WRE | Harkless named to https://t.co/6SvS5cCFHZ All-Freshman Team https://t.co/XQuCiGOeTM
— RIT Athletics (@RITathletics) March 30, 2022
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - RIT freshman Josh Harkless was named to the D3wrestle.com All-Freshman Team, Tuesday.
"Josh had a terrific season and his hard work and development really started to show second semester. He was tested against the nation's best throughout the year and bridged the gap and set the stage for a very bright future," RIT head wrestling coach Jason Bovenzi said.
It was Harkless' second postseason honor in as many weeks after being named to the Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference All-Academic Team, March 22. The ECWC named Harkless its Rookie Wrestler of the Week five times during 2021-22, the most of any first-year ECWC wrestler.
Harkless was d3wrestle.com's lone wrestler competing at 197 pounds to be named to the All-Freshman Team.
One of four RIT wrestlers to qualify for the NCAA National Tournament earlier this month in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Harkless helped the Tigers to a program-best 37 team points and seventh-place finish at the Nationals, where he qualified in his first year of eligibility.
Harkless lost a tough 3-2 decision in the opening round to the eventual national champion at 197 pounds, Cody Baldridge of Baldwin Wallace. Unlike Baldridge's championship 3-2 win where he led the entire bout, against Harkless the bout was tied heading into the final 30 seconds.
In the consolation bracket's first round, Harkless pinned Central's Gage Linahon in 2:47, before falling 3-1 to No. 8 Tyler Hannah (UW-Platteville).
To qualify for the NCAA National Tournament, Harless was a top-three finisher in regional competition in Elizabethtown, Pa.
Harkless started Regionals with a pin over Scranton's Steve Murphy in 4:32 and then had a 4-2 quarterfinal victory over Kyle Hillermeier (N.J. City University) on Feb. 26. Harkless fell 5-1 to Quinn Haddad (The College of N.J.) in the semifinals, but registered a pair of wrestle back wins to earn third over Ursinus' Jason Carter (6:59 fall) and Muhlenberg's Luca Colestock (5-1 decision).