STANFORD, Calif. – Redshirt freshman Shane Griffith has been tabbed the Amateur Wrestling News Rookie of the Year, the publication announced in its May edition.
An NWCA First Team All-American, Griffith was 28-0 in his rookie campaign and a finalist for the prestigious Hodge Trophy. The Pac-12 Wrestler and Newcomer of the Year, was seeded third for the NCAA Tournament. His 28 consecutive wins are the most to start a career in program history and the second-longest winning streak by a Stanford wrestler.
Griffith's 28 wins were the seventh-most by a freshman in school history. The Pac-12 champion at 165 pounds, the Westwood, New Jersey, native, led the team with nine falls and had 18 bonus-point wins overall. Along with his conference title, he won the Battle at The Citadel, the Roadrunner Open and the Southern Scuffle.
The publication, which also provides its top 3 rookies at each weight class, named teammate Real Woods as the top freshman at 141 pounds. Woods was 19-1 overall, an NWCA First Team All-American and also seeded third for the NCAA Tournament. The Pac-12 champion at 141 pounds, he will enter next season on a 15-match winning streak.
Griffith and Woods became just the second and third freshman All-Americans in program history and just the sixth and seventh rookies to win a conference title in school history.
