LEXINGTON, Va. – Junior 197-pounder
John Santowski was named the ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year, headlining a group of nine Washington and Lee University wrestlers who earned All-ODAC recognition, the conference office announced Tuesday afternoon.
Santowski (Pittsford, N.Y. / Pittsford Mendon) repeated as the conference champion at 197 pounds and earned First Team All-ODAC honors for the second consecutive year. He compiled a 27-7 record during the 2024-25 season with seven wins by fall, six technical falls and seven major decisions. He contributed 108.5 team points and placed fourth at the NCAA Region IV Championships—just one spot shy of qualifying for the NCAA Division III Championships.
Off the mat, Santowski continues to excel. A Biology major with a minor in Poverty and Human Capability Studies, he boasts a perfect 4.00 GPA. He is a five-time W&L Scholar-Athlete, two-time member of the President's List, two-time Academic All-ODAC honoree, and a three-time NWCA Academic All-American. He is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa. His leadership and service include roles as a small group leader with Reformed University Fellowship, Vice President of the Chocolate Milk Society, and volunteer efforts with Campus Kitchen, Habitat for Humanity, Rockbridge Christmas Baskets, Care Portal and more. He is also an Eagle Scout and has participated in STEM research as a Summer Research Scholar with the W&L Biology Department.
Santowski helped lead Washington and Lee to an impressive 15-3 overall record and a 6-1 mark in ODAC duals. The Generals captured the ODAC Individual Championship with 156 team points and went on to place fourth at the NCAA Region IV Championships with 139.0 team points.
Additionally, W&L was honored as one of the top academic wrestling programs in NCAA Division III by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). The Generals ranked fourth nationally with a team GPA of 3.747 in the 2025 NWCA Team Scholar All-America Awards. Thirteen W&L student-athletes earned NWCA Scholar All-America honors for their combined achievements in the classroom and on the mat.
Eight other Generals joined Santowski in earning All-ODAC recognition based on their performances at the conference championship hosted by W&L in February. Wrestlers who won their weight class earned First Team All-ODAC honors, with second- and third-place finishers landing on the Second and Third Teams, respectively. Read the ODAC release,
HERE.
Washington and Lee's 2024-25 All-ODAC Selections
- First Team All-ODAC
- Second Team All-ODAC
- Third Team All-ODAC
Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.
