Chickasaw wrestler Scott Berens, left.

Chickasaw student Scott Berens, of Blanchard, Okla., placed sixth in the 133-lb. class competition at the 2008 National Junior College Athletic Association wrestling tournament February 22-23 in Rochester, Minn.

Berens wrestles at Labette Community College in Parsons, Kan., where he is a red-shirt sophomore majoring in secondary education.

Along with placing sixth at the 2008 NJCAA wrestling tournament, Berens was named a 2008 Wrestling All-American and the wrestling team received third-place honors.

Berens excels in academics as well as athletics. He was named a 2008 Academic All-American, and the Labette team was named 2008 Academic National Champions.

Since the fall of 2005, Berens has received several scholarships and grants through the Chickasaw Nation.

“The Chickasaw Nation has tremendously helped me financially through college,” said Berens. “If it wasn’t for the Chickasaw Nation, I don’t know that I would be wrestling and attending college.”

Berens graduated from Blanchard High School in 2005. He has wrestled for 16 years, bringing home many awards during his high school career, including a third-place state medal.

Berens will graduate from Labette Community College May 16 with an associate’s degree in secondary education. He plans to continue wrestling at a Division II university and has been on several recruiting trips, but is undecided.

For more information about the Chickasaw Nation Division of Education, call (580) 421-7711 or visit www.chickasaweducationservices.com.