Wrestling

Jan. 5, 1998

Sun Devil Wrestling Hosts Tri-Meet

Aaron Simpson has been a major force for 4th-ranked ASU. (file photo)

On Tap: The Arizona State wrestling team, ranked fourth in the country, hosts New Mexico and No. 6 Iowa State Friday, January 9 beginning at 5 p.m. in the University Activity Center. A match between Iowa State and New Mexico at 2 p.m. precedes Arizona State's 5 p.m. encounter with New Mexico. Following that match, the Sun Devils will then take on Iowa State at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Six Sun Devils finished in the top six to lead the No. 4 Arizona State wrestling team to a fourth-place finish at the Midlands Invitational in Evanston, Ill. Defending national champion and No. 2 Iowa won the event with a score of 134.50, while No. 9 Illinois was second at 113.50. Oregon claimed third at 92.50 and the Sun Devils followed with a score of 84.00. Leading the way for ASU were Matt Suter (158 pounds) and Aaron Simpson (177 pounds), who both clinched third-place honors. Fourth-seeded Suter decisioned Central Michigan's Ryan Cunningham in overtime 2-1. The No.2-seed Simpson decisioned John Dattalo 4-3 and completed the tournament with a 5-1 record. At the Reno Duals, the Devils were victorious in two out of three matches. The Devils defeated Boise State (35-3) and No. 20 Rider (19-12) and lost to No. 5 Michigan.

Opponents: New Mexico enters this week's match without a victory this season. The Lobos are 0-3 on the year and feature two wrestlers -- Mark Garcia, who is undefeated this year at 118 pounds, and Brad Ranley at 142 pounds -- who will be leading the Lobos into Tempe. Iowa State enters this week's match as the No. 6 team in the nation and is coached by Bobby Douglas who coached the Sun Devils from 1974-92 and led the Devils to their only national championship in 1988. Iowa State is lead by 126-pound senior Dwight Hinson who is looking to become only the eighth Cyclone wrestler in history to be a four-time all-America.

ASU wresting returns three wrestlers from last year's squad who garnered all-America honors last season.

Aaron Simpson   8th/158
Casey Strand    6th/167
Matt Suter      8th/158

Up Next: The Devils hit the road for the next three weeks -- at No. 8 Oklahoma (Jan. 11), National Team Duals in Iowa City Iowa (Jan 17-18), at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo (Jan. 23) -- before returning home for a Jan. 30 dual meet vs Oregon at 7 p.m. at the University Activity Center followed by a meet the ensuing day at Brigham Young.