One of only 11 four-time NCAA All-Americans in program history, Tad Merrit never finished lower than fifth nationally and helped lead SCSU Wrestling to back-to-back runner-up finishes at the NCAA Championships in 2011 and 2012. The 2009 NSIC Rookie of the Year and two-time regional champion (2011-12) earned third place finishes in 2009, 2011 and 2012 and a fifth-place finish in 2010, all at 165 pounds. He earned All-NSIC honors each season on the mat and was named the Dean Weisman Wrestler of the Year three times, which is annually given to the program’s top wrestler. Merritt’s All-America run helped the Huskies finish second at both the 2011 and 2012 NCAA Championships, which was the top finish in program history at the time and began a run of 14 consecutive top-six national finishes for the Huskies grapplers, a streak still active today. Merritt still ranks among the program’s best in numerous categories, including second in pins (63), dual wins in a season (19) and career wins (144).
