Ralph Waldo Emerson said "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."

Buffalo's Joe Kepler wrote and worked with me to conduct an interview with Buffalo's Kevin Smith, a young man who continues to bring life and evidence to what Emerson had to say. While the human condition changes on a daily basis, the results remain true, the amount of effort and dedication generally equals that of the intended results.

Kevin Smith has done it, Again!

The Mid-American Conference announced its 2012 Academic All-MAC Wrestling team today, as voted by faculty athletic representatives at MAC institutions. A total of 10 student-athletes were named to the team. Kevin Smith earned his fourth career honor, capping his prolific career both on the
mat and in the classroom.

Smith finished his career at Buffalo with a 29-9 overall record, including 16-5 in dual meets (tied for seventh most in a single season). In November, he became the seventh wrestler in program history to reach 100 career wins, his final total of 122 comes in at second on the all-time list and his 52 career wins in dual
meets are a new program record. This past season, Smith recorded 25 takedowns and a team-high three wins by fall in dual meets. He also won his third career New York State Championship and was named Most Outstanding Wrestler, making him the second Buffalo wrestler to ever pull off the feat, joining Ray Pfeiffer's
three titles in 1975-1977. Only 19 other wrestlers in the tournament's history have won three.

Dominic Montesanti was named to the four-member Honorable Mention academic team.

The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first
year of residence are not eligible for the award. Outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments for the current season are only considered.

2012 Academic All-MAC Wrestling Team:

Kevin Smith, Buffalo, Senior, 3.65 GPA, Physical Therapy (Doctoral Program)
Donnie Corby, Central Michigan, Junior, 3.24 GPA, Biology
Scott Mattingly, Central Michigan, Sophomore, 3.46 GPA, Journalism
Corey Phillips, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.44 GPA, Sport Management
Wes Schroeder, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.43 GPA, Product Design & Development
Aaron Sulzer, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 3.54 GPA, Accounting
Mallie Shuster, Kent State, Junior, 3.26 GPA, Mass Communication
Ross Tice, Kent State, Senior, 3.22 GPA, Education
Brad Dieckhaus, Northern Illinois, Senior, 4.00 GPA, Sport Management
Nick Smith, Northern Illinois, Sophomore, 3.41 GPA, Kinesiology

Honorable Mention:

Dominic Montesanti, Buffalo
Jaylyn Bohl, Eastern Michigan
Mike Curby, Eastern Michigan
Tommy Sasfy, Kent State

My Thanks to Joe Kepler, Jim Beichner and Kevin Smith!