Ryan Hetrick, right, received the Bob Arvin Award which is given to a senior captain who exemplifies the leadership and character traits that Arvin — a former Army wrestling captain, exhibited. Submitted photo

WEST POINT — Army wrestler Ryan Hetrick has been named a scholarship winner, having accepted a two-year fellowship with Lincoln Laboratories, which operates out of Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Hetrick, a Maple Grove High School graduate, will use the opportunity to pursue a M.S. degree from MIT’s Technology and Public Policy program.

“Ryan’s … leadership on the mat and in the classroom has made our program better,” head coach Kevin Ward said. “We are excited for (him) to represent Army Wrestling as (he) continues both (his) academic and military careers.”

The 2020-21 season was one for the books for Army wrestling, as the team secured its second consecutive third-place finish at the 117th EIWA Conference Tournament. The Black Knights’ 119.5 team points boosted them to their second-best team finish in program history. Seven different cadets went on to represent Army at the 2021 NCAA Tournament, marking the third straight season that the Black Knights sent seven wrestlers to the competition.

Hetrick’s recognition didn’t end there as he was the recipient of the Bob Arvin Award, which is given to a senior captain who exemplifies the leadership and character traits that Arvin — a former Army wrestling captain (Class of 1962) — exhibited. Arvin was killed in combat during his time as an officer in the U.S. Army, but left a legacy of leadership and character during his time as an Army wrestler and officer.

Hetrick, the son of Mark and Sally Hetrick, received his appointment to West Point in January 2016.

“I always knew I wanted to do something different,” he told The Post-Journal shortly after receiving the appointment. “I wanted to do something unique. … I realized West Point was one of the best colleges in the United States. … I probably wasn’t going to get in with academics alone, and I decided I’m going to go for it.”