The 2013 d3wrestle.com Wrestler of the Year is Nazar Kulchytskyy of UW-Oshkosh. Kulchytskyy, a junior, won the 165 lbs. NCAA Championship, adding to his 157 lb. title from 2012. After an overtime scare in the first round, he put together three solid wins in a row to cap a 44-1 season and win the title from the #2 seed. Kulchytskyy is now 103-3 for his career with his senior season yet to go.
In 2012-2013, Kulchytskyy led the NCAA in falls with 24, to along with 8 tech falls, and was given the NCAA Division III Most Dominant award at the conclusion of the NCAA Championships. He was the champion of the Muskie Invitational, MSOE Invitational, Dan Gable Open, Matman Invitational, Pete Willson Wheaton Invitational, West Region, and NCAA Championships. His only loss came in the finals of the Pointer Open against Wisconsin redshirt Isaac Jordan. After that loss, he reeled off 39 wins in a row to take the championship in Cedar Rapids.
Kulchytskyy, a native of the Ukraine, returns next year seeking his third straight NCAA championship. For his efforts this year, he was named the WIAC Co-Wrestler of the Year, and has now also been named the 2013 d3wrestle.com Wrestler of the Year. Congratulations to Nazar Kulchytskyy and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.