April 17, 2002
TEMPE, Ariz. - For the second straight season, Arizona State junior Eric Larkin was named the Pac-10 Wrestler of the Year, conference commissioner Tom Hansen announced today.
A native of Tucson, Ariz., Larkin was the NCAA runner-up at 141 pounds this season, earning his third All-America honors and becoming the first Sun Devil to advance to the NCAA wrestling finals since 1996. He was the 14th ASU wrestler to earn runner-up honors at the national tournament. Larkin also won his third straight Pac-10 title and compiled a 31-5 overall record with a career high 15 pins.
He was first named the Pac-10 Wrestler of the Year for his 2001 sophomore campaign that included his second All-America honors, a third place finish at the NCAA Championships and his second Pac-10 title. Larkin is the fourth Sun Devil to be twice named the conference wrestler of the year.
It is the third straight Pac-10 Wrestler of the Year honor for Arizona State and 12th overall. Three-time All-American Steve Blackford was awarded the distinction in 2000.
Boise State's Mike Young was named this year's Pac-10 Coach of the Year, while Stanford's Matt Gentry was named the Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year. The awards are determined by a vote of the league's coaches.
Arizona State Pac-10 Wrestlers of the Year
2002 Eric Larkin, 141
2001 Eric Larkin, 141
2000 Steve Blackford, 165
1993 Ray Miller, 158
1992 Ray Miller, 158
1990 Dan St. John, 167
1989 Dan St. John, 158
1988 Mike Davies, 190
1987 Mike Davies, 190
1986 Adam Cohen, 150
1985 Eddie Urbano, 150
1983 Gary Bohay, 126