Dudziak Marches His Way To National Title Match

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Friday, March 20

St. Louis, Mo.

11 a.m.

Duke University

NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals

Dudziak Marches His Way To National Title Match

3/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling

By: Duke Sports Information

ST. LOUIS?Duke University junior Konrad Dudziak continued his thrilling march through the NCAA Championship tonight with an exciting 3-2 victory over top-seeded David Zabriskie in the semifinal round. Dudziak is the first Blue Devil to advance to the NCAA Tournament Championship match in program history. The finals will air on ESPN on March 21 starting at 6:30 p.m.

“I always knew I had the ability to do this,” Dudziak said. “I would have been disappointed if I didn't make it this far, but I'm very happy with the win.”

Going up against top-ranked Zabriskie of Iowa State in the semifinal, Dudziak was looking for his second consecutive upset. The pair battled to a stalemate after the first period.

Still looking for a point in the match, Dudziak got on the board with a one-point escape to start the second session. He continued to defend well against Zabriskie as he tried to add to his score.

Eerily similar to his quarterfinal match, the junior heavyweight took a 1-0 lead into the final two minutes of the contest. Zabriskie matched the point with an escape in the opening seconds, but it was Dudziak responding in a big way with a two-point takedown for the 3-1 advantage.

The Cyclone's Zabriskie cut his deficit in half in the final minute with an escape. Zabriskie made a final charge in the closing seconds, but Dudziak held on with a smart move as the clock ran out.

“This guy wrestled three times before tonight and was losing and came back to win every time,” Dudziak said. “When I was up, I told myself ?Do not be number four'. In the final minute I just wrestled hard and got the win.”

Earlier in the day Dudziak became Duke's first All-America winner in Blue Devil wrestling history with a heart-stopping overtime victory over fourth-seeded Jared Rosholt in the quarterfinal contest.

The Bayonne, N.J. native will go up against second-seeded Mark Ellis of Missouri for the national title. Ellis defeated Kent State's Jermail Porter 5-3 in his semifinal match and is 26-3 on the year. Dudziak is now 31-2 on the season and 61-15 for his career.

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