2002: Last year he finished 39-2 at 197 pounds in winning the Division II national title. Was 10-0 on falls, 7-0 on tech falls and 13-0 on major decisions. Had a 233-4 takedown advantage, setting single-season school record for takedowns. Had 23-1 ed
2002: Last year he finished 39-2 at 197 pounds in winning the Division II national title. Was 10-0 on falls, 7-0 on tech falls and 13-0 on major decisions. Had a 233-4 takedown advantage, setting single-season school record for takedowns. Had 23-1 edge in near-falls. He won the Central Missouri Open, the Oklahoma Open, the Midwest Regional and the national championship. He finished second at the Nebraska-Omaha Open, losing to NU's Justin Ruiz, 5-2, and was runner-up at the Las Vegas Invitational, losing to Lehigh's Jon Trenge, 3-2. He ended the season with a 23-match winning streak and has a 103-22 career record.
2001: Enjoyed a spectacular sophomore season at 184, finishing 37-8 en route to a national runner-up finish. He racked up 155 takedowns while scoring eight technical falls and seven major decisions. He won his second-straight Midwest Regional crown with three bonus-point wins and was the No. 2 seed at the national tournament. Lawal swept into the finals with a trio of easy wins before falling to three-time champion Steve Saxlund of North Dakota State. He won the title at the Central Missouri Open, finished third at the Nebraska-Omaha Open and was sixth at the prestigious Las Vegas Invitational. He came back from a first-round loss at Las Vegas to win six-straight consolation matches to earn a medal. Six of his eight losses during the year were by one point or in overtime, including three ranked Division I opponents.
2000: Started the season as a true freshman at 184, finishing 27-12 while leading the team in takedowns (98). He qualified for the national meet with championship effort at the Midwest Regional. Lawal was the top seed at regionals and swept to four easy wins, including two major decisions, to take the title. He was seeded sixth at nationals and opened with a 5-3 first-round win before falling in the quarterfinals to the No. 3 seed. Lost first consolation match on a 2-1 tiebreaker decision and was eliminated. He placed in three regular-season tournaments, finishing second at the Midwest Classic and fourth at both the Central Missouri State Open and Cliff Keen Classic.
High School: Three-sport letterman at Plano East High School. He was the state runner-up as a junior and undefeated state champion as a senior, going 49-0 and winning Outstanding Wrestler honors in five tournaments. Lawal won the state Greco-Roman title as a junior. He was a two-year starter in football, earning All-District honors at linebacker as a junior and at wide receiver as a senior. He also lettered in track.
Personal: An education major, he enjoys boxing, judo, ju-jitsu and rugby as hobbies. He was born on Jan. 11, 1981.
