FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 14, 2006

Rusty Carlsten Named to the
NCAA Div. III Wrestling Hall of Fame

Providence, RI—Former Rhode Island College Head Wrestling Coach Rusty Carlsten has been selected to the NCAA Div. III Wrestling Hall of Fame. Carlsten, a RIC Athletic Hall of Famer, will be officially inducted at a dinner prior to the NCAA Div. III Wrestling National Championships, hosted by the College of New Jersey, on Thursday, Mar. 2.

His legacy as a prominent NCAA Div. III wrestling coach lies on the achievement of a record five straight New England College Conference Wrestling Association (NECCWA) Championship seasons from 1988-1992. The record still stands today along with his perennial top-20 national rankings during that era. His 22-year coaching career at RIC included being named NECCWA Coach of the Year five times, as well as being the conference’s Man of the Year twice.

His overall dual meet record is a sparkling 222-107-9 (.670).  He coached eight All-Americans, four Academic All-Americans, produced 21 New England Conference Champions, and 96 All-Conference grapplers.

Carlsten was inducted into to the Rhode Island Wrestling Association Hall of Fame in 1980, and received the organization’s Pioneer Award in 1999. Carlsten has been a part of the Rhode Island Wrestling Officials’ Association from 1967-present, serving as President from 2004-06.

At the collegiate level, Carlsten received the 25 Years of Service Award in 1992. He manned executive board positions for the New England College Conference Wrestling Association from 1986-88 as Vice President, and then as President from 1988-90.

Rusty is most proud of his son Scott ’94, who was a two-time NCAA Division III All-American who finished his career as a four-time New England Champion and went undefeated in dual meets (70-0-1).

 
Former RIC Wrestling Coach, Athletic Hall of Famer, Rusty Carlsten

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