DEKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University wrestler Mason Kauffman was recognized for his efforts in the classroom by the College Sports Information Directors of America as the 2021 NCAA qualifier was named to 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District Men's At-Large Team on Thursday.
 
"Mason has always been a tremendous student-athlete," NIU head coach Ryan Ludwig said. "He sets the tone for the program in terms of leadership in the classroom and in competition. He is very deserving of this honor."
 
Kauffman, who carries a 4.0 grade point average while pursuing his degree in kinesiology, is the first Huskie wrestler since Huskie Hall of Famer Scott Owen in 2002 to earn academic all-district at-large honors at the third overall. Jeremy Goeden, who is also in the NIU Hall of Fame, earned all-district honors in 1998.
 
Kauffman, the first Huskie in any sport to receive the prestigious Elite 90 Award from the NCAA during the 2021 NCAA Wrestling Championships, has had a solid career since transferring to NIU from Eastern Michigan. After wrestling at 157 his first two seasons for the Huskies, the Stratford, Wis. native made the jump to 174 this year and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA's. He went 13-6 on the season, including an overtime victory over Cody Howard of Virginia Tech in the consolation round of the NCAA Championship.
 
As a first-team selection, Kauffman is eligible for CoSIDA Academic All-America® honors. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in early August.
 
-NIU-