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Logan Brown shakes hands with Purdue Coach, Scott Hinkle.
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MARCH 28, 2009 - WEST LAFAYETTE
In April of last year Logan Brown returned home for a few days to catch a break from a grueling freshman season that concluded at the NCAA Championships. While home, the Purdue wrestler stopped in at Covington Elementary School with a stack of posters and a handful of Sharpies to sign autographs for the kids during their lunch hour.
As he signed the posters he asked the kids how their grades were and stressed the importance of listening to their teachers and working hard in the classroom.
He also stressed the importance of academics at a youth wrestling camp last summer. He did the same when a large group of youngsters made the trip to watch Logan wrestle at Ohio State in February.
"Academics are important," Logan said. "Every time I have a chance to talk to kids, I try to make sure I tell them how important it is to do well in school."
And Logan practices what he preaches as evident by what he feels is one of his biggest accomplishments of his life - earning All-Academic Big Ten.
"It's a big honor," said Logan of earning the recognition for his hard work in the classroom as well as on the wrestling mat. "I worked hard for this. This is something I've been shooting for and I'm so happy I made it."
It capped a memorable sophomore season for Logan, who holds a 3.35 GPA, as he finished first of the Purdue team with 76 takedowns on his way to his second straight NCAA birth.
Logan was also second on Purdue's team in wins (30), pins (7) and major decisions (5). Plus, he earned the "Iron Man" award, which is given to the wrestler who showed the most perseverance, durability and mental toughness throughout the year.
But Logan is most proud of how well the entire team did - not only on the wrestling mat, but in the classroom.
The Boilermakers had five NCAA Qualifiers, one All-American and seven All-Academic Big Ten performers.
"As a team we've been trying to get our team GPA up," Logan said. "That's something our coaches have challenged us to do. To have seven of us receive All-Academic Big Ten just shows how hard we work."
The fact that five of those qualified for the NCAA Championships also proves academics and wrestling goes hand-in-hand.
"It does because if you are not willing to work in the classroom, then it shows you aren't going to give your best in the wrestling room," Logan stated. "The proof is in who accomplished what this year. The guys who made it to NCAA's are the same guys who did well academically."
Even though Logan has accomplished a great deal in his freshman and sophomore seasons, he's not satisfied by any means.
"I'm still not where I want to be," he said. "I want to be an All-American, a National Champion and an Academic All-American. I've got two more years to get it done."
Lofty goals, but goals Logan continues to work hard to achieve.
Just like he preaches to the younger kids.
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