Murphy

Grady Peninger Scholastic Achievement - Darren McKnight

Collins/Michaels Leadership - R.J. Boudro

Special Moment - Jeff Wimberley

Most Falls - Nick Simmons

Most Exciting Wrestler - Nick Simmons