January 27, 1999
On Tap: The 8th-ranked Arizona State wrestling team looks to improve its dual record after a week off. The Devils host a dual on Friday, Jan. 29th, and two Pacific-10 teams on Sunday, Jan. 31st. On Friday, the Wyoming Cowboys come to town at 7 p.m. The Devils compete again on Sunday, with Pac-10 conference match-ups against 12th-ranked Cal State Bakersfield at 2 p.m. and Cal Poly SLO at 4 p.m. Also being held at 2 p.m. on a separate mat will be Cal Poly SLO versus Embry Riddle. Embry Riddle will then wrestle Cal State Bakersfield at 4 p.m. All matches will be held in the Wells Fargo Arena.
Last Time Out: The Sun Devils finished seventh at the 1999 Cliff Keen/NWCA National Team Duals held on the campus of the University of Iowa. The Devils recorded wins over three ranked teams, including fifth-ranked Penn State, 15th-ranked Michigan State and eighth-ranked Central Michigan in the seventh-place match. Individually for ASU, freshman phenom Eric Larkin posted a 4-1 record over the weekend, defeating second-ranked Pat McNamara for the second straight week. Larkin's only loss came at the hands of fourth-ranked Cody Sanderson of Iowa State. Senior Casey Strand posted a 3-2 record at the dual competition. Strand currently posts a 22-3 overall record on the season. Sophomore Quinn Foster improved his dual record to 7-3, with four wins in Iowa City. Junior NCAA qualifier Michael Kawamura also helped the Devils, posting two wins at the National Team Duals at 125 pounds, splitting time with Matt Azevedo, who also recorded two wins.
Ride 'Em Cowboys: The University of Wyoming is currently 4-4-1 on the season, coming off a 33-5 loss to 17th-ranked Oregon State. This was one day after the Cowboys crowned three individual champions at the Oregon Classic hosted by Portland State. Chris Walker (133), Brandon Dansie (174) and Steve Schenk (184) were all crowned champions in their respective weight classes. The Cowboys are led by heavyweight Abe Boomer, who is currently ranked 20th in the nation.
Meet the Mustangs: Cal Poly SLO posts a 6-5 record overall this season. The Mustangs are coming off two dual wins against conference opponents UC Davis and Stanford. Cal Poly defeated UC Davis 26-18 and dropped the Cardinal 26-12. The Mustangs are led by Gan McGee (HWT) who is currently ranked 14th in the latest Amateur Wrestling News poll. Cal Poly is also led by junior David Wells who is ranked 14th in the nation at 174 pounds. The Mustangs have a home meet on Friday night against Fresno State before traveling to Tempe.
ASU at a Quick Glance
Sun Devil senior Casey Strand (184) is the lone returning All-American on this year's team. Strand placed fifth at last year's NCAAs (at 167) and was sixth in 1997.
ASU returns four NCAA quailifers: Michael Kawamura (118 in '98/125 in '99); Quinn Foster (134/149); Steve Blackford (150/165); and Casey Strand (167/184).
The Sun Devil starting lineup includes three wrestlers who are new to the program (Groundwater, Alejandrino, Leydecker) and features three true freshmen (Larkin, Groundwater, Alejandrino) and two transfers (Perryman and Leydecker).
Runnin' With the Roadrunners: 12th-ranked Cal State Bakerfield is coming off a 54-0 shutout of Pac-10 rival Cal State Fullerton, CSUB's largest margin of victory since 1987. CSUB recorded a fall or a technical fall in five of the ten weights. The Roadrunners are currently 10-5 on the season overall, and are 4-0 in the Pac-10.
CSUB is led by top-ranked heavyweight Stephen Neal. Neal recorded a pin in the dual with Fullerton, and currently has 59 career pins. Neal is just seven pins away from the school record for most falls in a career. With the pin, Neal's record is now 27-0, and he currently has a 66 match win streak. The Roadrunners are also led by11th-ranked Raphael Davis (197), 19-10 on the season, 11th-ranked Andy Varner (165), 21-6 on the season, and 18th-ranked Moses Delfin (125), at 16-9 on the season.
