NDSU’s Jared Franek is the recipient of the Elite 90 award for the 2022 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship.
Franek, a junior 157-pound wrestler for the Bison, has a 4.00 grade-point average majoring in sport management with a minor in business administration. The Harwood, North Dakota native was presented with the award prior to Saturday night’s championship round at the Little Caesars Arena.
Franek is North Dakota State's 16th Elite 90 award winner across five different sports. He is the second Bison wrestler to win the honor, joining Clay Ream, who was the recipient of the award in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers.
The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above academically who have participated in a sport for at least two years with their school. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
A list of winners can be found on the NCAA’s Elite 90 website.