CLEVELAND – University of Mount Union star wrestler Jordin James had quite the year on the mats during the 2018-2019 season, and for his efforts, the Purple Raiders standout was recognized with the Male Collegiate Athlete of the Year Award at the 20th Greater Cleveland Sports Awards Wednesday night.
James was presented with the award during the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards’ 20th anniversary celebration at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel in Downtown Cleveland.
A National Champion and All-American in 2019, James earned the Male Collegiate Athlete of the Year over Danny Cody, a standout pitcher for Baldwin Wallace University, and Dominic Canzone, a star outfielder with the Ohio State Buckeyes’ baseball team.
James was the 2019 NCAA Division III National Champion in the 133-pound weight class and helped the Purple Raiders earn a fifth-place finish as a team, the highest ever in program history.
The third Mount Union wrestler ever to win an individual national championship, James posted a near-perfect 34-1 record with six major decisions, nine other decisions, four pin-falls and a team-best 15 technical falls.
A native of Bedford Heights, James had an undefeated record in Ohio Athletic Conference matches and earned first-place finishes at the Messiah Petrofes Invitational, Pete Wilson Wheaton Invitational and at the NCAA Central Regional.
James earned first-team All-Ohio Athletic Conference and NCAA Division III All-American honors in 2019.
Currently, James has posted an 18-2 record with a 2-0 conference mark at the 141-pound weight class with five major decisions, three technical falls and four pin-fall victories over the first two months of his junior season.
