Lauren RabainoWhen Matt Azevedo looked up, he wasn’t quite sure what was going on.
“The ref blew the whistle, and it happened so fast I don’t think I even really realized what had happened,” Azevedo said. “I looked up and realized the ref had signaled that I had gotten the pin, and looked to the crowd and saw my family and friends just standing up going crazy, so I just immediately threw my arms up, and it was one of the most exciting moments of my life. It was awesome.”
At that moment Saturday night, the 121-pound wrestler had pinned Henry Cejudo and won his first national title at the 2008 Las Vegas/ASICS U.S. National Freestyle Championships in the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The 30-year-old Azevedo, an assistant wrestling coach at Cal Poly and the nephew of Mustangs head coach John Azevedo, stunned the two-time defending national champion and top-seeded Cejudo of Colorado Springs, Colo. 1-0 in the second period in 18 seconds.
“He came out and was a little overzealous, and maybe felt like he had to make something happen and tried to force something,” Azevedo explained. “I was able to counter and hold him on his back and get the pin.”
Cejudo defeated Azevedo in the 2006 national finals, and last year edged him in the world team trial finals.
During his college career at Arizona State and Iowa State, Azevedo qualified for the NCAA Championships three times before joining the Cal Poly coaching staff in 2002.
“I’ve always felt like I’ve been the better wrestler and that I should’ve won those previous matches, but I came up short,” Azevedo said of his rivalry with Cejudo. “It’s been a long time coming.”
Azevedo claimed the first period on the strength of a takedown from the clinch.
Early in the second, Azevedo deflected a try by Cejudo for a front headlock and caught him on his back for the pin.
In doing so, Azevedo, who was named Outstanding Wrestler for his performance, qualified to compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Las Vegas from June 13to15.
“It’s very exciting to realize I have a chance to represent the U.S. in the Olympics,” said Azevedo, who finished in fifth at the trials in 2004. “After that tournament was over, I told myself, ‘OK, this is what I want to do. In four more years, I want to make this team.’ It’s exciting to be close to making that happen.”
The top seven placers in each weight class earned automatic trips to the trials, while up to four other competitors will be regional representatives, Azevedo said.
Only one from each weight class, though, will make the team.
“It’s going to be very tough,” Azevedo said. “The top guys are very competitive and we’re all very close.”
Azevedo’s title seems to have his confidence soaring.
“Winning this national title shows me and everyone else I definitely can be the No. 1 guy in the U.S. and a 2008 Olympian,” he said.