Nine with ISU Wrestling Ties Qualify for Olympic Trials

05.05.2008 | Men's Wrestling

By: cyclones.com

AMES, Iowa ? Nine Iowa State wrestlers of past and present placed in the top-eight in freestyle of their respective weight class at the ASICS U.S. National Championships in Las Vegas, Nev., April 23-26 and earned a spot in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for the upcoming 2008 Games in Beijing. Former Cyclone Matt Azevedo finished as the 55 kg (121 pounds) champion and was named the tournament's outstanding wrestler.

Azevedo, a 2001 graduate of ISU, upset two-time U.S. Nationals champion and top-seed Henry Cejudo of Sunkist Kids 1-0, 0:18. Former Cyclone was Grant Nakamura at sixth at 121 pounds.

Two grapplers, Dylan Long and Zach Roberson, with ties to Iowa State placed at 60 kg (132 pounds). Long, a volunteer coach for the Cyclones placed fourth. Roberson, the 2004 133-pound ISU NCAA champ, placed sixth.

Former Iowa State NCAA champ and assistant coach Chris Bono finished fourth at 66 kg (145.5 pounds) followed by 2007 157-pound NCAA titlist Trent Paulson, who recorded a seventh-place finish.

Travis Paulson took sixth-place honors at 74 kg (163 pounds) and fellow 2007 ISU All-American Kurt Backes finished fourth at 96 kg (211.5 pounds).

Jake Varner was the only current Iowa State grappler to finish in the top-eight by placing seventh at 84 kg (185 pounds).

Nick Fanthorpe (60 kg), Nick Gallick (60 kg), Cyler Sanderson (66 kg), David Bertolino (84 kg) and David Zabriskie (120 kg) also competed in the event.

Nate Gallick, a NCAA champ in 2004 for Iowa State, did not participate in the event as he was invited to wrestle in an Olympic qualifier in Poland.

Former Cyclone great and current Ohio State assistant coach Joe Heskett was unable to compete due to a heart condition diagnosed in the fall of 2007. Heskett was previously a member of the U.S. World Team.