2014 Wrestler of the Year: Nazar Kulchytskyy

In a repeat of last season, Nazar Kulchytskyy of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh has been named the d3wrestle.com Wrestler of the Year for 2014. Kulchytskyy won his third consecutive NCAA championship in Cedar Rapids this month, finishing off his career with a pin in the 157 lbs. finals. He opened the tournament with an 18-4 major decision over last year’s runner-up at the weight, and worked his way through the bracket with wins over the #8, #5, and #2 seeds to take the title. It was his second championship at 157 sandwiched around a 165 title in 2013. His pin in the finals ran his season record to 42-2 and a perfect 33-0 against Division III competitors. He was awarded the Outstanding Wrestler award at the NCAA Championships.

It was the second straight year that Kulchytskyy finished undefeated against Division III wrestlers, and he finishes with a career record of 143-5. He lost one match to a Division III wrestler in his entire career. In 2013-2014, he was named the NCAA’s most dominant wrestler, scoring an average of 5 team points per bout against DIII wrestlers. It was the second straight year he won that award. He finished the season with 20 falls, 5 tech falls, and 8 major decisions. Only four of his Division III opponents were able to avoid giving up bonus points.

During the season, Kulchytskyy won titles at the Pointer Open, MSOE Invitational, Pete Willson Invitational, Blugold Open, and the West Regional. He was second at the Dan Gable Endowment Open, losing to a Division wrestler from the University of Wisconsin. He led the Titans to a 10th place finish at the NCAA Championships, their best finish since 1982. Congratulations to Nazar Kulchytskyy, the 2014 d3wrestle.com Wrestler of the Year and the all-time wins leader at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.