Millikin's Bradan Birt Named to CoSIDA Academic All-America Team

Illinois-Millikin University senior Bradan Birt (Epworth, Iowa, Western Dubuque H.S.) has been named to the 2022 Academic All-America At-Large Second Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizing the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. This is the second straight season Birt has been selected an Academic All-America for NCAA Division III.

In May, Birt, a Sports Management major, was named to the All-District At-Large Team for District 7 in NCAA Division III. Birt completed an historic wrestling career at Millikin that saw win at NCAA Division III National Championship at 165 pounds in 2022. He finished the season with a 42-0 record and was named the NCAA Division III National Tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler and the top ranked athlete in the NCAA Division III Dominant Wrestler rankings. Birt made history by winning his fifth College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin individual championships. During his career, he was the CCIW's Most Outstanding Wrestler three times.

Birt won the 2021 NWCA Division III National Championship at 165 pounds and was named Most Outstanding Wrestler of that event. He finished his career with an 80 match winning streak. Since the start of the 2019-20 season, Brit was 92-1 with 87 bonus point victories. He earned All-American honors a record five times. He finished his career with a record 159-13 (.924) setting Millikin records for most wins and highest winning percentage.

Birt excelled in the classroom as well. In addition to his honors from CoSIDA, Birt was a four-time NWCA Scholar All-American, the 2021-22 CCIW Elite 25 Award Winner and a four-time CCIW Academic All-Conference honoree.

The CoSIDA Academic All-America program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions - NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. First-team Academic All-District honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced in mid-June.

The Division II and III CoSIDA Academic All-America programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2021-22 Divisions II and III Academic All-America programs.