Northwestern University Athletics
Welch Receives AWN All-Rookie Team Selection
5/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
May 26, 2009
Complete World Team Trial results
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Amateur Wrestling News released its all-rookie team in its May issue and selected Northwestern freshman Jason Welch (Walnut Creek, Calif./Las Lomas) as the year's top newcomer in the 157-pound weight class. Welch finished his freshman season with a 26-10 record and placed second in his first trip to the Big Ten Championships.
Welch, who was regarded as the top overall recruit in the nation coming out of high school, edged Scott Winston of Rutgers for the No. 1 spot on AWN's rankings thanks to Welch's 9-1 victory over the Scarlet Knight in the wrestlebacks of the 2009 NCAA Championships in St. Louis. Welch posted a 2-2 mark at his first NCAA Championships with wins against Winston and fellow freshman Jedd Moore of Virginia.
Wrestlers from the Big Ten occupied four of the 10 spots on AWN's all-rookie squad.
Welch and many other representatives from the all-rookie team were in action this weekend at the FILA Junior World Team Trials in Colorado Springs, where Welch came away victorious in the 163-pound freestyle qualifying bracket thanks to wins over Josh Asper (Maryland), Josh Condon (Tennessee-Chattanooga) and Alec Ortiz (Oregon--high school). Welch defeated Ortiz 6-0, 5-6, 6-2 in the final qualifying match as he moved on to face Oklahoma State's Alex Meade.
Meade managed to overcome Welch in that match, however (5-0, 1-5, 7-4) before losing to Wisconsin's NCAA runner-up at 165 pounds, Andrew Howe, in the finals.
"Competing in the World Team Trials was a great experience for Jason and being able to win the qualifying bracket is a very nice accomplishment," said NU associate head coach Andrew Pariano. "Jason performed well against guys he will be seeing in the postseason throughout his college career and showed why he is one of top underclassmen in his weight class."
