April 27, 2000

Las Vegas, Nev. - University of Virginia wrestler Josh Etu (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) finished seventh at the 2000 U.S. National Wrestling Championships. Etu, a first-year heavyweight wrestler at UVa, became the first wrestler ever at Virginia to qualify for the Olympic Trials after he posted a top-eight finish in the USNWC competition.

Etu competed in the 130kg/286 lbs. Greco-Roman class and finished with a record of 3-2. Etu defeated the Armed Forces' Paul Devlin by a 3-1 decision, recorded a first period pin over Lloyd Marshbanks (No Mercy) and pinned Tim Tekautz (LaCrosse, Wis./Minnesota Storm) at 4:29 to gather his three victories. Etu's victory over Tekautz secured his seventh place finish which qualified him for the Olympic Trials.

Etu advanced to the US National after a very strong showing in the 2000 University National Championships which were held at the Welsh-Ryan McGaw Hall on the campus of Northwestern University. He took first place in both the University Greco-Roman Championships and the University Freestyle Championships at the event.

Etu competed in the 130kg/286 lbs. class in both competitions. He defeated Andy Bowlby (ranked #10 on the Olympic ladder) of Oregon State who was wrestling for Orange Crush to earn first place in the University Greco-Roman title. He also defeated Tim Courtad, an All-American from Ohio University, who was wrestling for Bobcat WC to claim the University Freestyle Championship. Etu finished the tournaments with a 3-0 record in the Greco-Roman competitions and a 5-0 mark in the Freestyle competitions, including a win over JR.. Plienus of Nebraska (Husker WC) in the semi-finals who is ranked #7 in the Olympic ladder.

Etu's performances broke new ground in Virginia wrestling history. It was the first time in UVa wrestling history that a Cavalier won a University National Championships. Etu set the new standard in stone by not only winning one style championship, but by winning both.

Etu will return to wrestling action when he competes in the Olympic Trial in Dallas, Texas on June 22-25.

Josh Etu's 2000 U.S. National Wrestling Championships Results
Josh Etu (UVa) def. Paul Devlin (Armed Forces) 3-1

Corey Farkas (Armed Forces) def. Josh Etu (UVa) 4-0 (OT)

Josh Etu (UVa) def. WBF Lloyd Marshbanks (No Mercy) Fall,1st period

Dremiel Byers (Armed Forces) def. Josh Etu (UVa) TF, 10-0 @ 4:56

Josh Etu (UVa) def. Tim Tekautz (LaCrosse, Wis./Minnesota Storm) Fall @ 4:29