NASHVILLE, Tenn. – North Dakota State wrestling’s Michael Caliendo has been named to the Amateur Wrestling News 2023 All-Rookie Team, announced the publication.
Caliendo wrapped up his redshirt freshman season with the Bison by going 28-5, including All-American honors at the NCAA Championships in March. Caliendo went on to place seventh at the 165-pound weight class, finishing as the only freshman in the division to earn All-American honors. Caliendo posted a 12-5 record against ranked competition, including a victory over former NCAA Champion Shane Griffith.
The all-rookie team is comprised of three wrestlers at each weight class. Penn State’s Levi Haines was named the Rookie of the Year.
AMATEUR WRESTLING NEWS 2023 ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
125
1. Richard Figueroa/Arizona State (13-0)
2. Eddie Ventresca/Virginia Tech (20-9)
3. Stevo Poulin/Northern Colorado (31-7)
133
Aaron Nagao/Minnesota (23-6)
2. Jesse Mendez/Ohio State (19-9)
3. Gulamjon Abdulaev/Menlo College (18-0)
141
Lachlan McNeil/North Carolina (27-9)
2. Brock Hardy/Nebraska (30-8)
3. Casey Swiderski/Iowa State (14-12)
149
Shayne Van Ness/Penn State (24-7)
2. Caleb Henson/Virginia Tech (27-6)
3. Jackson Arrington/North Carolina State (23-9)
157
Levi Haines/Penn State (24-2)
2. Daniel Cardenas/Stanford (19-3)
3. Cael Swensen/South Dakota State (24-10)
165
Michael Caliendo/North Dakota State (28-5)
2. Patrick Kennedy/Iowa (21-5)
3. Alec Facundo/Penn State (19-6)
174
Tate Picklo/Oklahoma (25-10)
2. Luca Augustine/Pittsburgh (15-11)
3. Cael Valencia/Arizona State (12-12)
184
Lenny Pinto/Nebraska (24-11)
2. Brian Soldano/Rutgers (25-12)
3. Dylan Connell/Illinois (18-18)
197
Jaxon Smith/Maryland (23-8)
2. Carson Floyd/Appalachian State (19-9)
3. Elijah Hynes/Central Methodist (26-11)
285
Nathan Taylor/Lehigh (17-12)
2. Hunter Catka/Virginia Tech (19-8)
3. Trevor Tinker/Cal Poly (15-10)
ROOKIE COACH OF THE YEAR
Derek Moore, California Baptist
