ASU wrestling places three on Academic All-Pac-10 Lists

Three members of the Arizona State University wrestling program have garnered academic honors from the Pac-10 Conference, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced Tuesday, with the Sun Devils placing one wrestler on each of the three teams. Leading the way for ASU was redshirt sophomore Imanibom Etukeren, who was selected to the Academic All-Pac-10 First Team.

Etukeren (heavyweight), who sports a 3.74 grade-point average in biochemistry, held the third-highest GPA of all wrestlers selected for the award. His selection to the first team, which also is his first career academic honor, marked the fourth year in a row the Sun Devils have had at least one first team selection after Jason Trulson was honored each of the last three years (2006, 2007, 2008). In all, Etukeren is the 15th different Sun Devil to earn first team honors.

After earning his first career All-America honors by placing sixth at the NCAA Wrestling Championships, Chris Drouin (141 pounds) was selected to the Academic All-Pac-10 Second Team for the second time in his career and also made him the 12th different Sun Devil to garner multiple academic honors from the Pac-10. Drouin was one of the top wrestlers in the nation all year as the sophomore finished the season with a 29-9 overall record. The Pac-10 runner-up for the second year in a row, Drouin won his first three matches at the NCAA Championships to not only advance to the national semifinal, but also become the 64th Sun Devil to attain All-America honors.

The final Sun Devil honored for his academic success was redshirt freshman Vicente Varela(149). Varela, one of four selected for Academic All-Pac-10 Honorable Mention status, earned the starting role for the Sun Devils this season and posted a 10-13 overall record while placing seventh in his first Pac-10 Championships.