Ruiz Takes Fourth at US Senior National Championships

Las Vegas, Nev. --  Sophomore Justin Ruiz earned a fourth-place finish at the 2003 US Senior National Championships, May 9-10 in Las Vegas, Nev.

A two-time All-American, Ruiz dropped a 3-1 decision to Deon Hicks in the third-place match at the 96 kg weight class. In the two-day event, Ruiz went 4-2 recording two technical falls in the freestyle finals of the 55 kg weight class.

Husker volunteer coach Eric Akin took home a second-place finish after dropping a 3-1 decision to top-seeded Stephen Abas. Several former Huskers also competed this past weekend, as Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner, Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland and former NCAA Champion Brad Vering took to the mat. Vering defeated Lindland, 3-0, for the title at the 84 kg weight class, while Gardner placed third after defeating Paul Devlin, 7-1, in the consolation finals at the 120 kg weight class.