March 18, 2003

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Four members of the University of Virginia wrestling team will compete in the 2003 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Kansas City, Missouri at Kemper Arena on March 20-23. UVa's Joe Alexander (Franklin, N.J./Delsea Regional), Bob Seidel (Wall, N.J./Wall), Tim Foley (Stafford, Va./Brooke Point) and Josh Etu (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) will represent Virginia when they compete at Nationals. Seidel (141) and Etu (HWT) were automatic qualifiers for the tournament after both wrestlers won individual titles in the 2003 ACC Wrestling Championships, while Alexander (133) and Foley (157) were awarded bids as wildcard selections to compete in the event. Alexander is making his third consecutive trip to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, while Foley is visiting for the second consecutive time. Seidel and Etu are both making their first trip to Nationals.

Foley enters the 2003 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships with a record of 37-8 overall, 15-1 in dual matches. His 37 victories and 15 dual match wins are team-highs, as are the 15 major decision victories he recorded this season. Foley also won five matches by fall and won four bouts with technical fall decisions. He has spent most of the season ranked in the Top-15 in the 157 pound weight class by several national polls. Foley is making his second consecutive trip to Nationals after also appearing last year..

Etu enters the 2003 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships with a record of 27-5 overall, 14-2 in dual matches. He is tied with Seidel with a team-high 10 pins and is second on the team for dual match wins. Etu is 5-1 in overtime matches and his 27 overall victories is tied for the second most on the team. He is making his first trip to Nationals.

Seidel enters the 2003 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships with a record of 26-10 overall, 9-5 in dual matches. He is tied with Etu with a team-high 10 pins to go along with one technical fall and one major decision victory. Seidel has recorded 26 career pins and is three short of setting a new school-record. He is making his first trip to Nationals.

Alexander enters the 2003 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships with a record of 11-4 overall, 7-2 in dual matches. He has three falls to his credit and has won one match by technical fall and one match by major decision this year. Alexander was injured for part of the season but has once again worked his way back into the mix. He is making his third consecutive trip to Nationals.

EVENT: The 2003 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.
WHEN: March 20-23, 2003.
LOCATION: Kansas City, Missouri.
SITE: Kemper Arena.

-- UVa --