Freshman Phenom: Freshman Eric Larkin (133/ Tucson, Ariz.) currently posts a 19-2 record overall, and is 8-1 in duals. Larkin is ranked fourth in the latest Intermat rankings (1/27). Larkin's only dual loss came to Cody Sanderson from Iowa State at the Cliff Keen/NWCA National Wrestling Duals. Sanderson is currently ranked third in the nation. Larkin looks to avenge his loss on February 14th, when the Sun Devils travel to fourth-ranked Iowa State. Larkin has defeated Michigan State's Pat McNamara twice this season, back-to-back. McNamara was second-ranked both times. Larkin recorded a decision in overtime, 8-6, on January 8th's home dual against the Spartans. At the National Wrestling Duals, Larkin dropped McNamara to the mat in a little over a minute. This season Larkin finished first at the Keystone Classic and first at the Las Vegas Invite.
Senior Strand: Senior Casey Strand is not only the lone returning All-American on this year's squad, he is also the lone senior in head coach Lee Roy Smith's young lineup. Strand has shown leadership by example, currenly posting a 22-3 overall record, and is 8-2 in duals. Strand's only losses in duals this season came against seventh-ranked Brad Vering from Nebraska and second-ranked Cael Sanderson from Iowa State. Strand recorded a 3rd place finish at the Midlands Invitational, was 1st at the Las Vegas Invite and was first at the Keystone Classic, this season's opener. Strand has recorded four wins by technical fall and six wins by major decision, both lead the team.
NCAA Returnees: ASU returns three other NCAA qualifiers in addition to Strand, sophomores Quinn Foster (149) and Steve Blackford (165), and junior Michael Kawamura (125). Foster currently is 16-7 on the season, and is 7-3 in duals. This season he finished 2nd at the Keystone Classic, and 6th at the Midlands Invite. Foster looks to garner All-American honors this season at this higher weight class. Another Sun Devil who has moved up a weight class is redshirt sophomore Steve Blackford. Blackford is currently 16-8 overall, and 7-3 in duals. Blackford posts a team-high seven wins by fall. Blackford placed second at the Keystone Classic and was fourth at the Las Vegas Invitational. Junior Michael Kawamura (125/133) qualified for NCAAs last season at 118. This season, splitting time with Matt Azevedo, Kawamura has notched a 5-1 overall record, a 2-1 dual record, and finished 1st at the Keystone Classic.
Azevedo Makes His Mark: Redshirt sophomore Matt Azevedo, currently ranked seventh in the latest Intermat poll, has earned his starting spot at 125. Azevedo has defeated returning NCAA qualifier Michael Kawamura on two separate occasions in Maroon and Gold Intrasquad wrestle-offs. Azevedo currently posts a 18-8 overall record and is 4-4 in duals. Azevedo finished 2nd at the Las Vegas Invite, 4th at the Midlands Invitational, and 2nd to Kawamura at the Keystone Classic.
Mr. Smith: Head coach Lee Roy Smith has an overall record of 65-42 in his six-plus years at the helm of Arizona State wrestling. The program, which is considered one of the "best in the west", has won four Pac-10 Championships in his six years, including the past two. Smith looks for a three-peat this season. Smith has coached 21 All-Americans, including current Sun Devil assistant coach Aaron Simpson.
NATIONAL WRESTLING COACHES ASSOCIATION TEAM RANKINGS (1/27/99)
1. Oklahoma State* 13. Cal State Bakerfield* 2. Minnesota 14. West Virginia 3. Iowa 15. Michigan State* 4. Iowa State* 16. Pennsylvania 5. Oklahoma* 17. Oregon State* 6. Illinois 18. Rider 7. Nebraska* 19. Cornell 8. Arizona State 20. Northwestern 9. Michigan 21. North Carolina 10. Central Michigan* 22. Indiana 11. Penn State* 23. Piitsburgh 12. Purdue* 24. Harvard (* - ASU opponents) 25. Northern Iowa