Wrestled 1971-1973
Arizona State University
142lbs
KELLY
TRUJILLO
52 | NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM LATINO WRESTLING EXPERIENCE
Kelly Trujillo was one of the
first Latino All-Americans in
the storied history of the Arizona
State University wrestling program;
finishing fifth at 142 pounds in
1972.
This was one of the few highlights for the Sun Devils
in a rare non-winning year on the mat in which the team garnered
only two dual victories, while finishing a distant 23rd at the NCAA
tournament held in College Park, Md. Trujillo's impressive results
at the national level led, in part, to his being named Arizona State
University's Wrestler-of-the-Year for that season; the first Latino so
honored by ASU.
Prior to starting his career in Tempe, Trujillo won two state
titles in his home state of Colorado, while wrestling for the Moffat
County Bulldogs (in Craig). As happens in many Latino families,
wrestling is a multi-generational tradition for the Trujillos; and
the next wave is making its mark. Kelly's brother Clyde also
represented Moffat and ASU on the mat. In addition, other
family members who are grapplers include Kelly's sons, Ivan and
Thad, who have won state titles for the Northglenn High School
Norse, and Clyde's son Jacob, who recently won a state title for
the Thompson Valley High School Eagles in Loveland, Colo. All
told, the Trujillo clan has accounted for five Colorado state titles in
wrestling over two generations.
TRUJILLO'S IMPRESSIVE
RESULTS AT THE NATIONAL
LEVEL LED, IN PART, TO HIS
BEING NAMED ARIZONA
STATE UNIVERSITY'S
WRESTLER OF THE YEAR FOR
THAT SEASON; THE FIRST
LATINO SO HONORED BY ASU.
