Wrestling Southern Conference

Appalachian State's Travis Drake Named SoCon Wrestler of the Year

SoCon All-Conference Wrestlers Announced

ASHEVILLE, NC -- The Southern Conference announced today that Travis Drake of Appalachian State was selected as the 2001-02 Wrestler of the Year by the league coaches. It is the second consecutive year that Drake has been honored by the league. He also was also an all-conference selection in the 133-lbs. weight class with a perfect 4-0 record.

Drake led the Mountaineers this season with 31 victories helping ASU to its third place finish in the 2002 final standings. He was crowned the 133-lbs. weight class champion in three tournaments this season, including the Keystone Classic (Nov. 18), Carolina Sharpie Open (Nov. 24), and the MU Belles Tournament (Jan. 5).

The junior from Cheraw, SC, was ranked as high as 13th this season by InterMat Wrestling. He finished with an overall record of 31-4 with four pins. In addition to his perfect conference mark, Drake was 11-2 in dual meets.

The Southern Conference also announced its All-Conference teams by weight class for the 2002 season. Regular season champion Chattanooga, VMI, and Appalachian State all had three selections to the squad. UTC grappler Matt Pitts was the 125-lbs. all-conference selection. He was joined by teammates Jared Sullivan at 141-lbs. and Austin David at 197-lbs.

VMI's trio included Mike Parsons at 149-lbs., Adam Britt, who was a three-time SoCon Wrestler of the Week selection, in the 157-lbs. class, and Jason Cox at 184-lbs. Britt led the Southern Conference in wins with 35, tying a VMI school record for wins in a season.

In addition to Drake, ASU had Mark Fee at 165-lbs., and Lee Roper edged out VMI's Matt Erwin to earn the all-conference honor at 174-lbs. Roper was a perfect 4-0 wrestling 174-lbs., with one loss up a weight class at 184-lbs.

UNC Greensboro senior Greg Forbes was named the heavyweight all-conference selection. He finished with an 8-2 record on the year, including a perfect 5-0 in the SoCon.

The Southern Conference will team with the Atlantic Coast Conference this weekend with its wrestling championships in the second annual Mat Jam Wrestling Championships in Raleigh, NC. The event is to be held this Saturday, March 9 at historic Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of North Carolina State University.

Seedings for the championships will be set Friday night and posted along with all of the results on the Southern Conference's home in cyber space, www.SoConSports.com.

Wrestler of the Year
Travis Drake, Appalachian State

SoCon All-Conference Wrestlers
125-pounds Matt Pitts, UTC
133-pounds Travis Drake, ASU
141-pounds Jared Sullivan, UTC
149-pounds Mike Parsons, VMI
157-pounds Adam Britt, VMI
165-pounds Mark Fee, ASU
174-pounds Lee Roper, ASU
184-pounds Jason Cox, VMI
197-pounds Austin David, UTC
Heavyweight Greg Forbes, UNCG