Arizona State: Will most likely use his redshirt season…named an All-American at the University Freestyle Nationals last spring. 1999-2000: Compiled a 15-10 overall record, wrestling all but one match at 174 pounds…posted a dual match victory vs. Ismail Abdullah of Cal Poly in his only contest at 184 pounds…finished the regular season ranked 15th in the nation…faced six ranked opponents including eventual NCAA Champion Byron Tucker from Oklahoma…won two matches by major decision, his first match of the season vs. Northern Colorado’s Jack Dudley and his last match of season vs. 19th-ranked Perry Parks from Iowa State…defeated sixth-ranked Mark Bybee from Northwestern Nov. 26…placed second at the Reno Tournament and third at the California Open…opened the season winning nine of his first 11 matches. Junior College: Attended Phoenix College from 1997-99… notched second and third-place finishes at 174 pounds at the junior college national tournament… lost to teammate Curtis Owen in the championship bout in 1999… coached by former Sun Devil national champion Eddie Urbano. High School: A 1997 graduate of Marcos De Niza High School in Tempe… was a two-time state champion at Marcos De Niza… compiled a 128-17 record in his prep career… served as team captain his senior year… lettered all four years of high school in wrestling… coached by Joe Romero and Jim Weed. Personal: Pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies with concentrations in urban planning and business… son of R.D. Pursell… has two sisters, Lisa (28) and Julie (25)… lists touring Bulgaria and Italy as his most exciting sports experience… hobbies include rock climbing, sky diving, big-game hunting and X-treme sports… born July 21, 1979 in Phoenix… full name is Ralph Dean Pursell.
