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Nine Current And Former Sun Devils To Compete At U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials

May 23, 2000

TEMPE, Ariz. - Nine current and former Sun Devil wrestlers will be competing for a chance to represent the United States in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, when they head to the U.S. Olympic Wrestling team Trials being held June 22-24 at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas.

Seven Sun Devils have qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in freestyle highlighted by sophomore Eric Larkin and assistant coach Aaron Simpson. Larkin, the 1999 Pac-10 Champion and All-American at 133 pounds, redshirted this season in order to pursue a spot on the Olympic team. He qualified for the trials after taking fifth at 63 kilograms (138.75 pounds) at the U.S. National Wrestling Championships held April 21-22 in Las Vegas, Nev. Simpson, a two-time All-American during his time at ASU, placed fourth at Nationals at 85 kilos (187.25 pounds).

The winner of each weight class in freestyle and Greco-Roman will secure a place on the United States Wrestling team at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Eight Sun Devils have represented their countries in the Olympics a total of 10 times. In 1996 in Atlanta, four former ASU wrestlers competed, led by Townsend Saunders who captured a silver medal in freestyle at 150 pounds for the United States.

Here is a complete list of Arizona State's nine U.S. Olympic Trials qualifiers (hometown, wrestling club, how they qualified:

FREESTYLE

  • Eric Albarracin (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) - won the West Regional Championship at 54 kilos (119 pounds)

  • Danny Felix (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) - placed second at the U.S. Nationals at 58 kilos (127.75 pounds).

  • Eric Larkin (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids W.C.) - placed fifth at the U.S. Nationals at 63 kilos (138.75 pounds).

  • Shawn Charles (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Sunkist Kids W.C.) - placed sixth at U.S. Nationals at 63 kilos (138.75 pounds).

  • Dan St. John (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids W.C.) - added by petition at 76 kilos (167.5 pounds).

  • Aaron Simpson (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids W.C.) - placed fourth at U.S. Nationals at 85 kilos (187.25 pounds).

  • Markus Mollica (Boston, Mass./Dave Schultz W.C.) - won the East Regional Championships at 85 kilos (187.25 pounds).

    • GRECO-ROMAN

  • Jeff Funicello (Gilbert, Ariz./Sunkist Kids W.C.) - won the South Regional Championships at 76 kilos (167.5 pounds).

  • Dan Henderson (Greshman, Ore./Dave Schultz W.C.) - placed second at U.S. Nationals at 85 kilos (187.25 pounds). Henderson previously represented the United States in the Olympics in 1992 and 1996, finishing 10th at 180.5 pounds in 1992.