SPORTS STORIES:
SPORTS INFORMATION—2009
TWO SPARTAN WRESTLERS HEAD TO NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS...
CLEVELAND, OH (March 3, 2009) - The Case Western Reserve University wresting program will have a changing of the guards this weekend [March 6-7] during the 2009 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Click here for more information.
Senior Drew Gardella (Sagamore Hills, OH-first picture) hopes to leave his shoes on the corner of the mat Saturday with an exclamation point to an already impressive collegiate career while freshman Isaac Dukes (Ravenna, OH-second picture) hopes to take a first step in a historic journey.
Including Gardella and Dukes, only 15 Case Western Reserve wrestlers in the modern era have qualified for Nationals and just seven earned All-America honors. Head Coach Bob Del Rosa has led all of them and he believes these two Spartans have a great chance to add to the latter.
“If they continue to wrestle the way they have been the last couple of weeks then both of them can become All-Americans,” said Del Rosa, who is finishing his 47th season on the University Circle campus. “It’s the top honor in our sport and these guys are ready.”
Gardella [149 pounds] has had a phenomenal season, recording a 30-8 record while moving into third place all-time with 122 career wins. Despite his long list of accolades, this is the two-time University Athletic Association (UAA) champion’s first trip to the big meet. Click here to listen to a recent podcast with Gardella.
“This year he left no doubt in anyone’s mind that he should be at Nationals,” Del Rosa said. “He probably should have gone as a sophomore and junior as well. He’s also a three-time scholar All-American and he has everything going for him right now.”
Dukes [157 pounds] has had one of the best first seasons in school history, tallying a 29-9 record on his way to becoming the UAA’s Rookie of the Year – which Gardella claimed in 2006. By making the trip in his first collegiate season, Dukes now has a rare opportunity to become a four-time All-American. Click here to watch a recent video story of him.
“As a freshman it is extremely significant if you can qualify for nationals and then place,” explained Del Rosa. “Now he has the opportunity to become a four-time All-American. Over the last 30 years there have been very few to accomplish that in all of Division III.”
The two Spartan grapplers are now less than one week away from wrestling in the biggest matches of their lives. Del Rosa says both look sharp in practice, but Gardella’s experience is leading the charge.
“At practice, Drew has been as solid as can be,” Del Rosa said. “He has looked very intense. I know he knows this is his last shot at it [All-America] and I think he will do very well.”
“Dukes, being a freshman, I think he’s a little bit nervous right now,” continued Del Rosa. “But he’ll get over that once he gets out there and starts wrestling his first match and then it all disappears.”
KING KALLAI … Alumnus Zak Kallai (Wadsworth, OH) became the first wrestler in Case Western Reserve history to become a four-time All-American by finishing 8th at the 2004 NCAA Wrestling Championships held in Dubuque, Iowa. Kallai finished sixth in the nation his freshman year, fifth in the country his sophomore season and eighth his junior year. Kallai’s career record was 126-46.
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