Gentry Named TheMat.com Athlete of the Week

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John Fuller (TheMat.com)
03/24/2004


Matt Gentry (Grants Pass, Ore./Stanford) has been named TheMat.com Athlete of the Week for the week of March 16-22.    Each week, TheMat.com will select an Athlete of the Week, based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level. The announcement will be made each week on Wednesday.    Gentry, a junior, won the 157-pound NCAA individual title last weekend in St. Louis, Mo., becoming the first Stanford wrestler to ever capture an NCAA title.    In the finals, Gentry defeated Jake Percival of Ohio University, 4-2. The win gave Gentry a perfect 41-0 record for the season. He was one of only two undefeated wrestlers at the Division I level.    In the tournament, Gentry also defeated defending NCAA champion Ryan Bertin of Michigan, 6-4 in the semifinals, and two-time All-American Phillip Simpson of Army, 8-2 in the quarterfinals.    "It's a great experience, quite an honor. Stanford Athletics is an amazing program and I feel grateful to be able to wrestle for them," Gentry said after the tournament.    Gentry made history before the finals match, becoming the first NCAA finalist in Stanford wrestling's 85-year history.    Gentry's career record now stands at 108-21, a winning percentage of .837.     As a sophomore, Gentry was one match away from All-American status at the NCAA Tournament. He was named the Freshman Male Athlete of the Year in 2002.    Gentry is a Human Biology major.    THEMAT.COM ATHLETES OF THE WEEK FOR 2004  March 16-22 - Matt Gentry (Grants Pass, Ore./Stanford)  March 9-15 - Ryan Lewis (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm)  March 2-8 - Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis./Missouri)  Feb. 24-March 1 - Brandon Paulson (Coon Rapids, Minn./Minnesota Storm)  Feb. 17-23 - Alex Tsirtsis (Griffith, Ind.)  Feb. 10-16 - Tyrone Lewis (El Reno, Okla./Oklahoma State)  Feb. 3-9 - Eric Larkin (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids)  Jan. 27-Feb. 2 - Joe Williams (Iowa City, Iowa/Sunkist Kids)  Jan. 20-26 - Sara McMann (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)