Dec. 19, 1997
Sun Devil Wrestlers Ranked Fourth
TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona State wrestling team maintained its fourth-place ranking in the National Wrestling Coaches Association poll.
Individually, ASU has six wrestlers that are ranked among the top wrestlers in the country. Senior Aaron Simpson moved up from No. 4 to No. 2 in the 177-pound weight class. At 167 pounds, junior Casey Strand is ranked fifth and at 158 pounds, senior Matt Suter is also in fifth place.
Fredshirt-freshman Steve Blackford is ranked No. 8 in the 150-pound weight class, and freshman Quinn Foster is ranked 10th at 134 pounds. Foster earned his first ever national ranking after defeating the fourth-ranked wrestler in his weight class.
At 118 pounds, sophomore Michael Kawamura is ranked 12th in the nation. This is the first time Kawamura has been ranked in the top 12 nationally.
The Sun Devil wrestling team is back in action Dec. 29-30 when they travel to Evanston, Ill., to participate in the Midlands Invitational, hosted by Illinois
National Wrestling Coaches Association Team Rankings
(Dec. 18, 1997)
1. Oklahoma State
2. Iowa
3. Minnesota
4. Arizona State
5. Michigan
6. Iowa State
7. Nebraska
8. Oklahoma
9. Illinois
10. Penn State
11. Pittsburgh
12. Lehigh
13. Pennsylvania
14. Edinboro
15. Lock Haven
16. Cornell
17. Clarion
18. Northwestern
19. Harvard
20. Rider
21. West Virginia
22. Bakersfield
23. Purdue
24. Central Michigan
25. Oregon State