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Freshman Konrad Dudziak Brings Home A Title From His Native Poland
4/6/2005 1:00:00 AM | Wrestling
April 6, 2005
As the top collegiate wrestlers in the U.S. competed at the NCAA tournament, Duke's Konrad Dudziak attended a different national tournament. The freshman traveled to his native Poland to compete in the Polish Open. Wrestling at the 211.5 pound weight class, up 14.5 pounds from his usual 197, Dudziak brought home gold.
Dudziak's tournament featured four matches and he came away with wins in all of them. The tournament had freestyle rules, and Dudziak showed his prowess in the international style. The freshman, who was born in Poland and went to high school in Bayonne, N.J., finished ahead of every other Pole in his weight class. He also had a heated match with a Russian competitor and then defeated a wrestler from Austria to win the gold.
By winning the tournament, Dudziak qualified for the Junior World Team as well as for a spot in an elite Polish National training camp this summer. The victory also affords him the opportunity to wrestle in the Junior Freestyle Fila European Championship in August. That prestigious event only accepts one entry per weight class from any one nation. Dudziak's success foretells good things for next season, where he will be a top contender to start for the Blue Devils at 197 pounds.
Dudziak is no stranger to international competition, as he has made a habit of going back to Poland to wrestle regularly. Before missing last year's event with an injury, Dudziak earned the Polish National Under-18 championship in 2003 and went on to take fourth at the Freestyle European Championship.
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