Four Spartans Wrestlers Named NWCA Scholar All-Americans

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State wrestlers Cameron Caffey, Layne Malczewski, Caleb Fish and Chase Saldate were each named 2022 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division I Scholar All-Americans, as released by the NWCA late Friday.

The four NWCA Scholar All-Americans is a program best for MSU. In total, 289 individuals representing 74 institutions across the country were named to the NWCA Scholar All-American squad.

To qualify, wrestlers must have a 3.5 cumulative grade point average, with a benchmark of 3.25 for those that qualified for the 2020 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

"Very proud of these guys," said MSU head coach Roger Chandler. "It's a tribute to their work ethic in both the classroom and on the wrestling mat. Achieving success academically is something I stress and talk about all the time and they are doing it at the highest levels."

Caffey took home NWCA Scholar All-America honors for the fourth-straight year. Maintaining a 3.73 grade point average as a computer engineering major, Caffey will earn his bachelor's degree this May. On the mat, Caffey shared the Spartan lead with 29 overall wins and paced the team with eight major decisions and 50 dual points. He also became the first MSU grappler to post an undefeated dual record (14-0) since MSU Hall of Famer Franklin Gomez in 2007-08. During Big Ten dual season, a pair of ranked wins over No. 6 Greg Bulsak and No. 2 Max Dean earned the 197-pounder the Big Ten Wrestler of the Week on Jan. 26, as he would be the only wrestler to defeat the eventual NCAA champion in Dean. In addition to being the Navy Classic runner-up and third-place finisher, Caffey made it to the B1G semifinals before finishing sixth in the conference and qualifying for the NCAA Championships.

For Malczewski, he earns NWCA Scholar All-America accolades for the third-straight season. A human capital and society major, Malczewski was a NCAA qualifier for the third-consecutive year as well, tallying a 23-10 record and ranking second on the team with 48 dual points and six falls, also sharing the team lead with Caffey at eight major decisions. Malczewski also earned the B1G Mat Return of the Week for his mat return against No. 5 John Poznanski of Rutgers that led to the Spartan scoring a first-period pin and helped MSU defeat No. 14 Rutgers. The Navy Classic runner-up at 184 pounds, Malczewski then opened dual season with six-straight wins before suffering his first dual loss of the campaign.

Earning Scholar All-America honors for the first time, Fish is majoring in human capital and society. The second-year Spartan earned a spot in the starting lineup this past season, posting a 22-14 record that saw him place eighth at the Big Ten Championships and earn an at-large selection to the NCAA Championships. Highlighted by his 9-5 come-from-behind decision over No. 10 Zach Hartman of Bucknell, Fish captured in his first season as a starter a MSU Open title, third place at the Navy Classic and a 5-3 mark in Big Ten duals.

Saldate is also receiving NWCA Scholar All-America recognition for the first time. Majoring in advertising, Saldate qualified for his second NCAA Championships in 2021-22 while amassing a 26-10 record that put him second on the team in wins. The sophomore paced the team with seven falls, including racking up four pins at the MSU Open to win the 157-pound crown, and shared the team lead with eight major decisions while tallying the third-most dual points (38). After taking third at the Navy Classic and finishing in second place at the Southern Scuffle, Saldate wound up placing eighth at the Big Ten Championships before earning his at-large bid to NCAAs.

Michigan State finished the 2021-22 season at 10-4 in duals and 4-4 in the Big Ten. Caffey, Fish, Malczewski and Saldate were among the 23 Spartan wrestlers named to the Academic All-Big Ten Team in March as well.

Players Mentioned

Cameron Caffey

Caleb Fish

Layne Malczewski

Chase Saldate

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