Greenwood, Indiana - Ivan Smith has been named a College Sports Communicators (CSC) First Team Academic All-American®, becoming just the ninth student-athlete in the history of New Mexico Highlands University to earn one of the nation's most prestigious academic and athletic honors. Smith is the first Cowboy student-athlete to receive Academic All-America® recognition since 2015.
The CSC Academic All-America® program recognizes the nation's premier student-athletes for their combined accomplishments in competition and the classroom. Selected through a nationwide vote of College Sports Communicators members, Academic All-America® is regarded as one of the highest honors a collegiate student-athlete can achieve.
A native of Farmington, New Mexico, Smith capped a remarkable junior season by earning NCAA Division II All-America honors with a seventh-place finish at 165 pounds at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships. He compiled a 32-6 overall record, finished undefeated in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference dual competition, and was named the 2026 RMAC Academic Wrestler of the Year.
In the classroom, Smith has been equally impressive. The Social Work major carries a 3.99 cumulative grade point average, exemplifying the balance of academic excellence and athletic achievement that defines the Academic All-America® program.
"Ivan has been a staple of this program since he stepped foot on campus, and he is a pleasure to work with. In his three years at New Mexico Highlands, Ivan has already put himself in rare air in terms of his accomplishments in the classroom and on the mat. Those accomplishments, combined with the consistent positive energy he spreads across campus and in town, have cemented his legacy with Cowboy Wrestling and at NMHU as a whole," said Cowboy Head Coach Chris Freije.
"I feel like the term gets passed around too freely sometimes, but in a case like Ivan's, it absolutely holds true - the sky is the limit for him. There are no barriers on the goals he can attain. Ivan has put himself in position to write an amazing final chapter to his academic and athletic career at New Mexico Highlands."
Smith's accomplishments carry additional significance as a New Mexico native competing for the state's only intercollegiate wrestling program.
Earlier this spring, Smith also earned First Team All-RMAC honors and became New Mexico Highlands' first wrestling All-American since 2022, further cementing one of the most accomplished seasons in program history.
About the CSC Academic All-America® Program
The College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® program recognizes the nation's premier student-athletes for their combined performances in competition and the classroom. The Division II Academic All-America® program is financially supported by the NCAA Division II national governance structure to assist College Sports Communicators with administering the 2025-26 Division II Academic All-America® program.
Full CSC Release
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