Bob Waters Male Athlete of the Year

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The Southern Conference Male Athlete of the Year is selected annually by the Southern Conference athletics directors and a media member representing each conference school. Prior to 1990-91, the award was selected solely by members of the Southern Conference Sports Media Association. Beginning in 1991-92, the award was names after the late Bob Waters, who was Western Carolina’s head football coach from 1969-88.

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2011-12 Bob Waters Male Athlete of the Year
  Austin Trotman 

  School:        Appalachian State
  Class:           Senior
  Hometown:  Winston-Salem, N.C.
  Sport:           Wrsetling

Trotman was named the Bob Waters Male Athlete of the Year following a senior season in which the Winston-Salem, N.C., native earned All-America honors. He placed third at the NCAA championships after being named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the SoCon Championship.

After posting an undefeated regular season in the Southern Conference, Trotman became a three-time individual champion at the SoCon Championships by winning the 184-pound crown in 2012. He finished the year with 38 wins, the second highest single-season total at ASU.

His efforts helped the Mountaineers earn their first regular season SoCon crown since 2003. At the NCAA championships, Trotman defeated the top-three ranked wrestlers at 184 to earn All-America status and give the Mountaineers their best national finish in 20 years. Trotman finished his career as ASU's all-time leader in wins with 129.

A communications major with a minor in sociology, Trotman is enrolled in the 2012 Southeastern Seminary graduate program. He served as the president of ASU's SAAC and has mentored wrestlers ages 11-17 as an instructor and clinician.
 

Athletic Achievements
  • Placed third at NCAA Championship, becoming program's first All-American in nine years
  • Third place finish is the best of any SoCon wrestler since 1983
  • Named All-SoCon at 184 pounds
  • Named SoCon Tournament Outstanding Wrestler
  • SoCon November Wrestler of the Month
  • Two-time SoCon Wrestler of the Week
  • Began season on streak of 14-straight wins
  • Defeated national No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 wrestlers at the NCAA Tournament
  • Led ASU to its best national finish in 20 years
  • Scored a team-high 71 dual-meet points
  • Went undefeated in SoCon matches (6-0) to help team to first conference campionship since 2002-03, knocking off seven-time defending champion Chattanooga
  • Led team in technical falls (5)
  • Scored a 20-second pin against Cleveland Stat, the fastest fall of his career
  • Ranked as high as No. 9 in national polls
  • Knocked off three ntionally ranked wrestlers during the regular season
  • Went 4-0 to take first place at Hokie Open
  • 4-0 performance earned title at Keystone Classic, defeating wrestlers from Boston U., Brown and Harvard
  • Earned 100th career win with 9-4 victory over Virginia Tech's John Dickson
  • Posted 5-1 weekend to take third place at the Southern Scuffle, falling only to Wyoming's LeBlanc, the eventual No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed
  • His pin against Chattanooga's Cory Canada gave the Mountaineers enough team points to hand the Mocs their first Southern Conference loff in seven years
  • Posted pair of technical falls to earn 184 pound Southern Conference title and capture Outstanding Wrestler honors
 

Academic Achievements
  • Enrolled in the 2012 Southeastern Seminary graduate program
  • Majored in communication studies with a minor in sociology
 

Civic Achievements
  • 2011-12 Appalachian State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) president
  • Leader of wrestling team bible study
  • Mentored wresters age 11-17 as wrestling instructor and clinician