The All-Effort team isn't about winning a national championship, it's about performing at another level come tournament time. Some wrestlers had sub-par seasons and turned it on at the NCAA championships, while others needed an early loss to change their mindset and adjust their performance. Others earned their respect with fine performances and such performances put their school on the map, at least in the wrestling realm.
The All-Effort Team in 2005-06 lists those wrestlers that overachieved, surpassed their seeds and found a place on the podium or just off it, and how the hard-work they've put in was rewarded with a fine performance. Some didn't even place or compete in the NCAA championships, but that doesn't diminish their season-long battles.
(All Effort team was top All Effort guy in a bracket and then an honorable mention...only 20 guys nationally make this list!)
125 Honorable Mention: Tanner Garnder, Stanford
Coming in as the 12th-seed, Gardner became first-year head coach Kerry McCoy's first All-American. Won three matches in the consolations after falling to Cornell's Troy Nickerson in the second round by riding time.
133 ALL EFFORT 1st team:
Tyler McCormick, Missouri
A sophomore that's finally broken through, finishing seventh after coming in unseeded. Not being able to compete alongside older brother Chris (141 pounds), could have been additional motivation as McCormick was sent to the consolations by top-seeded Shawn Bunch of Edinboro. McCormick won three straight matches in the consolations, including a 6-4 victory over Central Michigan's Jason Borrelli to earn All-American status. After being sent to the seventh-place match after a loss to Tom Clum of Wisconsin, McCormick knocked off eighth-seeded Matt Keller of UT-Chattanooga to place seventh.
Congrats to Tanner and Tyler on a great year and earning a spot on the All Effort team!