Nov. 10, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C – Duke senior heavyweight Konrad Dudziak and North Carolina junior 157-pounder Thomas Scotton have been named the first ACC Wrestlers of the Week for the 2009-10 season.

Dudziak and Scotton were named co-recipients of the honor after both captured weight class titles in Sunday’s Hokie Open at Salem, Va. Each wrestler defeated a pair of fellow ACC opponents and one fellow ranked opponent en route to his respective title.

The second-ranked Dudziak, a 2009 NCAA runner-up and All-America selection, posted four consecutive wins by decision, including a 4-1 victory over No. 8 David Marone of Virginia Tech in the championship match. Dudziak, a native of Bayonne, N.J., also scored an 8-5 win over North Carolina’s Peter Sturgeon in the second round.

Scotton, ranked 18th and also coming off a solid showing at the nationals last spring, posted a 5-0 record on his way to the 157-pound title. The Willingboro, N.J. native’s victories included an 8-4 win over Virginia’s Pat Riley in the first round, a 10-2 major decision over Appalachian State’s William Powell, and a 4-2 overtime decision over 15th-ranked ACC rival Jesse Dong in the finals. Dong had posted four straight pins prior to his match with Scotton.

Four ACC teams are slated to be in action this weekend. Duke will wrestle in the Pembroke Open on Saturday. North Carolina will host the fourth annual ACC Challenge on Sunday. ACC representatives Virginia and Virginia Tech will join the Tar Heels in the field, along with American, Bucknell and Gardner-Webb