June 16, 2004

RALEIGH, N.C. - Freshman 197-pounder Zach Garren capped a strong freshman season at NC State this spring by being named to the Amateur Wrestling News's 2003-04 All-Rookie Team.

Garren, a true freshman from Gibbstown, N.J., finished the '03-04 campaign with a 15-14 overall record, but finished the season strong, winning eight of his last 10 regular-season matches, and then taking second in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in Charlottesville, Va. Garren then received an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Mo., but lost his only two bouts there.

Garren was one of just three wrestlers to make the 50-member AWN All-Rookie team, joining 125-pounder Christian Smith of Duke and 165-pounder Zac Fryling of Virginia.