One of two freshmen among first-year head coach Cary Kolat's starting lineup this season, Navy's David Key (Norcross, Ga.) was named to the Amateur Wrestling News 2021 All-Rookie Team it was announced this week. Key was rated the nation's No. 3 freshman at 184 pounds behind Northern Iowa's Parker Keckeisen and Rutgers' John Posnanski, who both earned All-America honors after placing third and fourth, respectively, at the 2021 NCAA Championship.

A decorated high school wrestler who won a pair of Georgia Class 7A State Championships (2017, '19), Key won the starting job at 184 pounds in a shortened 2020-21 season. He earned a 4-2 victory over Clarion's Max Wohlabaugh in his first-collegiate match which sparked wins in nine-consecutive bouts. That winning streak included a 4-3 victory over seventh-seeded James Langan of LIU in the opening leg of the EIWA Championship, while his 7-2 victory over Army's Taylor Brown propelled him into the finals of the league championship. Despite falling short against 2021 All-American Lou DePrez of Binghamton in the title match, he earned an automatic bid to compete in the NCAA Championship by way of his second-place finish.

Key opened the NCAA Championship in spectacular fashion, pinning 15th-ranked Chris Weiler of Wisconsin in the opener which also marked his first-collegiate win over a ranked wrestler. After dropping a major decision to Parker Keckeisen in the second round, Key defeated Illinois' Zach Braunagel on the back side, 10-3. The first-year championship competitor would bow out of the tournament following a heartbreaking 11-10 loss to 18th-ranked Devin Kane of North Carolina.

Key closed out his rookie campaign with an 11-3 record.

### Go Navy ###