March 12, 2008

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Sophomore Franklin Gomez ranks as the top 133-pound wrestler in the nation, according to InterMat wrestling's March 12 rankings. Gomez owns a 28-1 overall record this year after claiming the 2008 Big Ten Championship at 133 pounds, and has been honored by the conference office by being named to the All-Big Ten Team. Gomez became the 65th individual Big Ten champion in the prestigious history of MSU wrestling, including the third at 133-pounds, a weight class that has only been competed at the conference championship since 1999.

Gomez defeated No. 1-seed James Kennedy of Illinois, 3-1, in the title bout after knocking off Iowa's second-seeded Joey Slaton, 10-8, in the semifinals and Indiana's sixth-seeded Andrae Hernandez, 7-4, in the quarterfinals.

Additionally this year, Gomez was named the league's Wrestler of the Week on Nov. 14, 2007.

Over the course of the season, Gomez has defeated eight of the nine ranked opponents he wrestled. His one loss of the year came against then-ranked No. 1 Slaton in the Midlands Championships finals in December. Gomez placed second in the tournament, while he earned a first-place finish at the Michigan State Open in November, defeating Hernandez.

Gomez will defend his top ranking on March 20-22 when he participates in the 2008 NCAA Championships, hosted in St. Louis, Mo.'s Scottrade Center. Seedings and brackets will be announced Monday, March 17.