Cornell's Lee rehabs knee injury as he prepares for No. 1 wrestler

By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer

Wrestler Travis Lee, ranked No. 2 in the NCAA at 125 pounds, has been invited to wrestle No. 1 in an all-star meet in 13 days.

LEE

Lee, a Cornell sophomore, tore meniscus cartilage in his left knee Saturday during the National Duals tournament at Ohio State.

Cornell coach Rob Koll last night downplayed the injury. "He was (stationary) biking today. It's painful but it won't affect his wrestling," Koll said.

"I hope it doesn't," said Lee, a 2001 Saint Louis graduate from Liliha.

Lee said trainers were using ice to help reduce the inflammation and electronic stimulation to aid his recovery. "I'll be out several days," he said.

Lee (20-0) is No. 2 in all four college wrestling rankings and Chris Fleeger of Purdue is unanimous No. 1.

They have been invited to meet in the National Wrestling Coaches Association 37th All-Star Classic on Feb. 3 at the University of Delaware. Five of the 11 matches pit wrestlers ranked No. 1 and 2.

Damaged knee or not, coach Koll is confident Lee will handle Fleeger. "I'm not worried about Travis against anybody," Koll said. "He's pretty unstoppable right now."

Before he had to retire from the National Duals Saturday, Lee decisioned 10th-ranked Nick Simmons of Michigan State, 6-3. His next match would have been against Iowa State redshirt freshman Grant Nakamura (Baldwin '01). Nakamura is 14-8 for the 11th-ranked Cyclones.

FOOTBALL

• U. of San Diego

Sophomore Gavin Ng (Mililani '01) received honorable mention as a return specialist on the Football Gazette's Division I-AA Mid-Major All-America team.

• Dixie State (JC) Utah

Despite his injuries, Manutai was fourth in the league in quarterback sacks with nine plus 4.5 other tackles for losses.

He "was an integral part of what we were doing," which was leading the WSFL in fewest points allowed (12.3 per game), coach Greg Croshaw said.

Dixie finished 10-2 (9-0 in the WSFL) and was ranked No. 8 by J-C Grid Wire.

A number of 2002 Hawai'i high-school graduates contributed to Dixie State's success, including (with Croshaw's comments):

Felipo Suliafe (of La'ie, known as Felipo Mokofisi at Kailua High), started at defensive end half the season, then moved to linebacker and "really played well. He was a big part of our success."

Lawrence Wilson (Farrington) came back from a hernia operation in late summer and "did a great job at defensive tackle."

Willie Talamoa (McKinley) also played a lot at defensive tackle.

Earvin Atuaia (Kahuku) was half-time starter at fullback.

Braden Sika (Kahuku) "played a lot at defensive end."

Suliasi Lautaha (Kahuku) was a reserve offensive lineman, with one start at center.

Offensive lineman Larry So'oalo (Kailua) signed with Utah but came to Dixie and redshirted. Taleki Mailau, who was a quarterback at Kailua, redshirted and will be a receiver.

But the biggest news in St. George, Utah, Croshaw says, is that tailback Mulivai Pula (Kahuku), Hawai'i Offensive co-Player of the Year in 2001, enrolled at Dixie for the winter semester.

Pula, a prize acquisition of Brigham Young in the 2002 recruiting wars, "is big time," Croshaw says.

SWIMMING

• U. of San Diego

Freshman Ashley Swart (Kaiser '02) stroked seamlessly from 2002 to 2003, lowering her own school records in three events last weekend.

Swart cut her 1,000-yard freestyle record more than four seconds to 10 minutes, 9.45 seconds at Cal State-Northridge Friday and sliced her 400 individual medley and 200 breaststroke records to 4:18.84 and 2:17.85, respectively, at UC-Santa Barbara Saturday.