NATYCAA traditionally recognizes the Scholar-Athletes of the Year, sponsored by Relation Insurance Services, during its annual convention, but this year’s event has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, NATYCAA will provide additional coverage of Torres during what would have been Convention Week, June 7-10.

Torres, a Cassadaga native, dismantled the competition during his sophomore season in 2019-20, compiling a record of 42-7 — a new school record for wins –as well as first-place trophies at the Brockport Open, Waynesburg Invitational and JCC Open. He finished second at the national tournament in the 174-pound weight class and earned second-team NJCAA All-America honors.

But Torres’ talents transcend wrestling. A model student, he compiled a 4.0 GPA in criminal justice and has earned numerous academic accolades, including the 2019 NYS Chancellor Scholar in wrestling, awarded to the top student-athlete in all of SUNY and CUNY. Despite a demanding schedule, Torres finds opportunities to give back to his community, particularly with area youth wrestling and Kallie’s Crusade-affiliated events. Though he has sights on entering the police academy, his next stop will be the University at Buffalo, where he signed a national letter of intent to wrestle for the Bulls.

“Dan is a tremendously balanced young man. In his two years at Jamestown Community College, he has shown consistent discipline throughout all of his commitments,” said George Sisson, athletics director at Jamestown CC, in a statement. “He is an honors student with a perfect GPA, All-American athlete and an outstanding young man. His strength is his ability to stay focused on his desired goals and objectives, but well-rounded enough to be a man of character and a leader of his peers. We could not be more proud of Dan for the example he has set for our future Jayhawk student-athletes.”

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Sisson noted that Torres’ honor puts Jamestown CC on the map.

“Now think about the number of people who hear about JCC nationwide,” he said. ” … We are very blessed to have local student-athletes maximize their experience.”

Torres was previously named to NATYCAA’s Scholar-Athlete Team as the male representative for District 1.

Chipola (Fla.) College’s Amy Woodham was named the other NATYCAA recipient.

“The NATYCAA Scholar-Athlete Awards are presented to student-athletes who have demonstrated their academic, athletics and leadership abilities while also serving their community,” said Michelle Ruble, NATYCAA President and Executive Director of Student Life and Athletics at The College of Southern Maryland in a press release. “This national award is presented to a male and female selected from the nine NATYCAA District winners. All nominees have achieved excellence at the highest level and have volunteered their time to improve the lives of others. This year’s recipients, Dan Torres and Amy Woodham, have achieved this and represented their institutions with distinction. Congratulations to Dan and Amy, and to all the district winners who earned their place on NATYCAA’s Scholar-Athlete team.”