KANSAS CITY – Just prior to the start of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on ESPN 2, James Conway was announced as the Elite 90 Award Winner by the NCAA. Conway is the first-ever Franklin & Marshall student-athlete to win this award - which was first presented during the 2009-10 academic year - in any sport.
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.
Conway advanced to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships for the first time during his junior season where he became the first Diplomat since 2018 to win a match at the national tournament. He is majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology while also maintaining a minor in Spanish.
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.
Conway's first appearance at the NCAA Championships was highlighted by his first round win against returning All-American Chris Foca of Cornell as he secured the winning takedown with just one second remaining during the 5-4 victory. That win was Conway's 30th of the season, making him the first Diplomat since Wil Gil '22 to win 30 matches in a single season. A 30 win season has now been accomplished 14 times in F&M history following Conway's most recent addition to the record book.
The Franklin & Marshall junior now owns 73 career victories after three seasons which ties him for 15th in program history heading into his senior season. Conway posted eight victories against NCAA qualifiers at his weight class during the 2023-24 season and entered the national tournament as the No. 19 seed after placing fifth at the EIWA Championship. Conway amassed more victories than any other NCAA qualifier at 184 lbs. coming into the tournament, with 14 of his victories on the year coming with bonus points.
In addition to his fifth-place finish at the EIWA Championships, Conway became F&M's first-ever individual champion at the Keystone Classic. He additionally made the finals of the Lehman Open and Journeymen Collegiate Classic, while placing fifth at Midlands and sixth at the Southeast Open.
For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, log on to https://www.ncaa.com/elite-90.
