May 22, 2003
TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State wrestler Curtis Owen (Polson, Mont.) was named to the Verizon Academic All-District VIII Men's At-Large First Team by the College Sports Information Director's of America (CoSIDA) it was announced Thursday. The at-large team is comprised of student-athletes participating in fencing, golf, gymnastics, hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, volleyball, water polo and wrestling at institutions in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.
Owen, who completed his eligibility with the Sun Devils this year, earned his first selection to the first team with a perfect 4.00 grade point average in psychology. One of four wrestlers selected to the three teams and one of two to be honored with first team accolades, Owen will now appear on the ballot for All-America considerations with the selections being announced June 10.
In his final collegiate season in Tempe, Owen battled through injuries to march through the Pac-10 Championships and win his first conference crown at 174 pounds. From there, he advanced to the NCAA Championships were he went 1-1 in the championship bracket. Needing four wins in the consolation rounds to become an All-American, Owen won five in a row to reach the consolation finals where he lost his final bout of the year to finish fourth. One of ASU's three All-Americans in 2003, Owen helped lead the team to a fifth-place finish in the national meet after the Sun Devils won their 14th Pac-10 title in school history.
Owen's success in the classroom also helped the Sun Devil team to a great honor as the National Wrestling Coaches Association recognized the squad as a Top 25 Academic Team based upon its high GPA. Owen also was a first team selection to the NWCA Academic All-American team.
Verizon Academic All-District VIII Men's At-Large Teams
First Team
Curtis Owen (Arizona State) - wrestling
Chad Ainsworth (Arizona) - swimming
Attila Banhidy (California) - water polo
Jernej Bukovec (Utah) - skiing
Kaisorn Chaichana (Utah) - tennis
Nick Ellis (Stanford) - water polo
David Martin (Stanford) - tennis
Miles McGann (USC) - volleyball
Jed Pennell (Oregon State) - wrestling
Aaron Russell (BYU) - swimming
Costas Theocharidis (Hawai'i) - volleyball