March 10, 2004

NORFOLK, VA -Old Dominion University senior wrestler Derrell Lorthridge (Wilmington, DE) will participate in his first NCAA Tournament March 18-20 in St. Louis, MO. Lorthridge, who took 2nd place in the Heavyweight class in this past weekend's Colonial Athletic Association Championships at Rider University, received an automatic invitation to the Tournament, which is given to the 20 finalists at the CAA Championships.

His 37 wins this season mark a career-high for Lorthridge and ranks second nationally. Lorthridge defeated Rider's Carmelo Marrero, the 18th ranked wrestler nationally, by a 3-2 decision in the semifinal round of the Heavyweight class before dropping a 4-2 overtime decision to the CAA's #1 ranked wrestler and the 17th ranked wrestler nationally, Payam Zarrinpour of Sacred Heart.

Lorthridge's participation in the NCAA Tournament sends a Monarch back to the Tournament after a year's absence. Current ODU assistant coach Jeff Rusak went to the NCAA Tournament in 2002, capping four consecutive appearances.

Lorthridge was an alternate in last year's NCAA Tournament, which is where Junior Adam Wright (Dayton, VA/184) finds himself this year after taking third in the CAA Championships. Wright, who also set a career mark in wins this year, with 34, is tied for second nationally for most wins. His seven pins tie him for third nationally.

The Monarchs are coming off a 7th place showing at the CAA Championships, scoring 29 points. Hofstra took the title, with 111 points.