Princeton University Athletics
Photo by: Lisa Elfstrum
Four Tigers Named NWCA Scholar All-Americans
April 02, 2026 | Wrestling
PRINCETON, N.J. – Matthew Martino, Sebastian Ortega, Eligh Rivera and Ty Whalen were named Scholar All-Americans as the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) announced its end-of-season academic awards on Wednesday
The Scholar All-American Awards recognize outstanding academic achievement by individual student-athletes across the nation.
Martino, Ortega, Rivera and Whalen are four of 390 student-athletes from 73 institutions who were recognized for their academic success in the classroom while competing throughout the season.
Martino, Rivera and Whalen ended their season at the NCAA Championships in Cleveland on Mar. 19-21. Martino, a first-year student, made his nationals debut and earned his first NCAA win to cap off a freshman season that saw him excel on the mat and in the classroom.
Junior Whalen, the 2026 Ivy League Runner-Up at 165, also earned a major decision at nationals as the 21st seed. He was named a Second Team All-Ivy honoree at the conclusion of the regular season, ending the year with a record of 22-9.
Rivera, an All-Ivy Honorable Mention, was seeded 22nd for NCAAs and finished the Ivy League fourth at 149 while earning some big upsets throughout his strong junior season as he posted a 13-11 record.
Ortega went 16-8 on the year at 141 while also excelling academically in his sophomore year in the Orange & Black.
Competing for one of the most prestigious and academically rigorous institutions in the nation, these four Tigers upheld a standard of excellence both in the wrestling room and in the classroom this season.
The Scholar All-American Awards recognize outstanding academic achievement by individual student-athletes across the nation.
Martino, Ortega, Rivera and Whalen are four of 390 student-athletes from 73 institutions who were recognized for their academic success in the classroom while competing throughout the season.
Martino, Rivera and Whalen ended their season at the NCAA Championships in Cleveland on Mar. 19-21. Martino, a first-year student, made his nationals debut and earned his first NCAA win to cap off a freshman season that saw him excel on the mat and in the classroom.
Junior Whalen, the 2026 Ivy League Runner-Up at 165, also earned a major decision at nationals as the 21st seed. He was named a Second Team All-Ivy honoree at the conclusion of the regular season, ending the year with a record of 22-9.
Rivera, an All-Ivy Honorable Mention, was seeded 22nd for NCAAs and finished the Ivy League fourth at 149 while earning some big upsets throughout his strong junior season as he posted a 13-11 record.
Ortega went 16-8 on the year at 141 while also excelling academically in his sophomore year in the Orange & Black.
Competing for one of the most prestigious and academically rigorous institutions in the nation, these four Tigers upheld a standard of excellence both in the wrestling room and in the classroom this season.
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