May 9, 2008
TEMPE, Ariz. - The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) announced its annual NWCA Division I All-Academic Wrestling Teams on Thursday with two members of the Arizona State University wrestling program earning recognition for the athletic and academic accomplishments during the past season. Both Jason Trulson (197) and Chris Drouin (141) posted grade point averages higher than 3.35 and qualified for the NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Trulson completed his senior season with a 26-8 record and was one victory shy of attaining his first All-America honor. Despite a knee injury that sidelined on January 27, Trulson competed with a torn ACL and placed second in the Pac-10 Championships one year after finishing third. Of his eight losses, only two came to foes not ranked in the Top 10 nationally. In the classroom, Trulson carried a 3.63 GPA while working toward his degree in biology and his future endeavor of medical school.
Drouin, a redshirt freshman, completed his first varsity season with a 21-16 overall record. Starting with the Pac-10 Championships, Drouin went on a tear as he advanced to the finals of his first conference championship tournament, falling in a close 6-4 decision to undefeated and top-ranked Chad Mendes of Cal Poly. At the NCAA Championships, Drouin again put together a solid run that included upsets of No. 8 Dan LeClere (Iowa) and No. 7 Kyle Ruschell (Wisconsin) in back-to-back bouts. Drouin currently carries a 3.38 GPA in justice studies.
The selection to the NWCA Division I All-Academic Team is the second for Trulson and the first for Drouin. Trulson also garnered the honor last year, the only Sun Devil to do so.
