Six Huskers Named to Academic-All Big 12 Team

Lincoln - The Big 12 Conference has announced its 2011 Academic All-Big 12 Wrestling Team, naming six Huskers to the squad, including a conference-leading five members who were named to the first-team. The six members who were named to the squad mark the highest total for a Nebraska team since 2004, when the Huskers placed seven on the team.

For the second consecutive season, junior Tucker Lane claimed a first-team selection to lead Nebraska's honorees. A native of Redvale, Colo., Lane has been a leader for the Huskers on and off the mat, while pursuing a degree in communication studies. Sophomore Josh Ihnen joined Lane as the Huskers lone repeat member of the first team. Ihnen is finance major.

Joining Lane and Ihnen on the first-team were Ross Grande, Tyler Koehn and James Nakashima. The honor marks the first time being named to the Academic All-Big 12 team for all three wrestlers. Grande, a sophomore from Palatine, Ill., is pursuing a degree in Nutrition, Exercise and Health Sciences/Dietetics, while Koehn is working towards a degree in business administration. Nakashima is majoring in political science.

Andy Johnson was the lone Husker to claim a spot on the second-team. The Yankton, S.D., native is working towards a degree in Nutrition, Exercise and Health Sciences/Dietetics.

This year's Academic All-Big 12 squad consisted of 14 first team members combined with four on the second team.  First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, and the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of their team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.

The Huskers return to action for the Big 12 Championships on Saturday, March 5 in Ames, Iowa. Action is set to begin at 10 a.m. from the Hilton Coliseum.

Nebraska's 2011 Academic All-Big 12 First-Team Members
Ross Grande (So., 149 pounds, Palatine, Ill.) - Nutrition, Exercise and Health Sciences/Dietetics
Josh Ihnen (So., 184 pounds, Sheldon, Iowa) - Finance
Tyler Koehn (So., 157 pounds, Pittsburg, Kan.) - Business Administration
Tucker Lane (Jr., Heavyweight, Redvale, Colo.) - Communication Studies
James Nakashima (Sr., 184 pounds, Dwight, Ill.) - Political Science

Nebraska's 2011 Academic All-Big 12 Second-Team Members
Andy Johnson (Sr., 197 pounds, Yankton, S.D.) - Nutrition, Exercise and Health Sciences/Dietetics