May 11, 2012
TEMPE -- The Arizona State University wrestling program will host its first annual Champion's Dinner on Saturday, May 19 at 6 p.m. PST at the Adobe Restaurant in the Arizona Biltmore, head coach Shawn Charles has announced.
The event will welcome numerous notable alumni back to Phoenix to celebrate the history and prestige of the Sun Devil wrestling program and honor some of the all-time greats to be a part of the program.
Among those being honored at the event will be long-time head coach Bobby Douglas, who helped guide the team to the 1988 NCAA title and Curley Culp, ASU's first wrestling national champion and NFL All-Star.
Art Martori, a former ASU wrestler who kept the program afloat when it was threatened to be cut just a couple years ago and the founder of the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club, will be honored with a lifetime achievement award for his contributions to the program and wrestling as a whole.
In addition to those receiving awards, the event will feature a guest speaking appearance by 2011 NCAA Champion and motivational speaker Anthony Robles and the proceedings will be led by emcee Victor Riches.
Other notable attendees scheduled to make an appearance include former ASU All-Americans and current MMA competitors Aaron Simpson and Ryan Bader, former ASU head coach Thom Ortiz, former Olympic silver medalist and Sun Devil All-American Zeke Jones, former four-time All-American and NCAA Champion Eric Larkin, former Olympian and ASU All-American Billy Rosado, two-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American Markus Mollica and 1985 NCAA Champion Eddie Urbano.
"I'm extremely excited about this event and the alumni we have coming back," Charles said. "For guys of this caliber to fly in to Phoenix for a first annual event makes it something truly special."
The event is schedule to begin with a social at 6 p.m. PST followed by a 7 p.m. dinner. Robles will give his speech around 7:45 with the awards presentation to follow at 8:10.
The event is exclusive the first 150 respondents and approximately 100 seats have already been sold. Individual tickets to the affair are $150 with all proceeds going towards the continued support of the ASU wrestling program.
Those wishing to attend and support the event can also volunteer as "Table Captains" to organize a full table that would seat 10 and can be purchased for $1,500. Table captains will also have the opportunity to take part in a special dinner with Charles and Martori at a later date.
For more information or to purchase a ticket to the event, please contact Charles at shawn.charles@asu.edu or 480-213-3384. Reservations should be placed by Friday, May 18. Those who cannot attend but wish to support the event are also encouraged to contact Charles.